Just weeks after St. Albert was thrust into the national spotlight for a disturbing anti-immigration protest, Mayor Cathy Heron is doubling down on her condemnation of the incident, calling for renewed efforts to combat hate in the community.
The protest, which took place along St. Albert Trail on January 25, involved three individuals holding signs with white nationalist slogans and, in at least one case, performing a Nazi salute. According to experts, the demonstration is part of a growing trend of far-right extremism in Canada and beyond.
In a previous article, we highlighted the recent surge in hate crimes in Alberta and the alarming rise in public displays of extremist rhetoric. Now, as more details emerge about the St. Albert protest, it is becoming increasingly clear that this was not an isolated event.
Heron initially expressed surprise at the protest, but upon reflection, her reaction turned to disappointment.
“I think if I had posted a few minutes later or a half hour later when I was honestly comprehending what was happening, I probably would have been a little bit more vocal in my disgust and disappointment that that was happening,” she said.
“It’s disheartening, and I would have hoped that St. Albert was above it, but Saturday showed us that maybe we need to do a little bit more.”
One of the protesters has since been identified as a resident of southern Alberta who has participated in similar demonstrations elsewhere, including a recent anti-immigration protest in Calgary.
Similar demonstrations took place in Kitchener, Ontario, and even as far away as Australia on the same weekend, suggesting possible coordination between extremist groups.
St. Albert RCMP responded to the protest and spoke with the demonstrators, who dispersed without any arrests. However, police are still investigating and working with the Hate Crimes Coordinator. Authorities are asking the public for any additional photos or information regarding the individuals involved.
Meanwhile, the community has begun to push back. On Monday evening, local mother Ashley Winnington staged a counter-protest with her two children, holding pro-diversity signs along the same stretch of road.
Public Interest Alberta has also called on Premier Danielle Smith to publicly condemn the protest, urging her to issue a strong statement against hate in the province.
Mayor Heron says city council will continue its work in educating the public about hate and how to combat it.
“We already have tons of resources at the Family and Community Support Services and at the library about teaching about hate and anti-hate,” she said. “What I think council can do is support that, and if anything pops up in the way of a grassroots counter-protest, we can be there to support that.”
The St. Albert protest is a stark reminder that hate is not just a problem in distant cities or online forums—it is present in local communities and must be actively challenged. The question now is how St. Albert, and Alberta as a whole, will respond.