Difference between revisions of "Anarchism in Canada"

Revision as of 18:38, 12 April 2009

Anarchism in Canada spans a range of anarchist philosophy including anarcho-syndicalism, individualist anarchism, green anarchy and anarchist communism as well as other lesser known forms. Like many other ideologies in Canada, Canadian anarchism has largely been influenced by thought from the United States, Great Britain, and continental Europe, although recent influences include aTemplate:POV-statement look at North American indigenism, especially on the West Coast. Historically, in Canada, anarchism has never attracted large support although small groups of activists and writers have often existed in many areas, especially in the larger cities. Today however, there are anarchists and anarchist projects in most regions, including small towns and mid sized cities. Halifax, Fredericton, Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Victoria, for instance, all have active anarchists and or anarchist projects. Anarchist ideas have also influenced a number of writers, artists and philosophers.

Noted anarchist philosophers Peter Kropotkin and Emma Goldman spent some time in Canada; Goldman died in Toronto in 1940. Rudolf Rocker visited Winnipeg three times, meeting Honre Jaxon during his first visit in 1913.

There are a variety of long-standing anarchist projects, including Montreal's Librairie Alternative, an anarchist bookshop founded in the early 1980s, Ottawa's Exile Infoshop founded early 2007, as well as numerous other bookstores, prisoner solidarity groups, study groups, publishing houses, record labels, cafes and squats. There are environmental and anti-poverty direct actionists in many regions and cities.^[1]

Prominent Canadian anarchist figures include Honore Jaxon, George Woodcock, L. Susan Brown, Norman Nawrocki, Ann Hansen, Mark Leier, Jeff Shantz and Jaggi Singh. There are many other individuals who have made long term contributions to Canadian anarchism, among them Michael William, Zig Zag, Sea Weed, Bob Melcombe, Jim Campbell, Bruno Masse, and Gary Moffatt.^[unverified]As well it is a long-standing tradition among anarchists to use pen names or to sign their work anonymously, so many authors and activists remain unknown.^[unverified]

There are also groups, like the Insurrectionary Anarchists of the Coast Salish Territories, or the Quebec group La Sociale, who have published several pamphlets.Template:POV-statement The Toronto-based collective Punching Out (Jeff Shantz, pj lilley, Mick Black) made important contributions to the theoretical development of NEFAC including preparing the accepted draft of that federation's workplace position paper. Other anarchist projects include a number of publications, radio shows and micro radio stations.^[unverified] There are also many under the radar activities like squatting.

See also

• Squamish Five
• G7 Welcoming Committee
• Political culture of Canada

References

External links

• Template:spunk
• Canadian Anarchist/L'Anarchiste du Canada
• Anarchists attack Bell Canada Enterprises in Ottawa
• [http://www.linchpin.ca Website of Ontario anarchist group Common Cause
• The Anarchist Free Space and Free Skool by Jeff Shantz
• "Anarchists Rock the Royal Bank of Canada" from

Friends of Grassy Narrows Website

• Anarchists and the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty by Jeff Shantz
• Exile Infoshop
• Montreal police targeting 'anarchist' vandals. CTV.ca.