Students and employees of Lasalle College gathered in Montreal on Friday to demonstrate while the institution stayed shut after filing for bankruptcy protection. The rally took place after the college announced it would suspend classes earlier in the week, citing an inability to meet its financial obligations.
Lasalle College filed for protection under bankruptcy law after accumulating nearly $48 million in debt owed to the Quebec provincial government. The filing triggered an immediate cessation of academic activities, leaving current students without scheduled classes and staff without work duties.
The protest in downtown Montreal saw both students and faculty members assembling outside the closed campus doors, voicing concerns about the disruption to education and employment. Organizers indicated that the demonstration was intended to draw attention to the financial crisis that forced the college into bankruptcy protection and to press for a resolution that would allow the institution to reopen.
College officials have not released a timeline for when operations might resume, and the bankruptcy filing places the institution under court supervision while creditors, including the provincial government, assess repayment options. The $48 million debt represents the primary reason for the protective filing, according to the college’s recent statements.
The situation adds to a broader context of financial strain on post‑secondary institutions in Quebec, where several schools have faced funding shortfalls in recent years. As the legal process unfolds, students and staff remain uncertain about the future of their programs and employment, while the protest underscores the immediate impact of the college’s financial collapse on the local community.
No further details on the number of participants or any official response from government authorities were provided at the time of reporting.