Chinatown Residents Demand Moratorium on New Services for Marginalized Groups
Residents of Montreal's historic Chinatown have declared "enough is enough" as they demand an immediate moratorium on establishing any additional resources for at-risk populations in their neighborhood. The outcry follows the Ville Marie borough's plan to allow the relocation of Stella, a sex workers' resource organization, to a residential street in the community.
Community Leaders Voice Opposition
During a news conference held on Thursday, March 5, 2026, representatives from multiple Chinese community associations expressed firm and fierce opposition to the proposed move. Bryant Chang, vice-president of the Chinese Association of Montreal, spoke on behalf of four of the five prominent Chinese Family Associations in Chinatown.
"We are firmly and fiercely opposed to the arrival of a service for sex-trade workers in our Chinatown, to be located on a residential street, right next to families with young children, seniors' homes and seniors' co-ops," Chang stated emphatically.
Systemic Concerns Raised
Chang criticized the borough's decision-making process, claiming the relocation was approved without proper consultation with local residents and without considering the concerns of Chinese organizations in the area. He characterized this approach as "systemic racism and systemic ageism" that disregards the safety concerns of community members.
"This, to us, is systemic racism and systemic ageism, because it says that Chinese community associations and senior citizens of all backgrounds don't matter," Chang explained. "That their concerns for physical and psychological safety don't matter, despite the fact that for several years, they have faced major problems of crime and disorder in the area related to homelessness, drug trafficking, prostitution and people with mental health issues."
Existential Threat to Chinatown
Community leaders expressed concern that Chinatown faces an existential threat of becoming what they termed "Homelesstown." This concern stems from two developments: the proposed relocation of Stella's headquarters to the east of the neighborhood and a separate social-housing project for the homeless planned by the Old Brewery Mission on Côté Street to the west.
Suzanne Felx, an 82-year-old lifelong resident of Hotel de Ville Avenue in Chinatown, described the neighborhood's deterioration in recent years. "Enough is enough. People of Chinatown feel unsafe. They are afraid. The quality of life is diminishing because too many unfortunates, prostitutes, homeless and drug-addicted people are moving here. It has to stop. It is time to stop making Chinatown a dumping ground for misery."
Borough's Legal Constraints
Catherine Bouchard, spokesperson for Ville Marie Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada, explained that the borough cannot legally refuse the conditional usage permit for Stella's relocation. The current zoning on Hotel de Ville Avenue permits community organizations to operate offices there, and refusal could result in legal action against the borough.
However, Bouchard emphasized that the mayor is "sensitive to the concerns of the residents" and acknowledged the challenges created by the high concentration of resources for vulnerable populations in the area. "Citizens of Chinatown have always lived alongside marginalized populations, but the situation has become very difficult in recent years," she noted.
Stella's Perspective
Sandra Wesley, executive director of Stella, defended her organization's planned relocation, explaining that Stella has been saving for a decade to purchase a building and found the $1.2 million house on Hotel de Ville Avenue to be ideal. She described Stella as "a resource operated by sex workers for sex workers" that offers counseling, workshops, medical services, and advocacy.
Wesley sought to allay residents' concerns by explaining Stella's operational model:
- Most work occurs outside the office, with staff consulting sex workers in various locations
- Only about half a dozen clients visit the office on any given day, mostly by appointment
- Office hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, with occasional evening activities
- The organization is not a warming center, supervised injection site, or overnight shelter
"This is not a centre where people come to hang out," Wesley clarified. "We are much more like any other women's group. We will not disturb people, or bring extra traffic, or attract anything loud or disruptive."
Misplaced Anger and Real Solutions
Wesley, who herself lives in Chinatown, suggested that residents' anger is misplaced. She acknowledged the neighborhood is dealing with problems arising from the housing crisis but argued that opposing organizations like Stella is not the solution.
"We need to come together, look at the real issues, and find solutions that work for everyone," Wesley urged. "And it's hard to do that when there are a few people in Chinatown who are really trying to do a lot of fearmongering."
Ongoing Process
The controversy has led to the postponement of the borough council vote on Stella's conditional usage permit to March 10. Residents' groups claim they only learned about the relocation two days before the original December meeting where approval was scheduled.
Meanwhile, the borough is working on solutions to improve safety and cleanliness in Chinatown, including the recent purchase of land at St-Laurent and René-Levesque for an undisclosed neighborhood improvement project.
