As part of the development of the capacity-building activities of the Réseau montréalais d’échange et de soutien aux initiatives locales (RÉSAL) for the winter of 2025, the ICPC, as a coordinating member, organised an in-person training session on April 11.
Funded by the City of Montreal’s Prévention Montréal programme, the event focused on ‘Complotism, anti-complotism and the far right’, and was led by Martin Geoffroy, professor and researcher in sociology at Cégep Édouard-Montpetit and founder of the Centre d’expertise et de formation sur les intégrismes religieux (CEFIR).
Participants explored in depth a crucial societal challenge: how conspiracy theories are gaining ground and how extremist movements exploit them.
Key elements of the training included:
✔ Decoding the mechanisms behind conspiracy theories, particularly those related to COVID-19 health measures, and their influence on public discourse.
✔ Understanding the psychosocial factors that lead people to embrace these narratives, often rooted in ideological beliefs rather than facts.
✔ Unpacking the strategies used by far-right groups to leverage conspiracy thinking in order to undermine democratic institutions.
✔ Practicing concrete techniques in an interactive workshop to engage effectively with those who hold such beliefs.
Why did this training stand out?
In the face of growing distrust in institutions and increasing polarization, understanding the workings of conspiracy discourse is essential for social workers, educators, and community professionals.
We warmly thank Martin Geoffroy and all participants for their stimulating discussions and thoughtful insights!