A Windsor, Ont., man who tried to join a far-right extremist organization has been found guilty of participating in the activity of a terrorist group.
Seth Bertrand, 22, was at the Superior Court of Justice in Windsor on Thursday for the ruling by Justice Maria Carroccia.
The charge dates back to 2021, when Bertrand submitted an online application to a group known as the Atomwaffen Division — also called the National Socialist Order or the National Socialist Resistance Front.
The Canadian government considers the group a terrorist entity. Inspired by the neo-Nazi writer James Mason, the Atomwaffen Division calls for armed violence to establish white nationalism.
Bertrand was arrested in 2022 as a result of an extensive undercover investigation by members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He was charged with participating in or contributing to — directly or indirectly — the activity of a terrorist group.
Carroccia ruled that Bertrand’s actions fulfilled the four conditions of the charge: That the group is terrorist, Bertrand knew it to be so, he participated in the group, and his actions enhanced the group.
The court heard that in Bertrand’s application, he promised his loyalty to the Atomwaffen Division, and offered his experience as a mechanic and a military cadet.
He wrote that he considered gay people and Jewish people the enemy, and that he wanted to join in “actually doing things to help save/protect the white race.”
Federal prosecutor Xenia Proestos says she felt the charge and the verdict were appropriate — despite the fact that Bertrand did not officially carry out any tasks for the Atomwaffen Division.
“The Criminal Code specifically provides that it’s not necessary that the activity actually be carried out,” Proestos said outside the courthouse.
“Unfortunately, it’s not the first time somebody has been convicted of this offence under the Criminal Code … These groups use online forums to recruit and advance the activities of the group.”
The court heard that Bertrand told an undercover RCMP officer about his efforts to join what he termed “domestic terrorism,” and his desire to arm himself.
Also online, Bertrand presented his real-world activity in 2021 — such as the harassment an LGBTQ+ couple with messages telling them the Atomwaffen Division “knows where you live,” and vandalism against a transgender support group — as proof of his worthiness for recruitment to the Atomwaffen Division.
Those acts resulted in Bertrand pleading guilty in 2022 to three counts of mischief and one count of inciting hatred. Bertrand served five months of house arrest.
Bertrand’s legal counsel, Windsor criminal defence lawyer Bobby Russon, said his client is a different person in 2025.
“I know as counsel, and Mr. Bertrand knows as a person, that he committed a moral wrong,” Russon told media after the verdict. “He’s accepted responsibility for what he’s done.”
According to Russon, his client’s defence was about the “academic question” of whether the application to the Atomwaffen Division warranted a terrorism charge. Russon noted that Bertrand did not dispute the evidence in the case.
“Hating people based solely on race, sex, gender, creed, religion, or anything like is obviously deplorable and has no place in this society. That’s not always how Mr. Bertrand felt — but I do believe that is how he feels now,” Russon said.
The charge against Bertrand carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, but has no minimum penalty.
Bertrand is currently not in custody. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Oct. 6.
