Hamilton’s mayor has reached out to local businesses, urging them to be vigilant about an anti-immigration organization promoting an upcoming conference in the area. Andrea Horwath emphasized the importance of venues having a clear understanding of the organization and event’s purpose before deciding to host it. She expressed pride in leading a diverse city and highlighted that the Dominion Society of Canada, which is behind the DomCon 2026 event scheduled for Aug. 29, advocates for “remigration,” the deportation of immigrants to their home countries.
While acknowledging the freedom of expression, Horwath underscored the community’s values of inclusion, respect, and ensuring everyone feels a sense of belonging in Hamilton. Various local groups, including the Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre (HARRC) and Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion, issued an open letter on Aug. 4, urging businesses and institutions not to rent space to the Dominion Society. They called on elected officials to denounce the group and commit to policies that do not contribute to the scapegoating of immigrants and racialized communities.
HARRC also released a guide to assist venues in avoiding unintentionally renting space to hate-promoting groups. The organization pointed to incidents where extremist groups such as Diagolon and Second Sons secured spaces at community halls and gyms without the owners being aware of their true intentions. The Dominion Society’s website promotes the great replacement conspiracy theory, claiming that mass immigration is leading to chaos and advocating for the mass deportation of various groups from Canada.
Barbara Perry, from the Centre on Hate, Bias, and Extremism at Ontario Tech University, criticized the Dominion Society’s arguments as inherently racist and xenophobic. Horwath highlighted that the Canadian Anti-Hate Network has identified the Dominion Society as part of a growing white-nationalist movement in Canada. The Dominion Society, however, maintains that it is not a hate group but an advocacy group focusing on immigration reform and the preservation of Canadian heritage.
Horwath clarified that she is not asking venues to act against their policies but wants them to be informed about the Dominion Society’s mandate and event nature before making any bookings related to the organization. The exact number of businesses that received the mayor’s letter remains unspecified. Nevertheless, Horwath confirmed that the city will not rent or make city facilities available to the Dominion Society, with bylaw staff monitoring event-related materials on public property.
Local businesses, like Pring Guesthouse, appreciated the mayor’s proactive approach in warning them about the situation. The hostel affirmed its commitment to diversity and inclusion, declaring that the Dominion Society would never be welcome on its premises. Hamilton police are devising a plan to address any risks, disruptions, or criminal activities associated with the DomCon 2026 event. They aim to respond to community concerns and maintain a visible presence to ensure enforcement action is taken where necessary. Additionally, they urge individuals encountering hate incidents to report them, with HARRC offering a community-driven tool for reporting such incidents.