At eight o’clock in the morning, Nazli and William begin their first tour of the day in the terminal to identify and approach vulnerable populations present at YUL.  

It’s their job, as community workers for the YMCA, to criss-cross the terminal several hours a day, sometimes offering a few comforting words to those in need, sometimes making referrals to other organizations for their care. They also ensure that passengers from ULLIVIK, a health center near YUL, reach their destination safely. 

Nazli and William, along with their colleague Jade, supervisor of the intervention program at YUL, are doing important work, at a time when, they say, the issue of homelessness knows no borders and Montréal’s shelters are overflowing. Nazli shares that the face of homelessness has changed dramatically since the pandemic, and that the community sector is struggling to absorb the repercussions.   

Cooperation between Airport Patrol and the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM)   

The collaborative approach adopted by the YMCA, Airport Patrol, and the SPVM teams focuses on harm reduction, placing the vulnerable person at the heart of the intervention. We asked Airport Patrol how to reconcile the presence of vulnerable populations in an airport setting, and the advice is clear: show tolerance and trust the community workers present to support these people and get them off the street. 

YUL, through its Airport Patrol team, is the only Canadian airport to have implemented such an initiative. Something to be proud of! 

Our warmest thanks to Nazli, William, Jade, the Airport Patrol team, and the SPVM, for the work they do every day. 

Do you see someone in a vulnerable situation and don’t know what to do? Take a moment to inform Airport Patrol at 514 420-5000, and they’ll refer the situation to a community worker who can help and, who knows, make a difference!