Hamilton’s mayor has reached out to local businesses, cautioning them about an anti-immigration organization advertising an upcoming conference in the area. Andrea Horwath emphasized the importance of venues being well-informed about the group and event before deciding to host it. The Dominion Society of Canada, promoting an event named DomCon 2026 on Aug. 29, advocates for “remigration,” the deportation of immigrants to their home countries.
Horwath highlighted that Hamilton is a diverse city, standing for values of inclusion and respect. Several Hamilton groups, including the Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre and Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion, issued an open letter urging businesses not to rent space to the Dominion Society. They called for elected officials to denounce the group and ensure their policies do not contribute to the scapegoating of immigrants and racialized communities.
HARRC also released a guide to assist venues in avoiding unintentionally renting to hate-promoting groups. Recent incidents, such as Diagolon and Second Sons securing spaces without the owners’ awareness of their true intentions, serve as examples of the need for vigilance in rental agreements. The Dominion Society’s website pushes the great replacement conspiracy theory, asserting that mass immigration is disrupting Canada.
Barbara Perry from Ontario Tech University’s Centre on Hate, Bias, and Extremism labeled Dominion Society’s arguments as inherently racist and xenophobic. Horwath’s letter referenced the Canadian Anti-Hate Network identifying Dominion Society as part of a growing white-nationalist movement in Canada. Dominion Society defended itself as an advocacy group focusing on immigration reform, not a hate group.
Unclear about the number of businesses receiving the mayor’s letter, Horwath maintained that the city would not provide facilities for the organization’s event. Hamilton police are developing a plan to address any risks associated with the conference, acknowledging the potential impact on community members. They encourage reporting of threats, harassment, or hate-motivated activities. HARRC offers a community tool for reporting hate incidents.
