In early June, the first public hearing of the U.S. South of the border the situation is quite different. While obviously relevant to Canada, part of what makes this network important is its transnational nature, which connects individuals who are engaged with right-wing extremist ideologies from around the world.Ĭontrary to the situation with jihadi violence in North America, which was, at its height, focused around one or two main organizations, far-right extremism presents a much more diffuse, and therefore daunting, societal challenge. A replacement channel by the same name was created soon after, and has since grown to nearly the same membership as its predecessor. Posts shared in the network of channels include content from Telegram channels associated with Fashlash, an offshoot of the international neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division.Īs of May 2022, the network’s largest Telegram channel boasted more than 42,000 members, before being shut down for violating the platform’s terms and services.

In contrast to their Proud Boys roots, Canada First’s network is unapologetically fascist, dedicated to producing neo-Nazi propaganda and connecting like-minded National Socialists. This network is centred around 20 or so former members of the Proud Boys chapter based in Hamilton, Ont., including Tim Kelly and Brandon Lapointe.

Proud boys leader