Court cases, groups, incidents, official statistics and public responses connected to Niagara. Each record quotes its sources, names a person only when the editorial rules allow it, and links to a correction request.
A court case, group, incident or response needs at least two credible sources. Court records, police statements, the Canadian Anti-Hate Network, GPAHE, Public Safety Canada and established news outlets qualify. An official statistic may cite one official publisher, such as Statistics Canada, and can carry a methodology note. A support resource may cite one verified page or phone number. Social media, forums and rumour do not.
Descriptions use the source’s wording, in quotation marks or attributed. A person is named only when charged or convicted, when they are a publicly self-identified leader of a documented group, or when they are a public figure already reported by credible press — and only with two sources. Home addresses, workplaces, family members, photos of private people and anything that identifies a minor stay out.
Described by CBC as a "self-described 'Canadian men's nationalist' group". Experts quoted by CBC call it "an active club in all but name." The St. Catharines Standard called it "one of Canada's emerging white nationalist clubs." CBC reported members training in the Hamilton and Niagara area. Held a masked rally at Brock's Monument, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Aug. 30, 2025. CAHN says Diagolon's leaders created it as "a new organization with membership requirements."
Named in this record
Jeremy MacKenzie — "Second Sons leader Jeremy MacKenzie is also the founder of Diagolon" (CBC, 2025-09-09); "launched Second Sons Canada earlier this year and led the march at Queenston Heights" (St. Catharines Standard)
The RCMP calls it an "extremist, militia-like organization" (via CBC). CAHN: "one of the largest and most active white nationalist networks in Canada". GPAHE's June 6, 2024 page calls it a "white supremacist Canadian movement". The Standard reports the Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association said people linked with Diagolon showed up to disrupt local events. NOT on Public Safety Canada's listed-entities list (checked 2026-10-17).
Named in this record
Jeremy MacKenzie — "Second Sons leader Jeremy MacKenzie is also the founder of Diagolon" (CBC, 2025-09-09). St. Catharines Standard (2025-09-04): "Diagolon was founded during the COVID-19 pandemic as an anti-government and anti-institution movement by social media influencer Jeremy MacKenzie."
Second Sons masked rally at Brock's Monument, Niagara-on-the-Lake
documentedRally date: Aug. 30, 2025 (per Niagara Parks, via CBC)
CBC (Sept. 9, 2025): Second Sons "shared photos and videos on social media showing about 50 people marching, chanting and carrying flags through Queenston Heights Park"; "Most of the people in those images are wearing matching white masks and black T-shirts." CBC said the rally "is prompting concern about rising anti-immigrant sentiment and recruitment efforts of extremist groups." Niagara Parks (via CBC): "no incidents were reported." St. Catharines Standard (Sept. 4, 2025): "dozens of men wearing white face coverings" and "One video showed more than 50 men." Date: Aug. 30, 2025 (per Niagara Parks, via CBC).
This group is based outside Niagara. It is included because credible reporting connects it to the region.
CBC News: "A CBC visual investigation recently found Second Sons and active club Nationalist-13 to be training in martial arts studios, gyms and parks in the Hamilton and Niagara area."
Niagara Falls 'hate-related graffiti' case: one arrest, mischief charge
charged with mischief under $5,000; released with a future court date (Niagara Daily News, May 8, 2026)
Niagara Daily News: "hate-related graffiti"; "hate speech was spray painted on several buildings." 105-1 The River: "hate speech had been spray painted on buildings."
In May 2024, property in a Welland neighbourhood was spray-painted with what the St. Catharines Standard called "hateful and vulgar language." The Niagara Falls Review later reported "hateful and obscene graffiti." Two youths were arrested. One pleaded guilty to five charges, including mischief and theft, and received two years' probation, reported 2024-07-25. The Youth Criminal Justice Act applies, so this record omits identifying details.
Niagara-on-the-Lake Lord Mayor condemns rally (council response)
documented
Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa read a statement at a Sept. 9, 2025 meeting: "this group's message is not supported or condoned, and this type of hate has no place in our Town." A statement, NOT a formal council motion. No regional or municipal motion found yet.
Niagara Regional Police's annual report to the Police Services Board (report dated Feb. 2, 2024; received at the Feb. 22, 2024 board meeting, consent item 8.11) says: "In 2023, there were 30 reported occurrences that had a hate and/or bias related element. All 30 occurrences were designated as hate incidents, as they did not satisfy the Criminal Code criteria of a hate crime." The report says: "Of the 30 occurrences, the NRPS laid 3 criminal charges that are still before the courts; however, none met the criminal code threshold of a hate/bias crime." The St. Catharines Standard (Allan Benner, Feb. 27, 2024) described them as "30 suspected hate crimes in 2023, leading to three criminal charges — but none as hate crimes." Also from the report: "the motivation for the accused individual to commit the offence was not or could not be proven to be because of hatred or bias toward the identifiable group." The report says mischief/graffiti accounted for "nearly 67% of the total occurrences." The report's three-year comparison table lists 41 incidents and 7 charges in 2022 and 21 incidents in 2021. The report says "there was a decrease of 11 reported hate/bias occurrences from 2022."
In an emergency, call 911. For a hate crime or hate incident that is not an emergency, the Niagara Regional Police Service lists these non-emergency numbers on its Report Hate page.
Emergency: 911. Non-emergency hate crime or incident: (905) 688-4111 for St. Catharines, Thorold, Niagara Falls and NOTL; (905) 871-2300 for Fort Erie; (905) 945-2211 for Grimsby, Lincoln and West Lincoln; (905) 735-7811 for Welland, Wainfleet, Pelham and Port Colborne. [email protected].
