The City of Montreal has permanently closed an outdoor skating rink in the city’s Mile End neighbourhood, where homeless people have set up an encampment.
An announcement on the city’s website says the temporary rink, on Bernard East Avenue in the Le Plateau-Mont-Royal area, will not return this winter following the reopening of the Aréna des Patineuses.
The renovated Aréna des Patineuses, formerly known as Aréna Saint-Louis, “is a fully modernized, inclusive, and eco-friendly sports and recreation complex,” the city says. The two skating venues are approximately 200 to 300 metres apart.
The former rink has been home to the Van Horne homeless encampment since last year.
On June 8, Quebec Superior Court Justice Alexander Pless issued an injunction preventing Montreal from dismantling the Van Horne encampment, where about 10 people had lived since fall 2025.
The city had ordered residents to leave by May 21, saying the encampment interfered with access to a nearby skatepark and basketball court. The Clinique juridique itinérante, which provides legal assistance to homeless people, challenged the eviction, arguing that removal without suitable alternatives would cause serious harm.
Pless found that the city failed to provide adequate relocation options. One proposed site was unsuitable because of traffic noise, while another was intended to become a skating rink during winter. He acknowledged the city’s legitimate interest in maintaining public access to recreational venues but concluded that removing the residents without suitable alternatives could cause irreparable harm.
The judge emphasized that the ruling did not give homeless individuals an unconditional right to occupy public property, but said the city must consider their safety and dignity when pursuing relocation.
On Sept. 10, the Quebec Court of Appeal refused Montreal permission to appeal the interim ruling, leaving the injunction in place pending further proceedings.
The Epoch Times contacted several City of Montreal officials but did not receive a response by the deadline.
Montreal has established a municipal protocol for managing homeless encampments that emphasizes public safety, sanitation, access to social services, and respect for the rights of people living outdoors, while allowing relocations under certain circumstances.
The city says it assesses encampments for fire risks, health hazards, criminal activity, and other safety concerns before determining what action is necessary.
Under the protocol, relocation is considered a last resort, although the city may move encampments for safety reasons or to manage public spaces. It says such interventions must take account of residents’ rights and needs.
The Canadian Press contributed to this story.
