Hamilton police have reported that a venue which had agreed to host an anti-immigration group’s national conference has now rescinded the booking. The Dominion Society of Canada had planned its DomCon conference with Canadian and international speakers on August 29 in the “Hamilton area.” The venue in Hamilton was booked by the group on August 13.

Details about the venue, including its location and the reasons for the cancellation, were not disclosed by the police. Prior to the cancellation, a coalition of Hamilton groups, including the Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre (HARRC), had advised venues against hosting the event. HARRC had also created a guide to help identify white nationalist groups to prevent bookings.

Despite the cancellation, the Dominion Society is actively seeking a new venue in the Hamilton area for its event. HARRC has urged venue owners and businesses to scrutinize bookings and inquiries for the upcoming event, cautioning that the group may attempt to make arrangements under different names, such as Ridgeway Media.

Director Lyndon George of HARRC stated that they are refraining from sharing further details about the cancellation to protect the venue’s privacy. The Dominion Society’s co-founder and chair, Daniel Tyrie, confirmed that the event is proceeding as planned, despite opposition from various groups and politicians.

The Dominion Society of Canada advocates for “remigration,” which involves deporting immigrants back to their home countries. The group claims to have thousands of members and focuses on promoting Canadian heritage and immigration reform. Critics argue that the group incites fear and hate, while Tyrie denies these allegations.

Experts have labeled the Dominion Society as a racist group that aims to make Canada a predominantly white nation by blaming immigrants for societal issues. The group has faced backlash for its extremist views and associations with neo-Nazi and white nationalist groups.

The Dominion Society’s upcoming conference in Hamilton has sparked concern among various organizations, with efforts to prevent foreign extremists from entering the country to attend. Local authorities have been alerted, and security measures are being discussed to address potential risks associated with the event.

Immigration officials clarified that individuals cannot be denied entry to Canada based solely on their beliefs or political views but can be refused entry on security grounds. Law enforcement agencies are working with partners to address any security concerns related to the conference but have not disclosed specific operational plans.