Montreal surfaces hundreds of times in documents linked to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, released recently by the U.S. Department of Justice. The city, a quick flight from one of Epstein’s New York vacation homes, drew his attention even after his 2008 conviction for soliciting sex from a minor and related prostitution charges, when he registered as a sex offender.
Emails reveal Epstein’s assistant booked a room for him twice at the Ritz-Carlton in July 2014 to attend the Nasty Show at Montreal’s Just for Laughs Festival, though the plans were canceled. Most references to Montreal and Quebec in the files prove minor, such as one note about learning French there without adopting the Quebecois accent, or Epstein calling it the second-best spot for French lessons and single life after Saint-Barthélemy.
Key Quebec Figures in the Documents
Several prominent Quebec individuals appear in the files amid broader scrutiny of Epstein’s associations with figures from politics, business, and entertainment following his guilty plea.
Austin Hill’s Meetings and Investments
Montreal cryptocurrency entrepreneur and angel investor Austin Hill connected with Epstein multiple times over four years, including a visit to Epstein’s private island, Little St. James, in April 2014. Hill’s group stayed at a nearby hotel during the trip.
Their first meeting occurred a month earlier at the Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver, leading to Epstein’s $50,000 investment in Hill’s startup Blockstream via a venture fund. Hill later sought Epstein’s advice on business, Bitcoin, and other matters. In January 2015, amid reports of then-Prince Andrew’s ties to Epstein, Hill emailed an apology for interrupting during a media storm and requested counsel.
That month followed Virginia Giuffre’s allegation in a Florida court that Epstein trafficked her at age 17 to have sex with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Recently, Mountbatten-Windsor faced arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office over his Epstein links; police released him under investigation without charges.
Correspondence ended in 2018 with Hill proposing secure communication amid talks of a Sharia-compliant cryptocurrency for Muslim clients. Hill has condemned Epstein’s crimes and expressed regret over any association.
Guy Laliberté’s Business Outreach
Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté appears repeatedly in Epstein’s inbox starting in 2011, including a Christmas card and charity event invite labeling Epstein a “dear friend.” In 2018, Laliberté offered two Ibiza villas—Can Soleil and Can Luna—for sale, but no deal materialized.
A spokesperson for Laliberté described the emails as non-personal mass mailings sent to dozens of affluent contacts, including Epstein, whom he knew only from brief New York social encounters. The spokesperson noted Epstein’s inclusion in Laliberté’s extensive address book led to generic holiday cards and broad communications, with the “dear friend” phrase used in thousands of similar messages.
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem’s Montreal Visits
Dubai tycoon Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, former head of port operator DP World—a partner with Quebec’s pension fund manager, La Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ)—frequently visited Montreal. In November 2016, he informed Epstein of a major day in Canada there, coinciding with the announcement of a $5-billion investment platform between DP World and CDPQ. Bin Sulayem then traveled to Epstein’s island.
Their exchanges featured crude jokes, links to Seeking Arrangements profiles, a poem about Brazilian women, and details of an explicit Tokyo massage. Bin Sulayem also arranged for a masseuse from Epstein’s spa to train in Turkey.
Bin Sulayem resigned as DP World CEO and chairman on February 13, 2026. CDPQ has paused additional investments with DP World and urged action, stating it will collaborate with new leadership to advance global port projects. The Port of Montreal confirms ongoing operations despite the change.
