Front Burner

Fascist fight clubs are growing across Canada

Groups called "active clubs" bill themselves as defenders of Canada's European roots, offering a path to community and fitness. But some experts regard them as the fastest-growing extremist threat in Canada.
Black and white photo of people sitting in a posed group photo. Their faces are obscured by images of skulls typically used by neo-Nazis.
Members of Nationalist-13, a fascist fight group, pose for a photo. They obscured their faces with a skull image typically used by neo-Nazis. (Nationalist-13)

Groups known as "active clubs" are growing across Canada. They often meet in public parks or martial arts clubs, and say they are building community and fitness while standing up for Canada's European history. But they're part of a decentralized network with deep ties to white nationalist, neo-Nazi, and other far-right groups — and they're spreading fast.

An exclusive CBC investigation has uncovered exactly how and where these groups operate, who's involved, who they target, and their connections to other extremist groups in Canada and beyond. The CBC's Eric Szeto explains what his team uncovered during the months-long investigation. Then, the Institute for Strategic Dialogue's Mack Lamoureux puts the clubs into the context of growing far-right extremism worldwide, and the broader goals of the movement.

For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts

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