Concordia University has closed its downtown Montreal campus, citing concerns expressed by its president about “extreme disruption” related to planned protests on the second anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel.
Hamas killed roughly 1,200 people and took 251 hostages in its raids inside Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Israel announced military operations in Gaza following the attack.
Thousands of Montreal students have voted to go on a two-day strike as part of a week of demonstrations in support of Palestine.
A poster circulating on social media indicates that a protest has been planned to take place on Concordia’s campus with students from other Montreal universities taking part, including McGill, Dawson College, and the University of Montreal.
Concordia president and vice-chancellor Graham Carr said in an Oct. 7 letter that the decision was made to close the downtown campus to protect the community.
“With hundreds of protesters from other universities and cégeps expected—as well as counter protesters not linked to the university planning to gather outside our downtown campus this afternoon—the threat of extreme disruption is simply too high to operate as usual,” the letter said.
Carr said the decision was made after two non-students were arrested following the disruption of a class and midterm exam on Oct. 6.
“One of those arrested was later discovered to be in possession of a metal bar and several incendiary devices,” he said in the letter.
A notice on the university website said all Oct. 7 in-person classes and activities on its Sir George Williams campus were cancelled, but no changes had been made to activities for the Loyola campus.
One of the student groups behind the planned protests, SPHR Concordia, described Carr’s letter and campus closure as a “cover” for his “shameless actions” and accused the university of funding the flow of weapons to Israel.
The majority of Concordia students have been “mobilizing in mass” for two years in support of Palestine, the group said in a social media post, and added that Carr’s letter fails to address the “true problems” and the demands of students.
“Concordia must divest and end partnerships with weapon companies immediately,” the group said.
Carr said it was the first time the university had to enact “such protective measures” since the Hamas attack in 2023.
A spokesperson from McGill told The Epoch Times in an email that classes at the institution will be held as usual.
“The University has taken concrete steps to support the safety and well-being of students, faculty, and visitors, and more recently has enhanced campus security measures,” the spokesperson said in an email.
Dawson College spokesperson Christina Parsons told The Epoch Times all academic activities for Oct. 7 were “taking place as scheduled,” but noted that some students may choose to miss class to “participate in a walkout starting at about noon.”
Parsons added that safety measures were in place to “help ensure the well-being of all members of our community.”
University of Montreal (UdeM) spokesperson Geneviève O’Meara told The Epoch Times the school would not cancel classes, but that teachers could decide to leave if “the teaching conditions are not suitable.”
“We have also reminded teaching staff that UdeM recognizes the right of the student community to express themselves and demonstrate peacefully,” she said.
Politicians React
Several Canadian politicians have supported the university’s decision, including Liberal MP Anthony Housefather who called the protests “vile” and said universities need to take a stand.
“Radical student groups in Montreal are calling for disruptions & strikes on Oct. 7 to support ‘the resistance.’ In doing so, they’re glorifying Hamas & the biggest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust,” Housefather said in an Oct. 5 post on X.
He noted that eight Canadians were killed that day, including Vivian Silver, Netta Epstein, Alexandre Look, Judih Weinstein, Shir Georgy, Ben Mizrachi, and Adi Vital-Kaploun.
Former Alberta Premier Jason Kenny called the protest “pure evil.”
“Any college or university that knowingly allows their facilities or resources to be used for the celebration of terrorist violence against innocent civilians should see their public funding slashed,” he said in an Oct. 6 post on X.
Student Union Handbook
Concordia had recently come under controversy after its students union released a 2025-2026 handbook that included images of pro-Palestinian protests, Palestinian flags, and listed Palestinian holidays, but did not include images of Canadian flags or a list of Canadian holidays.
The student union said in the handbook that blocking access to classes and picketing buildings were acts of “resistance,” noting that students were obliged to follow the strike mandates it issued.
In other portions of the book that have been shared online, it called striking a “spiritual act” and a “political weapon” and advised students to wear masks to conceal their identity from Concordia security cameras.
Concordia University spokesperson Vannina Maestracci previously told The Epoch Times that the publication did not represent the university. Maestracci said the union was “fully independent of university administrations.”
Maestracci also said the university was dealing with the union, and the “violations of the Code” were being handled under university policies.
The Canadian Press contributed to this article.
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