There are renewed calls for action as the cold weather approaches after a woman died in a fire at a homeless encampment in Montreal North. Montreal police (SPVM) received a 911 call at 4:50 a.m. about the incident on Charleroi Street and Lacordaire Boulevard. “Upon arrival, police officers were led to a woman in her 50s who was unconscious,” said Jeanne Drouin, a spokesperson with Montreal police. “She was transported to hospital in critical condition, where she was later pronounced dead.” Drouin added that by the time the Montreal fire department arrived on site, the flames had already been extinguished. A security perimeter has been established to allow investigators to canvass the scene. The cause of the fire remains unknown. “At this point, everything leads to an accidental death,” said Drouin. ‘She had a big heart’ Stephanie Leclerc, who lives at the encampment with her partner Youness Radouane, said she knew the woman. “She had a big heart. She was very nice,” she said. “She never harmed anyone, and never lacked respect for anyone.” Radouane said the woman had been unhoused for years. He said she’d recently returned to the site and he believed she struggled with street drugs. As temperatures drop, Radouane wondered if a candle might have caused the fire. “Whatever we do, we can never escape the pain and cold,” he said, adding that he blames the government for failing people like him and the victim. Leclerc added that she is facing another winter outside. “I’ve survived winter outside before, but this year I really don’t want to. I really, really, really don’t want to,” she said. Particular dangers for women At HerStreet, a centre and shelter for women experiencing or at risk of homelessness, Executive Director Alia Hassan-Cournol said the woman’s death needs to put a spotlight on the particular dangers women face on the street. “Even on your first day, you’re facing way more violence,” she said, adding that she wants to see people who live on the street, as well as those who work with them, have a seat at the table when it comes to taking action. “They need to be heard and they need to tell their story and what they’re facing because that’s how we’re going to have the best programs and the best financing,” she said. A ‘tragedy,’ says Montreal mayor Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada spoke out about the incident Wednesday morning at an executive committee meeting. “Our thoughts are with those who were close to her and anyone who knew her,” she said. “This tragedy reminds us, once again, of the importance of making sure the people on our streets have access to secure housing, where they can live safely.” The mayor went on to say that with winter coming, she plans to speak with Quebec premier-designate Paul St-Pierre Plamondon to ensure that a plan is in place to help the city’s most vulnerable populations. “It’s not normal to have Montrealers die on our streets,” she said. “When we leave people alone, the consequences touch our entire society. Inaction is expensive. It affects our solidarity, our cohesion and our ability to take care of each other.” Martinez Ferrada said the city will present its cold-weather plan Thursday. Quebec premier-designate Paul St-Pierre Plamondon took to social media to offer his condolences. “I am making the fight against homelessness a personal matter. It will be our priority as a government to intervene,” he said. “Emergency budgets will be made available in the short term. Winter is at our doorstep, and we must be ready. These resources will, in particular, be used to provide emergency shelter and winter refuge. We will act decisively to prevent this kind of tragic event from happening again.” St-Pierre Plamondon says his party is also working on solutions for long-term housing. With files from CTV News’ Laurence Brisson Dubreuil.
