Parks Canada going ahead with remainder of camping event along Lachine Canal

Parks Canada says it is “sensitive” to Montreal’s homeless situation, but the agency is not backing down from hosting the remainder of its “Learn-to Camp” program along the Lachine Canal.

Parks Canada’s decision to hold a series of camping events drew criticism from homeless advocates, who said it represents a double standard.

“You can’t allow this weekend to happen and not allow homeless people to use the same area when they have nowhere else to go,” said John Tessier, community advocate for the unhoused.

“I’m not against this camping weekend,” he added. “I think it’s a good idea because now it’s shown that camping by the water is okay, so now you must allow the homeless people to camp there.”

Parks Canada’s “Learn-to Camp” initiative continues to draw criticism from homeless advocates in Montreal. (Credit: Pamela Pagano)

The events, scheduled throughout the summer, are described as an opportunity to learn basic camping skills for the price of $108.75 per tent along the Lachine Canal in the city’s west end.

Community advocates have said the initiative is hypocritical because the city’s authorities frequently dismantle encampments for the homeless erected on public land.

“One good thing that I think did come out of this was an opportunity for us to stop and say, ‘what more can we be doing?’,” said John Festarini, director of Historic Canals in Quebec for Parks Canada.

The federal agency cancelled the first scheduled event in the series, but the events scheduled for July 23, Aug. 13, 20, and 27 are going ahead as planned.

“By canceling, it did allow us to stop and also speak to some of the people who work in that particular sector (…) people that we work with all the time,” said Festarini.

Learn-to Camp activities from Parks Canada have been held for over 10 years along the Lachine Canal. Also taking place across Canada – including Vancouver, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Toronto, Ottawa, and Halifax.

“The purpose of the program is really to initiate people, new Canadians or people who may have not have the means to be able to go outside the city (…) so that they can learn how to do camping,” explained Festarini.

WATCH: Parks Canada’s “Learn to Camp” promotional video

“All of a sudden, when you’re able to pay $108, the dignity and safety somehow magically comes back,” said Tessier. “Sends a message that if you don’t have money, you don’t have dignity.”

In a statement to CityNews, the City of Montreal said that they believe they need to develop a medium- and long-term strategy for homelessness, have no involvement in the Learn-to Camp initiative, and don’t have jurisdiction over the site since the program is organized on land that belongs to the federal government. Adding:

“Montreal believes that encampments are not a sustainable or safe solution to address the issues of homelessness. They represent serious security risks, especially because of the flammable material often present in the encampments.”

“I understand that Parks Canada they’re going to have people there teaching how to camp,” said Tessier. “Hire a few people to go do that at the homeless encampments, you know, to ensure safety.”

Montreal’s Lachine Canal on Saturday, July 23, 2022. (Credit: Pamela Pagano/CityNews)

Protesters began to come together Saturday afternoon to show solidarity with the unhoused, pitching their own tents.

“I was homeless for a few years which make me more passionate about this fight,” said Annie Archambault, protest organizer who works with helping Montreal’s homeless community. “We wanted people to see the irony in it that if you pay $108 a night, then it’s okay to camp in Montreal but if you’re homeless you cant.”

Tents from the “Learn-to Camp” program along Montreal’s Lachine Canal on Saturday, July 23, 2022. (Credit: Pamela Pagano/CityNews)

Parks Canada says they will continue to deliver their program, while continuing to meet with various organizations, and hear protesters.

“We have a collective responsibility to address this,” said Festarini. “If there is more that we can do, we’re going to continue to explore that.”

—With files from The Canadian Press.

Updated: Saturday, July 23, 2022