Quebec politicians denounce white supremacists’ gathering in Shawinigan

Quebec politicians denounce white supremacists’ gathering in Shawinigan

More than a dozen masked individuals were pictured holding a banner that said, 'I remember a white Quebec'

Politicians in Quebec are condemning a photo that emerged on Facebook this weekend of more than a dozen masked individuals in Shawinigan, Que., holding up a large banner that said, in French: “I remember a white Quebec.”

Shawinigan is located roughly 160 kilometres northeast of Montreal, in central Quebec’s Mauricie region. The photo was reportedly taken Saturday afternoon in Veterans Park.

The city's mayor, Yves Lévesque, posted a response on his Facebook page Sunday evening, saying that Shawinigan is "an open, inclusive and respectful place … a land of opportunity for everyone."

He condemned "in the strongest possible terms any message of exclusion or hatred," which he said is incompatible with his community's values.

The City of Shawinigan told Radio-Canada that it was not informed of this event, and would never have endorsed an event with racist overtones.

"We are a tolerant city, open to the world, which welcomes a significant number of immigrants each year," through the Services d'Accueil des Nouveaux Arrivants (SANA), said the City of Shawinigan's Director of Communications, Frédéric Beaulieu.

SANA Shawinigan describes itself on its website as a non-profit organization whose "mission is to promote the integration of newcomers."

"These newcomers enrich our social fabric," Beaulieu said. "We deplore the fact that these individuals chose Shawinigan to spread such an unacceptable message of intolerance.

The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) for the Mauricie region told CBC on Sunday that they are working to verify the photo that’s been circulating on social media.

SQ spokesperson Sgt. Valérie Beauchamp said they did not receive any calls in relation to the gathering.

'This is not the Quebec we want'

Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette said on X that she strongly condemned the gathering, and the racist messages that were conveyed there.

"Like many Quebecers, I was deeply shocked," she said, "Such statements are unacceptable and have no place in our society. This is not the Quebec we are. This is not the Quebec we want."

The premier maintained that Quebec is "an open, inclusive, and respectful society," and said those are values "we must continue to defend."

Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon also wrote on X that “white supremacist groups have brandished racist messages in Mauricie. These ‘active clubs’ — such as Second Sons Canada — hide behind sports to recruit and normalize extremism.”

The "active clubs" St-Pierre Plamondon referenced are also known as fascist fight clubs, where members train for a race war.

Second Sons Canada — the white nationalist group St-Pierre Plamondon mentioned, and which CBC has previously investigated — calls itself a “men’s nationalist club.” On the group's social media pages, its members dress in the same way as those pictured in Shawinigan.

Leaders of growing ‘nationalist’ club praise Nazis, say ‘race war is here’

Federal Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, who’s the MP for Saint-Maurice-Champlain, said in a statement to Radio-Canada that he has “never seen such a gathering within our community."

"A deplorable act that goes against our values. Our citizens are welcoming, generous, and respectful of others," he said.

Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet wrote on X: “This filth is a disgrace of racism and cowardice. Quebec can and must be better.”

He added that the province is a society enriched by its “history of diversity … with a secular state that welcomes successful immigration in harmony. Hatred is not welcome there.”

The leader of the Quebec Liberal Party, Charles Milliard, also posted on X that he “unequivocally” condemns the gathering that took place.

“Shame on those who spread a divisive message that in no way represents the openness of the Quebecois people.”

Québec Solidaire co-spokesperson Sol Zanetti echoed that sentiment in his Bluesky post, which read, in part:

“Quebec identity would be quite superficial if it were linked to skin colour. White supremacy has no place in Quebec.”

Patricia Kozicka is a digital journalist with CBC Montreal. She has previously worked in Toronto and Edmonton. You can reach her at patricia.kozicka@cbc.ca.