Montreal mall playing ‘Baby Shark’ theme to keep unhoused people out of stairwells
The Complexe Desjardins in Montreal has been playing the Baby Shark theme song in some stairwells beneath the building in order to keep the people from loitering in those places.
Housing advocates are raising concerns about a downtown Montreal shopping center’s approach to deterring loitering, which involves playing the theme song from the children’s show Baby Shark in certain parts of the building.
The Complexe Desjardins has been broadcasting the repetitive "doo, doo, doo doo" jingle in its stairwells as a deterrent. “About a year ago, music was installed in some of the fire escapes in Complexe Desjardins because we were having problems in these areas,” said spokesperson Jean-Benoît Turcotti in an emailed statement.
This strategy is not unique; it has been tried in other locations, including West Palm Beach, Florida, and even in some Montreal subway stations. According to Turcotti, the tactic has been effective at Complexe Desjardins. “Since the installation of this sound solution, we have noticed an improvement in the situation,” he noted, adding that there are no plans to discontinue the practice.
Not far from the mall is the Old Brewery Mission, Montreal’s largest organization supporting homeless individuals. Representatives from the mission have criticized the use of the song, calling it a form of “Not In My Backyard” (NIMBY) behavior.
“It’s alarming to try and push people outdoors when they are already coming from outside,” said Mila Alexova, a spokesperson for the Old Brewery Mission. “A toddler’s song to vacate the premises … there are better ways. Institutions should seek more humane solutions.”
Sam Watts, CEO of Welcome Hall Mission in Westmount, echoed these sentiments, describing the tactic as “cruel and unusual.” Watts argued that such measures only displace the problem of homelessness rather than address it.
David Chapman, director of Resilience Montreal, pointed to a lack of shelter spaces in the city as the root cause of the issue. He acknowledged that the mall might be frustrated with the increasing presence of unhoused individuals but emphasized the need for systemic solutions.
In response, Turcotti highlighted the Desjardins Group’s efforts to address homelessness in Montreal. “We are very sensitive to the situation of people experiencing homelessness,” he said, noting that the organization has committed $1.2 million in 2023 to support homelessness initiatives.
“Our goal is not to coerce these people but to support them,” Turcotti added. He also mentioned that two social workers are stationed at the Complexe Desjardins to engage in dialogue with those experiencing homelessness.
