Regina Media Interviews: CJME

I was busy Wednesday afternoon talking with cjme and the Regina Leader-Post about a white supremacist group's attempt to have Kindersley, and other communities across Canada, support their cause. Below is the article based on my interview with cjme.

Small Saskatchewan towns warned about 'European Heritage Week'

City of Regina was duped by white supremacy group before revoking declaration

Reported by Kevin Martel

First Posted: Aug 22, 2013 7:43am

The City of Regina’s blunder has given the heads-up to other communities around Saskatchewan who may be the target of the Nationalist Party of Canada.

Regina had declared a week in October as “European Heritage Week” thinking it was an innocuous celebration of diversity and European culture in Canada. However, the Nationalist Party—the group behind the request—was found to have ties to white supremacy. The city quickly rescinded the declaration.

But the names of other communities who the group wants to make the same declaration have popped up on the party’s website. Places like Kindersley, Pelly and Ponteix.

“They’ve just piggy-backed on what good charities do and it’s somewhat deceptive,” said Kindersley Mayor John Enns-Wind regarding the Nationalist Party’s intentions.

He’s confused as to why the name of their town is on the party’s website. He explained the town has received a declaration request from the party, but will not be granting that request.

“It’s not incorrect to celebrate European heritage or Asian heritage. It’s not incorrect to celebrate any of those. I think where they cross the line is the exclusionary nature of the celebration,” he stated.

St. Walburg is also listed on that website. The mayor of that town said they’re usually pretty careful with declarations.

“The only ones that we declare are ones that we know everything about or get sufficient documentation to declare them,” said Mayor Tony Leeson.

A number of communities in Alberta and British Columbia are also mentioned on the site. Larger cities like Halifax and Victoria have been duped in to making similar declarations in the past, but like Regina, have quickly revoked them.

The link to the original article is here.