DomCon
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| DomCon | |
|---|---|
| Status | Active |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Locations | Burlington, Ontario, Canada |
| Inaugurated | August 2026 |
Most recent | August 29th, 2026 |
Next event | 2027 |
DomCon is a political conference dedicated to remigration. It was organised by the Dominion Society of Canada.
History
[edit]The event was scheduled for August 29th, 2026.[1] According to Dominion Society chairman Daniel Tyrie, tickets for the event sold out by August 22nd, 2026.[2] The event was originally planned to take place in Hamilton, Ontario.[3] Later, it was moved to Burlington, Ontario.[4]
Speakers
[edit]Austrian far-right activist Martin Sellner was invited to attend DomCon but was denied entry into Canada.[5] Despite being unable to attend in person, Sellner attended and spoke at the event virtually.[6]
Restore Britain spokesman Charlie Downes was invited to attend DomCon. Prior to the event he was detained at the US-Canada border but was later released and attended the convention.[7]
Reactions
[edit]Political reactions
[edit]Mayor of West Lincoln Cheryl Ganann stated that the Dominion Society would not be permitted to host any events in the town.[8]
Mayor of St. Catharines Mat Siscoe condemned DomCon and the Dominion Society and stated that their views are not welcome in St. Catharines. He also urged local businesses to not rent out a space for the Dominion Society.[9]
B'nai Brith Canada urged the Canadian government to prevent Martin Sellner from entering the country.[10][11]
The Friends of Fort George announced that Brock's Monument would be closed for the duration of DomCon, citing the need to protect the "safety of its student employees."[12]
Conservative Party MP Andrew Lawton criticized police reaction to the Dominion Society, stating that the actions taken against the Dominion Society amounted to censorship.[13]
Former Conservative Party leader Erin O'Toole stated that while he disagrees with the Dominion Society's views, the group should be free to express their views.[14]
Counter protests
[edit]| DomCon counter protests | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | August 29th, 2026 | |||
| Location | ||||
| Caused by | Announcement of DomCon Growth of the Dominion Society of Canada Attendance of European right-wing activists | |||
| Concessions | None | |||
| Parties | ||||
| ||||
Several counter protests took place in response to DomCon.
Counter protests in Hamilton, Ontario were organized by Hope Not Hate and included groups such as the Hamilton & District Labour Council, the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion, and the Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre.[16] According to CBC News, more than 100 people attended the counter protest outside of Hamilton city hall.[17]
A counter demonstration took place in Burlington, Ontario outside of The Atrium Banquet and Conference Centre where DomCon was being hosted. Around 30 masked counter protesters took part in the demonstration while several men in suits wearing Dominion Society lanyards stood them down. Officers of the Halton Regional Police Service kept the two groups from engaging each other.[18]
A counter demonstration took place in Peterborough, Ontario in the morning of August 29th. It was organized by Kawarthas United Against Hate[19] and the Peterborough-Nogojiwanong chapter of the International Socialists Canada.[20] Peterborough mayoral candidates Keith Riel, Rob Hailman, and Jacob Méthot were in attendance at the demonstration while council candidates Joy Lachica, Chris Potter, Matt Crowley, Jen Lacey, Ashley Bonner and Charmaine Magumbe also attended the demonstration. Magumbe was the only candidate to give a speech to the crowd while she was at the same time representing the Afrocentric Awareness Network of Peterborough during the protest.[21]
References
[edit]- ↑ "'DomCon is not welcome': Hamilton police, mayor, and community groups take action ahead of controversial nationalist conference this weekend". Now Toronto. 25 August 2026. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
- ↑ "Venue cancels anti-immigration group's conference booking in Hamilton, police say". CBC News. 25 August 2026. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
- ↑ "Unwanted in Hamilton, West Lincoln tells anti-immigrant group Dominion Society of Canada to stay away". Niagara This Week. 27 August 2026. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
- ↑ "Niagara spared from anti-immigration rally as event moves to Burlington". The Local. 1 September 2026. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
- ↑ "Hamilton police join call for venues to 'consider the impact' of hosting anti-immigration group Saturday". CBC News. 28 August 2026. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
The website for the ticketed conference lists speakers such as Austrian white nationalist Martin Sellner, who is permanently banned from the U.K. However, Sellner posted a video on Thursday saying Canadian officials did not let him enter the country.
