I'm working on a startup and would appreciate any local help in order to improve my web design. What options are available to me other than hiring a pro?

you could try open source web design. there are some very good designs at http://www.oswd.org, openwebdesign.org is a good place too

I actually took one of those templates to start my site but I find them a little bit plain (although much better than what I could do on my own). I would need someone, ideally a student, to work on graphics in order to improve the basic design. I am not aware of any place where those resources can easily be found (at least in Montreal).

i am not sure a student would have the abilities to do something better than oswd. i know there are professional designers who submit from some time to time their work at those websites

what kind of design would you want by the way? is it complicated?

Nothing very hard, I just need someone who has an artistic touch

maybe you can try the montreal version of craiglist. like every other day, there is someone who offers his/her services in web design for cheap or even free.

but i have never worked with these people tough.