The City of Montreal has lodged an appeal to overturn a Quebec Superior Court decision that prohibited the municipality from dismantling a homeless encampment situated near a local skate park and basketball court in the Van Horne neighbourhood. The appeal, filed on September 4, 2026, seeks to reverse the injunction that currently blocks the city’s removal plans.
The contested encampment occupies a space adjacent to the skate park and basketball court, areas that the city had intended to clear prior to the court’s intervention. Municipal officials had prepared to carry out the removal as part of a broader effort to address the presence of the encampment, but the court order halted those actions pending further review.
The Quebec Superior Court ruling that stopped the city’s removal operation was based on legal arguments presented by parties concerned with the rights of the encampment’s occupants. The city’s appeal argues that the order unduly restricts its ability to manage public spaces and maintain safety in the neighbourhood. The municipal government has not released detailed comments on the legal strategy but indicated that the appeal will be processed through the appropriate judicial channels.
The case highlights a continuing tension between municipal authorities and the legal system over how to handle homeless encampments in public areas. While the city emphasizes the need for orderly management of public facilities, the court’s decision reflects judicial scrutiny of the processes used to displace vulnerable populations.
As the appeal proceeds, the encampment remains in place beside the skate park and basketball court, and the city’s planned clearance remains on hold. The outcome of the appeal will determine whether the municipality can resume its removal efforts or must continue to accommodate the encampment under the current court order.
The situation remains under observation as both municipal and judicial entities prepare for the next steps in the legal process.