Hi there, in Montreal too but with young babies so can't go far for now.
There's already great advices around and I'am a noob for canoe camping (only done 3 times).
Canoeing alone is not easy when you start, and rentals don't always have solo canoes, they mostly carry kayak or tandem (heavy) canoes. So if you want to only do canoeing, you have to find people. It was usually kind of easy (for me) to find people that wanted to come over on the trip even if I immigrated recently. Talk about it with your schoolmates, workmates, roomates & friends. If you organize it, it will be easier for them to accept.
Parc de la Verendrye is at ~4h by car from MTL and is where I've done it for the first time (~8years ago). Plan to leave early from MTL (morning) if you want to grab your rentals before it closes. For a car check communauto that's the easiest I think and not that expensive. But they may be nearer options like an other member paste the awesome website https://www.aventurequebec.ca/en/eco-nature-parc-de-la-riviere-des-mille-iles
You will probably have to look north of MTL as there's not much in the south shore. Buy some antimosquito if you want to have a nicer stay :P
There's a rental south of Verdun too (espace navi) for training paddling a kayak or SUP. nothing much to see there unfortunately but you can rent for an isle de soeur tour with a guide.
As for the gear, I bought this tent when I was hitchhiking for around 80$ (not in stock anymore but they may have others) https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00BF14XXS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
There option of hammock camping (that I do now, less gear, but build a quilt if you don't want to have your back cold the whole night. I've built one from a cheap sleeping bag)
This place had some cheap stock in MTL https://pleinairentrepot.ca/ You can check "surplus de l'armee" too.
There's probably much more to say but if you have specific questions just send me a PM.
Thank you so much for your reply!
So since people are saying bivvy might be a a bit too unneccesary, I might have settled on this tent? and since the temperatures are getting warmer, this sleeping bag seems ok for the price?.
I don't really have a bag ideal for backpacking, but the one I currently have might be alright since I'm only planning on going places for 2-4 days at a time and I'll be getting buses to each location? Hopefully I can either tie my tent/sleeping bag onto it during transit and find somewhere to store it while I'm away from my camping area.
Does all this sound ok? Cheers again for replying!
I bought this as a temp tent, but I've been using it for a few years now. Texsport Cliff Hanger Three Season Backpacking Tent. If you are taller than 6' you'll probably have your head and feet touching a little, I'm 6'2" and they both touch for me, but only once did I get wet (I didn't use the guy lines, and was lazy setting it up). It is definitely a 1 person tent, and not much space for anything else, but for around $50 and a carrying weight of 3.5lbs it's been a solid purchase.
*edit Here's the US amazon link