A chilling march through Queenston Heights Park in Niagara-on-the-Lake has ignited warnings from experts and public officials about the rise of extremist groups in Canada. Over the Labour Day weekend, members of the self-described “men’s nationalist club” Second Sons staged a military-style demonstration at Brock’s Monument, dressed in black shirts and white bandanas, waving flags — including the red ensign, a symbol increasingly tied to white nationalist rallies — and chanting as bystanders looked on.
Videos later posted online showed the group’s leader, Jeremy MacKenzie, delivering a fiery speech condemning politicians and bureaucrats for “pandering to outsider interests” and questioning who counts as Canadian, with the video cutting to footage of visible minority men walking past. MacKenzie claimed Canada is being “pillaged” and urged supporters to resist the current order.
The event drew swift condemnation. Niagara-on-the-Lake Mayor Gary Zalepa reassured residents that “hate has no place” in the town, while area MPP Wayne Gates called the display “horrifying” and vowed that “Niagara is for everyone.” Niagara Parks confirmed the group had no permit for the gathering and stated it does not condone the group’s beliefs.
Experts say this march is part of a broader trend. Professor Barbara Perry, director of the Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism at Ontario Tech University, warned that far-right groups are becoming more organized, visible, and militant. What began as tongue-in-cheek rhetoric in online spaces has evolved into aggressive calls to overturn the current government and prepare for “battle.” She noted that these groups actively recruit men from military and policing backgrounds and use fitness and martial arts as part of their strategy to build “hyper-masculine, nationalistic” networks.
The Second Sons’ choice of Brock’s Monument — a site honoring Sir Isaac Brock and Indigenous allies who fought in the War of 1812 — was likely symbolic, meant to evoke military heritage and Canadian nationalism. But many see its use by extremist groups as a troubling attempt to hijack patriotic history for divisive ends.
With economic hardship, job insecurity, and disillusionment fueling recruitment, Perry argues that government, labour groups, and civil society must respond with education and early intervention. “Awareness is the first step,” she says, stressing that unchecked radicalization could lead to more public displays — and potentially violence.
The Second Sons did not respond to requests for comment, leaving their growing visibility and boldness to speak for themselves — and leaving communities across Canada bracing for what might come next.