The morning of December 14 began with a call to emergency services for a fire behind a building along the railway tracks in Montreal’s Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie borough. When firefighters finally extinguished the flames, they discovered a body in the remains of a makeshift shelter. It took authorities several days to identify the man as 47-year-old Éric Lefebvre.
Lefebvre’s death serves as a grim illustration of the descente aux enfers d’Éric, a trajectory marked by severe drug dependency and a precarious existence on the streets. According to the coroner’s findings shared with the family, Lefebvre was alive when the fire started, inhaling smoke before the flames consumed his shelter. Toxicology reports revealed a cocktail of substances in his blood, including cocaine and methamphetamine, which investigators believe may have slowed his reflexes and prevented his escape.
For his sister, Marie-Claude Lefebvre, the tragedy was not just the fire, but the anonymity that nearly swallowed her brother’s memory. She fought to ensure he would not simply become another statistic in a winter season that saw a surge in homeless deaths. Her struggle reflects a broader systemic failure in Quebec, where the number of homeless individuals dying has climbed sharply from 19 in 2020 to 123 in 2024, according to data from the coroner’s office.
A Life Divided: Skill and Struggle
Éric Lefebvre was born in Quebec City in 1978. After being rejected by his biological father, he was raised by the father of his younger half-sister, Marie-Claude. The relationship with his adoptive father, who became quadriplegic following a workplace accident, was complex and often volatile. Marie-Claude recalls that while there was love, there were similarly “hard words,” contributing to what she describes as a “mal de vivre” or a profound struggle with existence that drove Éric toward substance use.
His descent began early. By age 15, he was selling hashish at Place d’Youville in Old Quebec, quickly progressing to the use of cocaine, speed, and ecstasy. Yet, for a long period, Lefebvre managed to maintain a dual existence. He completed his studies and became a tinsmith, a well-paying trade in the construction sector that he practiced for approximately 15 years.
Marie-Claude remembers him as a man who loved working with his hands and helping others, a reader and a lover of cats. Still, the darkness of addiction eventually eclipsed his professional success. By the 2000s, his criminal record grew, with multiple arrests for theft, weapons possession, and violations of court conditions—actions his sister attributes entirely to his need to fund his addiction.
The Cycle of Relapse and Eviction
The path to recovery was fraught with setbacks. After a six-month detoxification program in Acton Vale, Lefebvre experienced a brief window of stability. In 2017, Marie-Claude attempted to intervene by housing him in Saint-Philippe, Montérégie, hoping to provide the stability he needed to save money and rebuild his life. After three years, however, the cycle returned. Marie-Claude eventually reached a breaking point, unable to cope with the toll of living with someone consumed by addiction.
The COVID-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst for his final decline. With construction opportunities dwindling, Lefebvre’s isolation fueled his consumption. He moved into rooming houses on rue d’Iberville in Montreal, a stark contrast to the professional skills he possessed. By 2023, the financial instability led to his first eviction for unpaid rent.
Despite the distance, Marie-Claude continued to support him, delivering meals and food for his two cats every two weeks. But the slide continued. By early 2025, Lefebvre was again evicted from a sublet on rue Marquette in Le Plateau-Mont-Royal. A court judgment dated April 2 noted he had accumulated nearly $5,000 in unpaid rent.
The Peril of Survival Campments
In July 2025, Lefebvre informed his family that he was living on the street. He established a makeshift camp—a fragile collection of plastic bags and a tent—which he photographed and sent to his sister. This site, intended as a sanctuary from the elements, would eventually become his tomb.
To survive the harsh Montreal winter, Lefebvre used gas-powered heating and cooking appliances. According to police, the fire was fueled by the ignition of two propane tanks. Here’s a recurring danger in urban encampments. James Hughes, CEO of the Mission Old Brewery, explains that these campements are desperate attempts at survival. He notes that while propane tanks are common for warmth, their use inside tents is “super dangerous.”
Homeless Mortality in Quebec
Lefebvre’s death is part of a disturbing trend. A preliminary report from the coroner’s office has already recorded 46 homeless deaths in 2025. The escalation over the last five years is stark:
| Year | Number of Deaths |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 19 |
| 2024 | 123 |
The tragedy has prompted responses from city leadership. In late March, Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada expressed her grief over the death of two homeless individuals who died within hours of each other. However, for families like the Lefebvres, the tragedy is compounded by a sense of legal helplessness. Marie-Claude Lefebvre argues that You’ll see currently no legal mechanisms that allow families to effectively intervene when a loved one is suffering from severe mental health issues or addiction.
Following the autopsy, Éric Lefebvre’s ashes were returned to Montérégie, where they remain with his sister. His story, a detailed portrait of a descente aux enfers d’Éric, now serves as a catalyst for a wider conversation on the vulnerability of the unhoused population.
The deaths of homeless individuals throughout the winter will be the subject of a public inquiry by the coroner’s office over the coming months. This investigation is expected to examine the conditions leading to these fatalities and whether systemic changes are required to prevent further avoidable losses.
If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction or mental health crises, please contact local crisis centers or the Health Canada substance use resources for support.
We invite our readers to share their perspectives on urban homelessness and addiction services in the comments below.
