Canada is witnessing the rise of a new form of violent extremism, termed “salad bar extremism,” according to an internal government report obtained by Global News. This term refers to violent acts fueled by a fragmented blend of ideologies, personal grievances, and extremist propaganda, rather than a single, coherent belief system. The report, released by the Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre (ITAC), highlights this emerging threat, pointing to the January 2024 Edmonton City Hall shooting as a prime example.
“Salad bar extremism,” also known as composite or mixed extremism, is characterized by individuals who pick and choose from a variety of unrelated ideological, religious, or political views to justify their actions. Unlike traditional extremist groups, which are often driven by clear objectives or ideologies, those engaged in salad bar extremism are motivated by a mishmash of beliefs and grievances that they internalize through exposure to both mainstream and fringe discourse. According to the June 2024 report, this phenomenon is becoming increasingly common in Canada.
The Edmonton City Hall shooting on January 23, 2024, is a case in point. The attacker, Bezhani Sarvar, entered the building armed with an SKS-style rifle, firing shots and throwing incendiary devices. Prior to the attack, Sarvar had posted an online manifesto addressing a wide range of topics, from local issues like water quality to global political conflicts such as the Gaza crisis. He claimed he was acting against “tyranny and corruption” in society, blending political and ideological themes with unrelated concepts such as exercise, healthy living, and technology use.
Sarvar was arrested at the scene and later charged with multiple counts of terrorism. His case, according to the ITAC report, exemplifies the trend of “mixed extremist motivations,” where personal grievances are interwoven with broader ideological themes typically associated with political or religious violence. The report notes that these motivations blur the lines between traditional categories of extremism, creating a new challenge for law enforcement and national security agencies.
Migrant groups like Hamas, which blend religious and political motives, are cited in the report as examples of how ideological boundaries can overlap. However, the rise of salad bar extremism in Canada is distinct in that individuals are not necessarily linked to organized groups but are often influenced by a mixture of social, political, and ideological messaging that permeates both extremist propaganda and mainstream discourse.
“While some extremists are assessed to have a primary motivation, others are influenced by a combination of beliefs,” the report states. “This phenomenon is occurring in Canada.”
The unpredictability of salad bar extremism makes it particularly concerning for law enforcement. Extremists no longer fit neatly into established categories like religious, political, or ideologically motivated actors. This shift complicates efforts to preemptively identify and prevent acts of violence. RCMP Assistant Commissioner Brigitte Gauvin, head of national security investigations, acknowledged this trend in an interview with Global News.
“We are seeing more and more of a mixture of ideologies and grievances that motivate people to commit violent acts,” said Gauvin. “Traditional religiously motivated violent extremism still exists, but this new blend of grievances doesn’t make it any less concerning.”
The Canadian government typically classifies terrorism into three categories: ideologically motivated, politically motivated, and religiously motivated. However, the ITAC report suggests these categories may no longer be sufficient to fully understand and address the evolving nature of extremist threats. The Edmonton City Hall shooting, in particular, underscores the difficulty in determining a “primary driving factor” for violent extremism when personal grievances and ideological beliefs are interwoven.
Sarvar’s case is not the first instance of “composite extremism” in Canada. In 2020, Corey Hurren, a former army reservist, drove his truck through the gates of Rideau Hall, the official residence of the Prime Minister, with the intent to “arrest” Justin Trudeau. Hurren’s motives ranged from anger over gun control laws and pandemic restrictions to financial struggles and conspiracy theories, reflecting the same salad bar-like mix of ideologies seen in the Edmonton incident.
ITAC’s report also draws attention to the broader implications of this shift. It argues that the “blurred lines” between different types of extremism complicate Canada’s national security response, as extremists increasingly straddle multiple categories, making them harder to profile and track. Violent incidents are becoming more difficult to predict when the motivations behind them are no longer easily categorized as purely political, ideological, or religious.
Moving forward, the Canadian government and law enforcement agencies face the challenge of adapting to this evolving landscape of domestic extremism. The rise of salad bar extremism means that individuals can be influenced by a seemingly random combination of personal grievances and ideological beliefs, making them harder to monitor and prevent from acting violently. Moreover, the mainstreaming of extremist discourse—where conspiracy theories, political dissatisfaction, and ideological dogma blend into daily social and media consumption—further complicates efforts to address this growing issue.
As Brigitte Gauvin noted, this mixture of ideologies doesn’t lessen the threat posed by violent actors. If anything, it makes them more unpredictable and dangerous. The shift towards salad bar extremism may mark a new era in domestic terrorism, one that challenges conventional approaches to national security and requires a more nuanced understanding of the forces driving individuals to commit acts of violence.