Babies abandoned in Longueuil: Should Quebec have ‘baby boxes?’

Items are left in memory of the baby that was found dead at a bus stop in Longueuil, Que. on Oct. 27, 2025. (CTV News)

Two cases this month of babies abandoned in Longueuil, on Montreal’s South Shore, have raised questions about what services are available to mothers in distress, and whether Quebec should consider following in the United States’ footsteps and install “baby boxes.”

• READ MORE: Don’t abandon your baby, pleads Quebec Health Ministry. Here are resources to help

The tragic circumstances of the two abandoned newborns, a premature baby boy with his umbilical cord still attached who was left on the doorstep of a home on the night of Oct. 5 and an infant who was abandoned at a bus stop and later died in the early morning of Oct. 27, have sent shockwaves through the community.

‘Angel cradles’

Baby boxes are nothing new and have, in fact, existed since 2016 in numerous American cities – though the practice dates back to the Middle Ages.

In Canada, similar boxes have been set up in provinces like Alberta and Ontario since 2021, in collaboration with organization Gems for Gems, but are not a common sight across the country.

“It’s a safe option for handing over an infant,” Jordan Guildford, founder and CEO of Gems for Gems, tells Noovo Info. “The mother is legally protected and, of course, help arrives for the baby within minutes.”

The principle is simple: heated, secure boxes that are installed near front-line services, such as a fire station.

“Each of our boxes is temperature-controlled... if the temperature drops below 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius), an alarm is triggered,” said Guildford.

When a newborn is placed in the box, first responders are alerted, and help arrives to assist the child within minutes.

The aim is to offer a safe alternative so mothers in distress don’t abandon their children in dangerous places for fear of being arrested.

• READ MORE: Woman arrested after baby found at Longueuil bus stop dies

Staff are also trained to help the mother while ensuring her anonymity.

“When the mother opens the door, she has about two minutes to place her baby inside and leave, so that the process remains completely anonymous for her,” Guildford notes.

She explains that it is often the fear of being recognized that drives some mothers to abandon their children in dangerous places.

“We knew when we created the project that we had to guarantee [the mothers’] anonymity, otherwise we would not be offering a viable solution for women who were turning to dangerous options,” Guildford said.

So far, Gems for Gems says none of the boxes have been used for dangerous abandonment, which Guildford considers a sign of success.

All the same, she laments that some communities still refuse to adopt the initiative, which could lead to tragic consequences.

“There are places we’ve tried to work with that have said it’s not necessary in their community, and a few weeks, sometimes months later, a baby has been found dead,” Guildford said. “The reality is, it’s not a question of ‘if,’ but ‘when’ another baby will be abandoned. We really encourage people to act before tragedy strikes rather than having to react after the fact.”

• READ MORE: Baby abandoned in Longueuil, police search for clues

There are currently no boxes in Quebec, but the organization insists it wants to install them across the country because ”it’s an absolutely essential resource that should be accessible to everyone in Canada."