Late last week (Wednesday, February 4, 2026), a long-standing Montreal seafood restaurant became the target of an antisemitic attack that has drawn widespread condemnation from the community and local authorities.
The restaurant, Maestro SVP, located on Saint-Laurent Boulevard in the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough, was vandalized with hateful graffiti. The owner, Ilene Polansky, discovered a message scrawled in blue marker on the front window that read: "You f***ing Jew." The message was accompanied by a Star of David. Polansky, who is Jewish and has operated the business for over 30 years, shared the image on social media, expressing her shock and sadness at being targeted in such a personal and public manner.
The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) is investigating the vandalism as a hate crime. Forensic teams and the hate crimes unit have been alerted to the case.
Local leaders have denounced the act, reinforcing that hate speech and antisemitism have no place in Montreal's social fabric.
The incident has sparked a wave of support for Polansky, with neighbors and patrons gathering to stand in solidarity with the business.
This event follows a series of recent antisemitic incidents in Montreal:
- January 2026: A member of a local gym in the Plateau was banned after being confronted for wearing clothing featuring Nazi symbols.
- Previous Incidents: Other Jewish-owned businesses, such as Falafel Yoni, have previously faced vandalism and threats, sometimes linked to "boycott lists" circulating online.
Plice have not yet announced any arrests in the Maestro SVP case.
