A march in a Niagara park by a self-described “men’s nationalist club” over the Labour Day weekend is raising concerns about the growth of extremist groups in Canada.

The event appears to have taken place on Aug. 30. in Queenston Heights Park in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Images posted to social media that day show members of the Second Sons marching up to Brock’s Monument in the park as bystanders watch.

The participants are seen dressed in black shirts and white bandana-like face coverings, carrying flags and chanting. Some carry the red ensign flag – a symbol that has been used in white nationalist demonstrations in Canada over the past few years, according to experts – as they take part in the military-style demonstration.

A separate video posted by the group online in the days after shows an unmasked man making a speech to the participants at the monument, saluting Brock and praising him as a Canadian hero.

The person in the video appears to be the group’s president, Jeremy MacKenzie, based on comparison with some of his more recent video posts.

MacKenzie adds that today, he sees Canada as being “pillaged.”

In the speech, he angrily rails against politicians and bureaucrats “pandering” to outsider interests and says they “cannot even tell you what a Canadian is” as the edited video cuts to a slowed-down clip of three visible-minority men passing by. He also lashes out against the idea that anyone can become Canadian.

Niagara Regional Police said officers responded to a nuisance call at the monument at around 7 p.m. on Aug. 30 and determined that a group had left the scene before they arrived. However no crimes were reported and the identity of the group was not known, police said.

In a statement, Niagara Parks said neither they nor the Niagara Parks Police Service were aware of the event as they did not receive any complaints.

“The group did not have a permit or permission from Niagara Parks nor the Niagara Parks Police Service to gather in this way at Queenston Heights Park,” the statement read.

It added that Niagara Parks and Niagara Parks Police Service “do not condone the actions of the Second Sons, nor the beliefs that the group represents.”

‘Hate has no place in Niagara’

In a statement provided to CP24 Wednesday, Niagara-on-the-Lake Mayor Gary Zalepa said hate has “no place” in the town.

“On behalf of myself, my fellow Council Members, and the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, I want to make it clear that this group’s message is not supported or condoned, and this type of hate has no place in our Town,” Zalepa wrote. “The Town does not tolerate any form of racism, hate, or discrimination.”

In a post on X about the event several days later, area MPP Wayne Gates called it “horrifying.”

His office said he was not available for an interview, but referred to the rest of his post.

“Let’s be crystal clear - hate has no place in Niagara or anywhere in Canada. I completely condemn this ugly display of hatred in our community,” Gates wrote. “Niagara is for everyone.”

MP Tony Baldinelli, who represents the area federally, did not return a request for comment.

In the statement provided on Wednesday, Zalepa also sought to reassure concerned residents.

“To our residents, especially those who may feel targeted or hurt by this demonstration, know that you are respected and fundamental to the fabric of our community. This recent rally does not reflect our ethics or the inclusive, welcoming environment we are committed to fostering,” he wrote

“Council and Staff remain committed to safety, fairness, and respect for all residents, ensuring that our Town reflects a resilient, vibrant and welcoming community that residents expect and deserve.”

The Second Sons did not respond to a request for comment on the criticism via their website.

‘Concerning’: Groups on the rise

While officials condemned the demonstration, experts say such groups are gaining momentum in Canada and that the public should be paying attention.

“I think we do need to worry,” said Prof. Barbara Perry, director of the Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism at Ontario Tech University.

“We are seeing a growth in obviously, numbers associated with that group, but I think we’re also seeing more visibility and vocal presence of these sorts of groups.”

Perry, an expert in extremist movements in Canada, said the messaging from some Canadian extremist groups has grown bolder recently.

She points out that when MacKenzie founded another group, Diagolon, his tone was more humorous and he maintained that he was joking in some of his commentary.

“This is much more in your face. His narratives here have a much more serious, much more aggressive tone. So I think that’s worrying as well,” Perry said.

In particular, the group has become clearer that the end goal is to “overturn the current order, the current government in particular,” she added. “So yeah, I think very, very worrying.”

