Grant LaFleche
@grantrants.bsky.social
Investigative journalist, senior writer at The Fifth Estate at CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/fifthestate
Formerly Hamilton Spectator, Toronto Star investigations, and the St. Catharines Standard
PGP Key: http://bit.ly/3w2s5LY
Formerly Hamilton Spectator, Toronto Star investigations, and the St. Catharines Standard
PGP Key: http://bit.ly/3w2s5LY
Second Sons, led by MacKenzie recently showed up at CBC offices in Ottawa to decry he he calls the network's "anti white" agenda. He has also made some pro nazi posts lately.
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October 27, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Second Sons, led by MacKenzie recently showed up at CBC offices in Ottawa to decry he he calls the network's "anti white" agenda. He has also made some pro nazi posts lately.
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In the Standard story, MacKenzie - who posted a video of him doing a Hitler salute and has posted positive commentary about Hitler on his telegram page, says Primo is not a member of Second Sons.
October 27, 2025 at 12:26 PM
In the Standard story, MacKenzie - who posted a video of him doing a Hitler salute and has posted positive commentary about Hitler on his telegram page, says Primo is not a member of Second Sons.
A short follow up: one Niagara's Second Sons members - who has been trying to present himself as a defender of children against sexual predators - posted to his Telegram page a post quoting Mein Kampf. And Second Sons leader, Jeremy MacKenzie, posted an AI video of Hitler as a UFC fighter.
October 10, 2025 at 5:50 PM
A short follow up: one Niagara's Second Sons members - who has been trying to present himself as a defender of children against sexual predators - posted to his Telegram page a post quoting Mein Kampf. And Second Sons leader, Jeremy MacKenzie, posted an AI video of Hitler as a UFC fighter.
Noam Chomsky on freedom of speech.
September 18, 2025 at 3:19 AM
Noam Chomsky on freedom of speech.
For context, this is how the leader of Second Sons is reacting to the news of the Kirk murder:
September 11, 2025 at 3:35 PM
For context, this is how the leader of Second Sons is reacting to the news of the Kirk murder:
Given this history, the choice to include Primo in the story (especially given the reasons most people were actually at the rally for) is curious, as is omitting the context of this person's very public history and affiliations.
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September 11, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Given this history, the choice to include Primo in the story (especially given the reasons most people were actually at the rally for) is curious, as is omitting the context of this person's very public history and affiliations.
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This video show the crowd, including Primo in the dyed blonde mullet, calling for the accused person to be turned over to them for summary justice. (There has yet to a trial)
September 10, 2025 at 5:54 PM
This video show the crowd, including Primo in the dyed blonde mullet, calling for the accused person to be turned over to them for summary justice. (There has yet to a trial)
Although he has hidden his face in Second Sons photos, like almost all members of the group, we identified him by his distinctive tattoos. And he has very public about his white nationalism, as in this post on Twitter:
September 10, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Although he has hidden his face in Second Sons photos, like almost all members of the group, we identified him by his distinctive tattoos. And he has very public about his white nationalism, as in this post on Twitter:
Today's rally was in fact the second such event. There was a previous one at Welland City Hall where the mayor spoke. Primo also spoke, and according to one person who was there, he tried to use the event to recruit for Second Sons:
September 10, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Today's rally was in fact the second such event. There was a previous one at Welland City Hall where the mayor spoke. Primo also spoke, and according to one person who was there, he tried to use the event to recruit for Second Sons:
Twitter videos show Primo rode into St. Catharines at the front of a group of motorcycle riders which included at least one member of the outlaw biker gang The Red Devils) with a Second Sons shield stuck on his windshield.
September 10, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Twitter videos show Primo rode into St. Catharines at the front of a group of motorcycle riders which included at least one member of the outlaw biker gang The Red Devils) with a Second Sons shield stuck on his windshield.
The tiny ring's posts look like PVC pipes, instead of the metal posts used in real boxing rings, and the "ropes" appear to be actual strands of rope, not the thick, wrapped, ropes used in real rings round in actual boxing gyms.
September 9, 2025 at 3:31 PM
The tiny ring's posts look like PVC pipes, instead of the metal posts used in real boxing rings, and the "ropes" appear to be actual strands of rope, not the thick, wrapped, ropes used in real rings round in actual boxing gyms.
First, this is not a gym. They rented a room at a Caledonia, Ontario Lion's Club, which said the group did not tell them who they were or what they were doing. The club claims if they had known, the rental would have not been approved.
September 9, 2025 at 3:27 PM
First, this is not a gym. They rented a room at a Caledonia, Ontario Lion's Club, which said the group did not tell them who they were or what they were doing. The club claims if they had known, the rental would have not been approved.
Postscript: Just a note on the theatre used by active clubs when prompting themselves. As noted in @justinchandler.work story on the long weekend, Patriot Front style march, Second Sons posted a photo of themselves standing front of a make shift "boxing ring."
A few things to note about it...
A few things to note about it...
September 9, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Postscript: Just a note on the theatre used by active clubs when prompting themselves. As noted in @justinchandler.work story on the long weekend, Patriot Front style march, Second Sons posted a photo of themselves standing front of a make shift "boxing ring."
A few things to note about it...
A few things to note about it...
Although, Second Sons blurred Primo's face in a group photo taken in a Welland area MMA gym, we were able to identify him by his distinctive tattoos:
September 9, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Although, Second Sons blurred Primo's face in a group photo taken in a Welland area MMA gym, we were able to identify him by his distinctive tattoos:
This iswhat I wrote about Brock for the St. Catharines Standard many moons ago. Brock (a very large man with a 48 inch wasit) lumbered up that hill against American musket men, in a bid to be enough of a hero be transferred back to Europe to fight the French, not because he was a military genius.
September 1, 2025 at 7:43 PM
This iswhat I wrote about Brock for the St. Catharines Standard many moons ago. Brock (a very large man with a 48 inch wasit) lumbered up that hill against American musket men, in a bid to be enough of a hero be transferred back to Europe to fight the French, not because he was a military genius.
Last month CBC's Visual Investigations and the Fifth Estate, investigating the rise of "Active clubs" in Canada - essentially neo-fascist fight clubs. One of the clubs we looked closely at, Second Sons, marched in Queenston Heights in Niagara-on-the-Lake a few days ago. (thread)
September 1, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Last month CBC's Visual Investigations and the Fifth Estate, investigating the rise of "Active clubs" in Canada - essentially neo-fascist fight clubs. One of the clubs we looked closely at, Second Sons, marched in Queenston Heights in Niagara-on-the-Lake a few days ago. (thread)
D'Angelo is now employed as the treasurer of Thames Centre, a small municipality near London, Ontario.
August 12, 2025 at 3:02 PM
D'Angelo is now employed as the treasurer of Thames Centre, a small municipality near London, Ontario.
Ontario's Ombudsman eventually investigated, confirming all of the Standard's reporting, calling D'Angelo's hiring an "inside job."
www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/niagara...
www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/niagara...
August 12, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Ontario's Ombudsman eventually investigated, confirming all of the Standard's reporting, calling D'Angelo's hiring an "inside job."
www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/niagara...
www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/niagara...
The solace of open spaces...
August 7, 2025 at 12:33 PM
The solace of open spaces...
My view from the 2025 Calgary Stampede rodeo finals.
August 7, 2025 at 12:12 PM
My view from the 2025 Calgary Stampede rodeo finals.
Saddling up in the Rockies.
December 16, 2024 at 5:26 AM
Saddling up in the Rockies.