The Argosy - An Opinion Piece on the Facebook Hangout Group "Tantramar Community Concerns" by Justin Jamieson

 

The online Mount Allison University publication "The Argosy" is the students' independent newspaper... and is the only remaining local newspaper publication.. read more here:

“Tantramar Community Concerns” welcomes right-wing fringe - The Argosy

Facebook "Tantramar Community Concerns" [private group] here:

 Tantramar Tomorrow - Citizen Innovation Lab | Facebook

"About this group

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Welcome to Tantramar Tomorrow: Citizen Innovation Lab!

We're a vibrant online hub for the residents of Tantramar, New Brunswick—uniting Sackville, Dorchester, and surrounding communities to collaboratively shape our shared future. Formed in the spirit of our 2023 amalgamation, this group is your space to innovate, discuss, and drive positive change in areas like sustainable development, housing, arts, transportation, and climate resilience. What We Do:Vision Wednesday: Monthly brainstorming on community projects—let's reimagine our downtowns and marshes!

Green Ideas Thursday: Dive into environmental initiatives, from dike modernization to eco-tourism.

Collaborative Planning: Join working groups to turn ideas into action, like community gardens or student-led hacks.

Student-Community Bridge: Connecting Mount Allison University talent with local needs via engaged learning.

AMAs & Town Halls: Regular chats with councilors, leaders, and experts—your voice matters!

Heritage Hack Friday: Blend our Mi'kmaq, Acadian, and settler history with forward-thinking solutions.

Whether you're a longtime local, newcomer, student, or business owner, join us to build a resilient, inclusive Tantramar. Share ideas, vote in polls, attend hybrid meetups, and track real-world impacts.Rules: Be respectful, stay on-topic, no spam. Partnerships with R-PEACE, Mount Allison, and local orgs welcome!

Population: ~9,600 | Growing together since 2023. Let's innovate!"

“Tantramar Community Concerns” welcomes right-wing fringe

• March 23, 2023
• Justin Jamieson

Popular local Facebook group saturated with right-wing conspiracies enables resentful anti-student rhetoric

Tantramar Community Concerns (TCC), a local Facebook group with over 4600 members, is a frequently visited forum where members can discuss town issues. As a public group, anyone is welcome to join, including students and town locals alike.

At first glance, the forum seems harmless, with many posts about people looking for housing or promoting weekend outings in the town—a space to build and reinforce community. However, in the midst of all the positives, you may encounter a strange post about globalist elites plotting world domination through pedestrian-focused city planning. This must have been a slip-up by the moderators, as there are bound to be a few radical apples that slip through the cracks. 

Then you begin to notice more angry right-wing posts, which frequently align with common far-right conspiracies. It appears this is not a mere slip-up, but right-wing, fringe content is regularly approved to be shared. How could the moderators let this happen? This is supposed to be a forum where I assure fellow residents that Mr. Mittens made it home safe and sound! "

The marketplace of ideas remains the

last bastion of free speech...

not everyone is on Facebook..

talk to each other in real life.. and most of all..

value your liberties and use peaceful, radical,

and inclusive discussions to help to keep

the democratic society we cherish alive.