According to the Canadian Anti-Hate Network (CAHN), which tracks far-right and extremist groups in Canada, Diagolon is a loose network of people with neo-fascist, militant views. It emerged from a group of online streamers called “The Plaid Army,” which has been accused of spouting racist and antisemitic views, CAHN says. MacKenzie, a military veteran, has also been identified by CAHN as the leader of the group.

The U.S. State Department has referred to Diagolon as a far-right “extremist” group. The group was also identified in a June 2022 House of Commons report as an IMVE group – standing for Ideologically motivated violent extremism.

Growing appeal

While far right and white nationalist groups have grown bolder recently, Perry said they have gone through cycles over the past few years.

Around 2017-2019, their activity manifested as demonstrations around border crossings during a crisis around irregular border crossings.

“We saw a lot of activity, then it died down for a little bit, and then emerged again in the context of COVID and the convoys,” Perry recalled. “And you know, they sort of never went away; they just went a little quieter, if you will. And now this is the next, next sort of surge.”

Around 2015, she says, far right groups started using mixed martial arts and other physical activities to recruit young men.

More recently these activities have “morphed” into more formalized all-male “active clubs” that encourage their members to get fit so as to be prepared for battle.

“They’re hyper-masculine – toxically masculine, if you will – all-male clubs, and their intent is very similar,” Perry said. “I think they’re much more explicit about defining themselves as nationalists and preparing themselves for battle, keeping themselves pure and in good shape, so that they’re ready to rumble.”

There are efforts in particular, to recruit people with military and policing backgrounds because the groups want to foster militarism and discipline, according to Perry. However the Second Sons state on its website that active members of the police or military cannot join “as it would be detrimental to club cohesion and unity to invite potential agents of the state into our home.”

Education key

As for what’s fuelling the growing appeal of these groups, Perry points, in part, to the difficult economic circumstances many people are facing.

She points out that many Canadian industries that are currently being threatened – such as steel, aluminum and the auto sector – are male-dominated industries, a situation extremists can exploit.

Perry said extremist leaders are “very good at manipulating” the fears of men who “feel like they’ve lost the capacity take on that traditional role of provider and feel like they’ve lost their privilege.”

While there is no easy solution, she maintains that the problem should be treated as a public health issue at all levels of government, with a particular focus on education.

“The people who are losing their jobs because of the impact of tariffs are exactly those who will be vulnerable to this sort of messaging,” she says. “So how do we prepare them for that? How does the labour movement prepare their membership for this form of recruitment? How do they engage them in those conversations. It really has to happen at all levels, but I think awareness and education is really the first step.”

Spot chosen for symbolism

In terms of the group’s choice of Brock’s Monument for their demonstration, Perry said it was likely chosen for its military significance and association with early Canada.

The imposing 56-metre monument is one of the largest of its kind in Canada, according to the federal government, which owns the site. It was erected in 1853 on the site of a key battle in the War of 1812, during which Sir Isaac Brock was killed while leading the defeat of invading American forces.

“His efforts leading up to this battle led to his immediate immortalization as a founding hero of Upper Canada,” according to a recent government release announcing an impending $1.1 million facelift to repair the monument.

According to Friends of Fort George, which helps administer the site, the monument draws some 20,000 visitors each year.

The group pointed out that the monument has become a symbol of the sacrifices of all those who fought in the battle, including British redcoats, Canadian Militiamen, the Coloured Corps, and Haudenosaunee warriors under the command of John Norton and John Brant.

“Brock‘s Monument was paid for through public subscriptions, with the largest percentage of funding per capita coming from Indigenous nations that fought alongside Brock in the early part of the War of 1812,” Friends of Fort George said.

“Brock’s Monument is a deeply rooted national symbol that showcases one of Canada’s notable founding moments, and a Hero associated with that pivotal patriotic victory.”

Parks Canada was not able to provide a statement on the Second Sons’ use of the monument for their demonstration by publication.