Robin Hood-Style Activists Escalate Campaign with Forest Sabotage in Quebec
In a bold escalation of their direct-action campaign, the activist group Les Robins des ruelles has shifted from urban grocery store heists to environmental sabotage in Quebec's forests. The group, whose name translates to "the Robins of the Alleyways" and evokes the legendary folk hero Robin Hood, now claims responsibility for sabotaging a planned logging operation in the Mékinac forest north of Ste-Thècle in the Mauricie region.
From Grocery Stores to Forest Protection
The group first gained attention through two carefully orchestrated grocery store robberies in Montreal's Plateau-Mont-Royal borough. On December 15, at least a dozen masked individuals—some dressed as Santa Claus and elves—entered a Metro grocery store on Laurier Avenue and appropriated approximately $3,000 worth of food. Then on February 3, about 60 masked activists wearing tuques with red feathers conducted a similar operation at a Rachelle Béry store at the corner of St-Laurent Boulevard and Villeneuve Street, making off with an estimated $6,000 in goods.
In both incidents, activists filmed themselves entering the stores, spray-painting messages on floors and windows, and disabling security cameras with paint. They subsequently posted photos claiming to have delivered the stolen food to community fridges and housing complexes in the Mercier—Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough. Montreal police continue investigating these robberies, with no arrests made as of Friday afternoon.
"Arming the Forest" with Steel Bars
The group's latest action represents a significant tactical shift. In a statement released through the intermediary group Les Soulèvements du fleuve (The River's Uprisings), Les Robins des ruelles claims to have "armed the forest by driving steel bars through the trees" in the Mékinac forest. This technique, reportedly used by environmentalists for over four decades, aims to prevent logging "without compromising the integrity of the trees" while posing dangers to forestry equipment and workers.
The activists have posted warning signs throughout the area reading: "CAREFUL! The trees in this forest now contain metal. They are dangerous for machinery and forestry workers. A metal detector is necessary before proceeding with safe operations."
Political Motivations and Economic Critique
Through their intermediary, the group explained their motivations extend beyond simple charity. "We have chosen to attack those who own our food supply; others will attack those who own the roofs over our heads," they stated. "These problems have the same causes. The solution resides in their expropriation."
The activists specifically target what they call "the agro-industrial complex" that "prioritizes profit to the detriment of the essential needs of the population." They point to executive compensation disparities, noting that Empire Company Ltd. president Pierre St-Laurent earned $3.42 million in salary and benefits since his November appointment, compared to the average Canadian income of $65,300 in 2025.
Industry and Police Response
Antoine Langlois, president of Forex Langlois Inc., the forest operations contractor working in the Mékinac forest, confirmed he is taking the sabotage claims "very seriously" and has contacted both the Sûreté du Québec and legal counsel. Langlois maintains his company possesses all necessary authorizations for their forestry work.
Meanwhile, Anne-Hélène Lavoie, head of corporate affairs for Sobeys (which owns Rachelle Béry stores), condemned the grocery store actions while confirming cooperation with police investigations. "We condemn any criminal act that jeopardizes the safety of our teammates and customers," she stated, adding that no injuries occurred during either incident.
Broader Environmental Movement Connections
Les Robins des ruelles operates in coordination with Les Soulèvements du fleuve, which describes itself as "the composition of a resistance to the death economy." This entity appears inspired by the French environmental collective Les Soulèvements de la Terre (The Earth's Uprisings), known for direct actions against industrial farming and infrastructure projects across France.
The Quebec group's statement connects their forest action to broader resistance against "the appropriation of the St. Lawrence River, its banks and its watersheds by multinationals that destroy the territory and disregard local populations." They specifically mention opposition to projects including the Ray-Mont Logistique trans-shipment platform, various port developments, and mining initiatives for critical minerals in Quebec's north.
Public Reaction and Support
Despite their controversial methods, the activists' message resonates with some segments of the public. Nathalie Ainsley, spokesperson for the environmental coalition Mères au front, commented: "When families can't manage to fill their grocery cart while profits explode at the top and the managers give themselves salaries of many millions of dollars, it is not surprising that these acts of protest emerge."
The group explicitly welcomes new members, defining a member as "anyone who decides to take action ... to organize to expropriate those who are exploiting us." They acknowledge the risks involved, stating: "We know that shaking up the status quo is a risky move, but it is also a necessary move that we are prepared to take."
As investigations continue into both the grocery heists and forest sabotage claims, Les Robins des ruelles represents a growing trend of direct-action environmental and economic protest in Quebec, employing increasingly dramatic tactics to draw attention to their causes.
