Hamilton police have reported that a venue which had agreed to host an anti-immigration group’s national conference in the upcoming week has now rescinded the booking.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. Although the police did not disclose specifics about the venue or the reasons for the cancellation, a coalition of Hamilton groups, including the Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre (HARRC), had previously cautioned venues against hosting the event.
The Mayor of Hamilton also issued a warning to venues and businesses regarding the event. Despite the cancellation, HARRC mentioned that the Dominion Society is actively seeking an alternate venue under various names, including Ridgeway Media. HARRC Director Lyndon George stated that the lack of details about the cancellation was to protect the venue’s privacy.
In response to inquiries about the event, Dominion Society’s co-founder and chair, Daniel Tyrie, affirmed that the conference, known as DOMCON26, will proceed as planned despite opposition. Tyrie indicated that the event scheduled for this Saturday in the Hamilton area is already sold out.
The Dominion Society, founded in 2025 by Tyrie, advocates for Canadian heritage and immigration reform, specifically focusing on “remigration” or the deportation of immigrants back to their home countries. The group’s plan includes the deportation of millions of individuals, including temporary foreign workers and those born in Canada to non-Canadian citizens. Despite claims of promoting Canadian heritage, various community groups and politicians have criticized the Dominion Society for spreading fear and hate, which Tyrie denies.
Additionally, experts from the Canadian Anti-Hate Network have labeled the Dominion Society as a racist group aiming to make Canada a white-dominated society by blaming issues on immigrants. The group has associations with other white nationalist organizations such as Diagolon and Second Sons, according to reports. Tyrie countered these claims by stating that the Dominion Society comprises members with diverse political backgrounds.
Furthermore, B’nai Brith Canada has raised concerns about the event, urging federal officials to prevent foreign extremists from participating. The organization emphasized the need to counteract the normalization of hatred and extremism in Canadian society. However, there was no confirmation from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) regarding any potential denial of entry for attendees.
When questioned about security concerns related to DomCon, the Hamilton Police Service declined to disclose specific policing plans for operational reasons. They assured that they are collaborating with partners to address any potential risks or disruptions associated with the event.
