The City of Montreal filed an appeal on September 4, 2026, seeking to overturn a Quebec Superior Court order that barred the municipality from dismantling a homeless encampment located next to a skate park and basketball court in the Van Horne area. The appeal was lodged with the Montreal Appeals Court and aims to restore the city’s authority to proceed with its planned clearance of the site.
The superior court decision, issued earlier this month, stopped the city’s removal operation after the municipality announced plans to clear the encampment adjacent to the recreational facilities. The court’s injunction required city officials to maintain the status quo, preventing any demolition of tents or structures until further judicial review.
In response, municipal lawyers submitted a formal request for leave to appeal, arguing that the original order interferes with the city’s public‑order responsibilities and its ongoing efforts to address homelessness through coordinated housing initiatives. The appeal process will now move to the Montreal Appeals Court, where a panel of judges will consider whether the lower court’s injunction should be upheld or set aside.
While the appeal is pending, the encampment remains in place, and city crews have been instructed to suspend any removal activities. Residents and users of the nearby skate park and basketball court continue to share the space with the encampment’s occupants, a situation that municipal officials described as temporary pending the legal outcome.
The case highlights the tension between municipal plans to manage public spaces and the legal protections afforded to vulnerable populations. The outcome of the appeal will determine whether the city can resume its clearance operation or must explore alternative strategies for addressing the encampment and associated public‑policy goals.