- ↑ "Anti-immigration speaker banned from U.K. still planning to attend Ontario conference". Chat News Today!. 15 August 2026. Retrieved 2 September 2026.
- ↑ "Restore Britain spokesman Charlie Downes detained on way to far-right Canada conference". Searchlight Magazine. 29 August 2026. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
- ↑ "West Lincoln says it will not host Hamilton-based white nationalist group event". CKTB News. 27 August 2026. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
- ↑ "'We didn't want them:' Hamilton rallies against Dominion Society, as group holds event in Burlington, Ont". CBC News. 29 August 2026. Retrieved 3 September 2026.
- ↑ "Anti-immigrant speaker blocked from entering Canada in time for Hamilton event". CP24. 27 August 2026. Retrieved 2 September 2026.
- ↑ "Anti-immigrant speaker blocked from entering Canada in time for Hamilton event". CTV News. 27 August 2026. Retrieved 6 September 2026.
- ↑ "Niagara spared from anti-immigration rally as event moves to Burlington". Notllocal. 1 September 2026. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
On Friday, the Friends of Fort George, the non-profit that staffs and looks after Brock's Monument, decided to close the historic tower to the public on Saturday, for the safety of its student employees, who were shifted to Fort George for the day.
- ↑ "Hamilton police join call for venues to 'consider the impact' of hosting anti-immigration group Saturday". CBC News. 28 August 2026. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
Andrew Lawton, a Conservative member of parliament for Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, said the police reaction to the group amounts to censorship.
- ↑ "Hamilton police join call for venues to 'consider the impact' of hosting anti-immigration group Saturday". CBC News. 28 August 2026. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
Meanwhile, when asked on social media about the Hamilton police response, former federal Conservative leader Erin O'Toole said: "Groups like [Dominion Society] have potential overlap with ideologically motivated violent extremist groups that our security agencies have to monitor for public safety... That said, I find the Dominion group views immature and repugnant but they are free to have them and speak them."
- ↑ "'We are not a community of hate and racism': Anti-hate rally draws broad community support". Peterborough Examiner. 30 August 2026. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
The Saturday rally was held without any interruption or counterprotest organized by, or associated with, the Dominion Society. According to some in attendance, a small crowd of individuals thought to be members were present shortly before 11 a.m. when the protest began, but soon disappeared behind the Cenotaph in Confederation Square.
- ↑ "Anti-hate rally held at Hamilton City Hall as Dominion Society conference proceeds". CHCH. 29 August 2026. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
- ↑ "'We didn't want them:' Hamilton rallies against Dominion Society, as group holds event in Burlington, Ont". CBC News. 29 August 2026. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
- ↑ "'We didn't want them:' Hamilton rallies against Dominion Society, as group holds event in Burlington, Ont". CBC News. 29 August 2026. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
CBC Hamilton observed several men in suits wearing Dominion Society lanyards in the parking lot of The Atrium Banquet and Conference Centre. One of them, Max Genest, identified himself as a member of the group. The parking lot was nearly full. Around 30 masked protesters were also on site, as were several members of the Halton Regional Police Service.
- ↑ "Peterborough residents resist white nationalism at August 29th community demonstration". Frequency News. 31 August 2026. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
- ↑ "'We are not a community of hate and racism': Anti-hate rally draws broad community support". Peterborough Examiner. 30 August 2026. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
- ↑ "'We are not a community of hate and racism': Anti-hate rally draws broad community support". Peterborough Examiner. 30 August 2026. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
Mayoral candidates Rob Hailman, Jacob Méthot, and Keith Riel were among the crowd, while council candidates Joy Lachica, Chris Potter, Matt Crowley, Jen Lacey, and Ashley Bonner were also present. Charmaine Magumbe, who is running for a seat in Northcrest Ward, was the only candidate who addressed the crowd on Saturday, representing the Afrocentric Awareness Network of Peterborough.