Copies of a book promoting white nationalist ideology have been discovered in community-run library boxes across several Ottawa neighborhoods, triggering a police probe.
Christine Young, a federal government consultant, found multiple copies earlier this month while browsing little free libraries near her home in Barrhaven. These curbside book exchanges allow residents to freely donate and take books, but Young was disturbed to repeatedly find the same text—one that denounces immigration, multiculturalism, and advocates for a white ethnostate where racialized groups are deemed second-class citizens.
“I just thought, ‘This can’t be what I think it is. I must be in a bad headspace,'” Young said. “Then I found a second [little library] with the exact same book.”
The book is authored by an American writer known for white nationalist publications. “I can’t believe we have white supremacists in the area. It’s disgusting,” Young said. “I got so mad, I tore up the book. I didn’t want it in my house.”
Police Investigating Hate Crime
Young reported her discovery to the Ottawa Police Service (OPS), which has since launched a hate crime investigation.
“So far, the areas affected that we are aware of are in the Barrhaven and River wards. The investigation is still in its early stages. At this point, we do not have further details on whether this issue is more widespread,” an OPS spokesperson said in an email to CBC News.
Young hopes authorities will identify those responsible. “We need to stand up against white supremacy,” she said. “We need to be loud. We can’t just sit back and watch this happen.”
CBC found that seven out of 10 little libraries in Barrhaven and River wards contained the book. Several homeowners operating these libraries declined to comment but stated they were unaware of the book’s presence.
Barrhaven West Coun. David Hill called the situation “disturbing.” “The little libraries are a way to bring our community together, and hate certainly has no place in Barrhaven,” he said, urging library owners to monitor their shelves and discard hateful materials.
Barbara Perry, director of Ontario Tech University’s Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism, suggested that distributing the book in public spaces was a calculated move to normalize white nationalist ideologies. She noted that its themes echo those found in manifestos written by far-right extremists.
“It really is an exposition of the sense of white victimhood … a railing against multiculturalism, EDI initiatives, non-white immigration specifically, feminism and progressive policies,” Perry said, referring to equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives. She believes its placement in public spaces was a deliberate attempt to attract attention and push back against progressive policies.
‘It’s Not Just Offensive, It’s Dangerous’
While the book does not explicitly call for violence, Perry warned that it frames far-right rhetoric in a persuasive way.
Hector Addison, founder of the African Canadian Association of Ottawa, expressed deep concern over the book’s distribution. “It’s not just offensive, it’s dangerous. It fuels racism and fear in our city, and we cannot stand by and allow hate to take root in our communities,” Addison said.
He called for accountability, especially as the incident occurred during Black History Month. “Despite the hate—whether it’s a hateful attack or speech or whatever—we are not afraid. We are stronger when we are together,” Addison said. “So we’ll continue to build Ottawa to be that multicultural city that everybody here can live in.”
Source: Swifteradio.com
