Montreal RNs - help, please!

I'm a newly licensed RN in US. I have 2,5 years of various nursing experience in Russia, but no nursing experience in US yet. I've some US work experience as Nursing Assistant and Graduate Nurse.
I want to get a job at one ot the English-speaking hospitals in Montreal.
Could you please share your experiences about getting hired and working as a nurse in Montreal? Any info is much appreciated, but specifically:

Can you tell me about your hiring process?
If you applied from abroad, did you have to go to Montreal, or were they phone interviews? Just one interview, or several call-backs?
How were the interviews? What aspects helped you get that job?
What experience do you have and how did that help your employment?
Do you have any insider tips about any of the English-speaking hospitals in Montreal? Maybe, particular people/departments to contact and how to approach them? Also, which hospital would you recommend as a great workplace? Which hospital has better perceptorship/orientation programs, free extra education, etc.?
What are good/bad times to start applying? I mean, major hospitals probably hire in waves, syncing them to the inflow of new grads - should I avoid those waves or go with them?
Also, even though I have 2,5 years of experience in Russia, in North America I feel like a new graduate with no experience. Mainly because while very rich in knowledge, skill polishing and character development, Russian nursing is very backward in technology, pharmacology, delegation, etc. Basically, it's lots of drama and no supplies ) Any advice on how I should approach this in my job interviews and resume? Would a couple of months of US nursing experience (I couldn't do more than that) make any positive difference?
Thank you! PMs are more than welcome!