Infant Referred to Child Protection After Notre-Dame Encampment Incident

Montreal police referred a one‑year‑old baby to the provincial child‑protection agency on Friday evening after responding to a potentially unsafe situation near the Notre‑Dame homeless encampment. The incident occurred at approximately 7 p.m. when officers were alerted to a concern involving an unidentified woman and the infant.

Upon arrival, police assessed the circumstances surrounding the woman and the child. Determining that the situation required specialized intervention, the officers transferred responsibility for the infant’s welfare to the Direction de la protection de la jeunesse (DPJ), the agency that handles child‑protection matters throughout Quebec.

The SPVM’s involvement reflects a pattern of police engagement in welfare issues that arise at the city’s homeless encampments. Officers frequently respond to reports of conditions that may endanger vulnerable individuals, including children, and coordinate with social‑service partners when necessary. In this case, the decision to refer the baby to DPJ indicates that authorities deemed the child’s environment potentially unsafe and that professional child‑protection services were needed to evaluate and address any risks.

The DPJ now holds jurisdiction over the infant’s case and will conduct its own assessment to determine appropriate protective measures. While details about the woman’s identity or the specific concerns that prompted the referral have not been disclosed, the handover underscores the collaborative role of law‑enforcement and child‑protection agencies in safeguarding minors in precarious settings.

Montreal’s homeless encampments, such as the one near Notre‑Dame, remain focal points for social‑service interventions. Police presence aims to monitor conditions, respond to emergencies, and ensure that any signs of danger, especially involving children, are promptly addressed by the relevant authorities.

The referral marks the latest instance of the SPVM working alongside the DPJ to protect a child’s welfare in a context where homelessness and family safety intersect.