Montreal police referred a one‑year‑old infant to the province’s child‑protection agency on September 17, 2026, after responding to a report near the Notre‑Dame homeless encampment at approximately 7 p.m.
Officers arrived at the downtown location following the call and found the child in the vicinity of the encampment. The circumstances that prompted the police response have not been disclosed, but the presence of a baby in a homeless encampment prompted immediate involvement of child‑protection authorities.
The Quebec youth protection agency was notified by police and assumed responsibility for the infant’s welfare. Police officials confirmed that the referral was made in accordance with standard protocol when a minor’s safety is potentially at risk.
The incident occurred in the heart of Montreal, close to the Notre‑Dame campus, an area that has seen a growing number of makeshift shelters for people experiencing homelessness. While the encampment itself is not the focus of the police report, its proximity to the child’s location was a factor in the decision to involve child‑protection services.
No further details about the infant’s caregivers or the specific nature of the report have been released. Authorities have declined to comment on any ongoing investigations, citing privacy considerations for the child and family involved.
The referral underscores the coordination between municipal police and provincial child‑protection agencies when vulnerable individuals, especially minors, are identified in potentially unsafe environments. The Quebec youth protection agency will now assess the child’s situation and determine any required protective measures.
The case remains under review, and no charges or legal actions have been announced at this time.