Far-right event stirs concern
Church distances itself from food day
EDMONTON A church in Edmonton’s inner city says it has nothing to do with a plan by far-right groups to distribute food and water to homeless people near its premises.
In social media posts, members of Soldiers of Odin, Onward Christian Soldiers and Northern Guard said they plan to serve food and water to the homeless on Sept. 3.
A poster says “all like-minded patriotic groups are welcome to join us,” and lists the location as the Mustard Seed Church at 96 Street and 106A Avenue.
Mustard Seed managing director Dean Kurpjuweit said Thursday the church has no affiliation with the event.
“They are not acting as our volunteers or on our behalf,” he said, adding the Mustard Seed will not be open Sept. 3.
“They apparently have just decided that it’s outside of our building they ’re choosing to do this. It’s not in partnership with us at all.”
The first Soldiers of Odin groups were created in Finland, where they are considered a far-right, anti-immigrant organization. Members of the group in Edmonton have denied that they hold racist views, describing the group as a “neighbourhood watch-based activity.”
An organizer of the Sept. 3 event who gave his name as Win said he is a member of Onward Christian Soldiers.
He said the groups involved are not anti-immigrant and they wanted to provide food on a day when the Mustard Seed is not open.
The Canadian Anti-Hate Network — a group of academics and activists that track extremist groups in Canada — considers the Soldiers of Odin and Northern Guard to be far-right organizations.
Bernie Farber, the network’s chairperson, said Edmontonians should be “very, very cautious” about such groups.