Quebec politicians condemn white supremacy gathering in Shawinigan

Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette speaks at the Coalition Avenir Quebec general council meeting held in Levis, Que., Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Karoline Boucher/The Canadian Press)

A group of white supremacists gathered on Saturday in Shawinigan in the Mauricie region to rally in support of a “White Quebec.”

The demonstration took place at Veterans’ Park near the Shawinigan City cenotaph.

A group of masked individuals held up a banner adorned with two fleurs-de-lis and bearing the words “I remember a White Quebec.”

In a statement released Sunday, Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette strongly condemned the rally and the racist messages.

“Such remarks are unacceptable and have no place in our society. This is not the Quebec we are. This is not the Quebec we want,” she said. “We must never trivialize or tolerate this kind of behaviour. Whenever hatred and racism manifest themselves, we have a collective responsibility to denounce them clearly and unequivocally.”

In a message posted on X on Sunday, Parti Québécois (PQ) Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said that “these ‘active clubs,’ like Second Sons Canada, hide behind sports to recruit and normalize extremism. Public security has clearly identified them as hate groups.”

The leader of the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ), Charles Milliard, also expressed his strong opposition to the gathering.

“I unreservedly condemn this horrific gathering,” he commented on X. “Shame on those who spread a divisive message that in no way represents the openness of the Quebec people.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on June 1, 2026.