Charlie Kirk Shooting Raises Question: Is Political Violence on the Rise in Canada Too?
- staysafevancouver
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 49 minutes ago
The news out of the United States has been chilling. Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was killed in Utah for his political views. Not long before, former president Donald Trump was shot at a rally and faced another attempt on a golf course.
For Canadians watching, it’s easy to scroll past these stories and think, that would never happen here. But history suggests otherwise.
If political violence can target well-known names in America, what does that mean for people in Canada who speak out and march for change? What does it mean for free speech?
What we know
Charlie Kirk, the conservative political activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed on September 10, 2025, during an event at Utah Valley University.
Aged 31, Kirk leaves behind his wife, Erika Frantzve, a former Miss Arizona USA, and their two young children.
Political Violence Dominates U.S. Headlines
The shooting of Charlie Kirk in Utah has become one of the most shocking stories in U.S. politics this year.
Kirk, a conservative commentator and the founder of Turning Point USA, was targeted and killed for his political views.
His death came on the heels of other high-profile incidents:
President Trump was shot in the ear at a rally.
Weeks later, there was another attempted assassination on a golf course.
Together, these attacks paint a clear picture — political violence is no longer rare in America.
And for Canadians watching the headlines, the question is immediate: if it can happen there, could it happen here?
5 Times Canada Faced Political Killings
Canada does not see political violence as frequently as the United States, but history shows a consistent pattern: people here have been killed for their beliefs, identity, or public stance. Here are five of the most striking cases.
1. The London, Ontario Truck Attack (2021)
Four members of the Afzaal family were murdered while out for a walk. They were deliberately targeted for being Muslim, and prosecutors classified the attack as terrorism.
2. The Toronto Incel Terrorism Case (2020)
Ashley Arzaga, just 24 years old, was killed in a Toronto massage parlor by a teenager radicalized by the misogynistic “incel” movement. It was the first time Canada prosecuted gender-based violence as terrorism.
3. The Murder of Trans Rights Activist Julie Berman (2019)
Julie Berman, a well-known Toronto activist, was killed in her home. She had spent years organizing Trans Day of Remembrance events and speaking out against anti-LGBTQ+ hate.
4. The Ottawa and Quebec Soldier Killings (2014)
Two Canadian soldiers were killed in separate extremist-inspired attacks: Patrice Vincent was run down in Quebec, while Nathan Cirillo was shot at the National War Memorial in Ottawa.
5. The Assassination of Journalist Tara Singh Hayer (1998)
Tara Singh Hayer, a Surrey newspaper publisher, was shot dead after years of threats. He had spoken out against violent Sikh extremists and was set to testify in the Air India bombing case.
Experts Warn Canada’s Political Divide Is Getting Worse
If you’ve been feeling like politics in Canada is getting meaner, you’re not imagining it. The numbers back it up.
Hate crimes are climbing. Police reported nearly 4,800 cases in 2023, a 32 percent jump in just one year. The biggest spikes targeted Jewish, Muslim, and LGBTQ+ communities.
Extremism is flagged by CSIS. Canada’s spy agency says ideologically motivated violent extremism — from incel misogyny to anti-government plots — is now one of the country’s biggest security concerns.
Canadians feel the split. National surveys show more people describing themselves as politically homeless and saying the left and right are drifting further apart.
Harassment is normalizing. Nearly two-thirds of municipal politicians say they’ve been targeted with abuse or threats. Women and visible minorities report the most.
All of this adds up to one thing: polarization is rising, extremism is spreading, and the anger is spilling into real life. If Charlie Kirk could be killed for his views in the U.S., what’s stopping the same thing from happening to a Canadian commentator, activist, or journalist?
Are Far-Right & Far-Left Extremist Groups Growing?
Canada’s security services track threats on both sides of the spectrum.
Far-right activity is more visible. CSIS and the RCMP have repeatedly flagged white nationalist and anti-government groups as the most active extremist networks in Canada. Recent arrests in Quebec linked to a militia-style cell show how these movements can turn violent when armed.
Misogyny is fueling violence. The 2020 Toronto “incel” attack, prosecuted as terrorism, marked the first time Canada treated misogyny as an extremist ideology. Authorities warn that online spaces continue to fuel this kind of violence.
Far-left actions are rarer and less deadly. Canada has seen anarchist and radical environmentalist groups use violence, but mostly against property. The best-known example is the Squamish Five in the 1980s, who bombed a Toronto plant tied to U.S. cruise missile systems and injured several employees.
More recently, anarchist groups have claimed sabotage of rail lines and pipeline equipment. These incidents have been serious, but unlike the far-right, they have not led to deaths.
The balance is clear: while both sides exist, far-right and grievance-driven extremism have posed the greater danger. And in a climate of rising polarization, the risk that political figures, journalists, or activists could be singled out only grows.
Final Thoughts On The Charlie Kirk Shooting: Canada Is Not Immune
Charlie Kirk’s killing in the U.S. was shocking, but it wasn’t isolated. From Trump’s rally shooting to attacks on ordinary families, political violence is reshaping public life across the border.
Canadians shouldn’t assume it can’t happen here. We’ve seen people killed for their beliefs, their activism, and their identities — from the Afzaal family in 2021 to Tara Singh Hayer in 1998. Hate crimes are up, polarization is rising, and extremism is more visible than ever.
The risk isn’t just for politicians. It’s for activists at rallies, journalists at their desks, women speaking out online, or communities simply going for a walk.
Canada may not face U.S. levels of gun violence, but the conditions for political violence exist here. Which leaves the uncomfortable question: if it’s happened before — and if divisions keep getting worse — when will it happen again?
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