What to know
- DomCon is scheduled for Aug. 29 in the Hamilton area, but its exact location has not been publicly disclosed.
- Hamilton police are conducting a threat assessment and developing an operational plan to prevent unlawful activity and preserve public safety.
- Mayor Andrea Horwath has warned potential venues about the organizers, while the City says it will not provide municipal space for the conference.
- Anti-racism groups are urging businesses and institutions to reject related bookings and asking residents to report threatening or intimidating activity.
Hamilton is preparing for a controversial nationalist conference scheduled for this weekend, with police developing an operational plan, the mayor warning local venues, and anti-racism groups urging businesses and institutions to shut their doors to organizers.
DomCon 2026 is scheduled to take place somewhere in the Hamilton area on Saturday, Aug. 29, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The exact location has not been publicly disclosed.
The event is being organized by the Dominion Society of Canada, a self-described nationalist advocacy group whose platform centres on “remigration,” a proposal that includes mass deportations and major restrictions on immigration and citizenship.
The Canadian Anti-Hate Network has identified the organization as part of Canada’s broader white-nationalist movement, while local groups say its messaging targets Black and racialized immigrants. The Dominion Society denies that it is a hate group and describes itself as an “advocacy organization focused on Canadian heritage and immigration reform.”
Insp. Darren Murphy of the Hamilton Police Service, who serves as the chief’s executive officer and oversees the service’s Hate Crime Unit, told Now Toronto that police have known about the event for some time.
“We’ve been aware of DomCon planning coming to the Hamilton area for quite some time, and we’ve been developing an operational plan with resources to be able to effectively respond if it does occur in the Hamilton area,” Murphy said.
He said they are not currently aware of where the conference will be held. Even if officers learn the location, the service does not intend to release it because doing so could attract crowds and increase the risk of a confrontation.
The operational plan includes a threat assessment examining potential risks involving the venue, attendees and surrounding community.
“Part of our operational plan is to basically ensure that there’s no criminal, unlawful behaviour and that public safety is preserved,” he said.
Police resources will be deployed across Hamilton to preserve the peace and respond to any unlawful conduct. Murphy clarified that officers would not be there to protect or support the event itself, but to ensure that any gathering remains lawful.
However, Murphy said their concerns extend beyond the possibility of a confrontation.
“DomCon is not welcome because of the impact that it has on our community,” Murphy said. “These views that they’re expressing are divisive; they’re exclusionary, and the messaging negatively affects the sense of safety and inclusion and belonging in Hamilton.”
The preparations come as Hamilton deals with an increase in reported hate activity. Hamilton Police recorded 332 hate and bias incidents in 2025, including 138 criminal offences — a 12 per cent increase from the previous year. More than half of the reported hate crimes involved graffiti, while Black, Jewish and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities were among those most frequently affected.
Residents who witness a crime in progress or face an immediate threat should call 911. Non-urgent concerns can be reported through the police non-emergency line at 905-546-4925 or through the service’s online hate and bias incident reporting tool.
Police also encouraged residents to report groups, posters, stickers or other activity they believe may be threatening or intimidating.
Mayor warns venues about the conference
Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath has also taken steps to prevent the Dominion Society from securing a space in the city.
Earlier this month, Horwath sent letters to local businesses and venues that could potentially host the conference, encouraging owners to familiarize themselves with the organization and the purpose of DomCon before accepting a booking.
Horwath said venues should have the “full context” about the organization when making their decisions. Her office did not publicly disclose how many businesses received the warning.
The mayor also confirmed that the City of Hamilton will not rent or make municipal facilities available to the Dominion Society. Bylaw officers have been monitoring posters and other promotional material connected to the event on public property.
“I stand firmly and reject hateful, hurtful rhetoric and racist and discriminatory activities of all kinds. The City of Hamilton will not allow this conference to be held in any of our facilities and will continue to encourage privately owned and operated venues to do the same,” Mayor Horwath told Now Toronto in a statement.
“I have been in contact with the Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre (HARRC) and Hamilton Police Service (HPS) regarding the potential event sharing our concerns and will continue to remain engaged with the appropriate partners.”
Community organizations call for action
On Aug. 4, several local organizations, including the Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre (HARRC) and the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion, issued a community statement and call to action.
The coalition characterized the Dominion Society as a hate-based group that targets Black and racialized immigrants and promotes a version of Canada centred on white European identity.
The organizations asked elected officials to denounce the Dominion Society and its remigration platform. They also called on municipal, provincial and federal leaders to ensure their policies and public statements do not contribute to the scapegoating of immigrants and racialized residents.
The coalition wants public institutions — including the City, McMaster University and Mohawk College — to reject any requests for event or meeting space. It also called on private businesses to verify bookings made around Aug. 29 and cancel any connected to the Dominion Society.
HARRC released a practical guide intended to help businesses and event staff recognize potentially misleading bookings made by extremist organizations. The campaign was partly prompted by previous cases in which venue owners said they were unaware of the nature of the groups renting their spaces.
The statement also asks residents who encounter DomCon posters to report their locations through the community-run We Support Hamilton platform. Residents are advised to prioritize their safety and avoid direct confrontations.
The Dominion Society previously held a gathering at Victoria and Gore parks in Hamilton on May 18. Participants called for remigration and the reinstatement of the Sir John A. Macdonald statue removed from Gore Park in 2021.
The coalition said Hamilton has faced similar organizing before. In 2024, community organizations worked together to oppose a planned Hamilton-area stop by Diagolon during its so-called “Terror Tour.”
Hamilton officials and community organizations say their immediate priority is preventing violence, responding to hate-motivated incidents and reassuring residents who feel targeted by the conference’s messaging.
“If they see anything, if they see a group that they’re concerned about, or they think that it might be intimidating in nature, definitely call the police,” Hamilton Police’s Darren Murphy said.
