Hamilton police have reported that a venue which had agreed to host an anti-immigration group’s national conference in the upcoming week has reneged on the booking. The Dominion Society of Canada had scheduled its DomCon conference, featuring speakers from Canada and abroad, for August 29 in the vicinity of Hamilton. Despite the group’s announcement on August 13 that a Hamilton venue had been secured, no further details regarding the venue’s location or the reasons for the cancellation have been disclosed by the police.
A collective of Hamilton organizations, including the Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre (HARRC), had cautioned venues against hosting the event and had produced a guide to aid in identifying white nationalist groups before committing to bookings. The city’s mayor also issued a warning to venues and businesses in this regard.
HARRC has revealed that the Dominion Society is actively seeking an alternative venue for their event in the Hamilton area. The group has advised venue owners and businesses to be vigilant in reviewing bookings and inquiries for this Saturday, noting that the group may attempt to make arrangements under alternate names such as Ridgeway Media.
In response to inquiries from CBC Hamilton, the Dominion Society’s co-founder and chair, Daniel Tyrie, confirmed that the event is proceeding as planned despite reported cancellations. Tyrie mentioned that the event scheduled for this Saturday in the Hamilton area is already sold out.
The Dominion Society, established in 2025 by Tyrie, is a registered non-profit organization based in Ottawa, with a focus on advocating for Canadian heritage and immigration reform. The group’s website outlines its vision for “remigration,” involving the deportation of millions of immigrants back to their home countries. While Tyrie denies accusations of promoting fear and hate, various community groups and politicians have condemned the group’s activities.
Experts in hate and extremism have highlighted the Dominion Society as a racist group seeking to make Canada predominantly white while scapegoating immigrants for societal issues. The group has been associated with individuals from more extreme white nationalist organizations.
HARRC continues to advise venues to inquire about any potential association with DomCon before agreeing to rental arrangements. Additionally, B’nai Brith Canada has called on federal authorities to prevent foreign extremists from participating in the conference, citing concerns of spreading hatred and extremism in Canadian society.
When approached for comments, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) stated that entry to Canada is not denied based on personal beliefs or political views but can be restricted on security grounds. Hamilton Police Service declined to provide specifics on operational plans related to the event for security reasons.