Hamilton’s mayor has reached out to local businesses, urging them to be cautious of an anti-immigration group promoting an upcoming conference in the area. Andrea Horwath emphasized the importance of venues being fully informed about the organization and the event’s purpose before deciding to host it. The Dominion Society of Canada, facilitating an event named DomCon 2026 on August 29, advocates for “remigration,” which involves returning immigrants to their countries of origin.
Horwath expressed pride in leading a city known for its diversity, emphasizing values of inclusion, respect, and ensuring a sense of belonging for everyone in Hamilton. In response to this group, various Hamilton organizations, including the Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre (HARRC) and Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion, jointly penned an open letter on August 4. They called on businesses and institutions to refrain from renting space to the Dominion Society, urging elected officials to denounce the group’s ideologies and commit to policies that do not fuel discrimination against immigrants and racialized communities.
HARRC also released a guide to assist venues in avoiding unintentionally renting to hate-promoting groups. Recent incidents highlighted by HARRC director Lyndon George revealed extremist groups like Diagolon and Second Sons securing spaces in community halls and gyms without the owners being aware of their true intentions.
The Dominion Society’s website promotes the “great replacement” conspiracy theory, asserting that mass immigration is disrupting the Canadian identity. The group advocates for mass deportations, including temporary foreign workers, permanent residents, and individuals born in Canada to non-Canadian citizens. Barbara Perry from Ontario Tech University’s Centre on Hate, Bias, and Extremism criticized the group’s rhetoric as inherently racist and xenophobic, attributing societal issues to immigrants.
Horwath referenced the Canadian Anti-Hate Network’s identification of the Dominion Society as part of a rising white-nationalist movement in Canada. The group, however, denies being a hate group and instead presents itself as focusing on Canadian heritage and identity through immigration reform advocacy. The mayor clarified that she is not requesting venues to act beyond their policies but to be aware of the organization’s mandate and event nature before any bookings.
While the exact number of businesses receiving the mayor’s letter remains undisclosed, Horwath highlighted that she contacted local venues potentially hosting the advertised event. The city has decided not to rent or make its facilities available to the Dominion Society, with bylaw staff monitoring event-related materials on public property.
In response to the upcoming conference, Hamilton police are devising a plan to address any associated risks, disruptions, or criminal activities. They acknowledge the potential fear and uncertainty caused by the event’s promotion, especially among community members targeted by hate speech. The police assure a visible presence and enforcement actions where warranted, encouraging individuals to report threats, harassment, or hate-driven behaviors. Additionally, HARRC offers a community tool for reporting hate incidents.
