Montreal Chinatown daycare relocates due to security concerns

After years of complaints about drug use and violence in the area, a Montreal Chinatown daycare will move.

The Petit Palais daycare centre is moving out of its current location in Montreal’s Chinatown after years of dealing with an increase of homelessness, drug use and violence in the area.

“We can’t go for walks in the area,” said the daycare’s director, Sylvie Chabot, in an interview with Noovo Info.

Although there are no smoking signs painted on the walls outside the playground, and there is a security guard in the area, Chabot said they no longer feel it is a safe environment for children and found a new location on rue de Bonsecours in Old Montreal.

Chabot said it’s a relief for everyone involved.

“We are very happy about it,” she said.

The move is a loss for the community, according to Winston Chan, a member of the Montreal Chinatown Revitalization Committee.

“It sends a signal that Chinatown is not safe,” he said.

He said that since the pandemic, problems with homelessness, violence and drug use have increased in the area, and he is calling for more resources to treat the source of the problem.

Phil Chu, who once lived a block away from the daycare and sent his daughter there, said he understands why the daycare is relocating. Two years ago, he shared his story with CTV News and his frustrations with the city for taking no action.

“We were finding drug paraphernalia like crack pipes, heroin needles, human feces, basically on my front doorstep,” he said.

“The situation at Le Petit Palais daycare centre, which has been going on for years, demonstrates the scale of the challenges in Chinatown,” said a statement sent from the mayor’s Ville-Marie cabinet.

“We want to make Chinatown a welcoming place for families again. We are already working on cleanliness and security, but it’s going to take some time to see the results,” it added.

A spokesperson from Quebec’s family ministry said the move is good news for the children, family and staff at the CPE Le Petit Palais, and will better address their security concerns.

“While daycare centres are independent organizations responsible for their facilities, the ministry is there to support them in their efforts,” it said, adding that this was what was done.

The new location for Le Petit Palais is expected to be ready by early June.