Kennedy-Glans: The life of a conservative male on a Canadian campus: 'We are not the demons that you see us as'
'Mount Royal especially is a very progressive school,' Mitch reports, 'and there are a lot of conservative young men on campus, but they're not necessarily out there with their political opinions.'
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Because progressives have such negative connotations about conservatism on campus, Mitch explains, he seizes opportunities to sit down with people of different political persuasions, to explain, 'we are not the demons that you see us as.' He insists, believing in fiscal responsibility and conservative values, 'doesn't make me racist; doesn't make me sexist.'
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Chui's take is slightly different; 'I seldom encounter someone who has been corrupted by the 'manosphere',' he says with a grin, 'and when I do encounter them, it's more a fad than anything. After a few months, after a season, it's over; they're back to normal.'
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As for the radical right coming for our sons, Chui acknowledges the growth in young men's affiliation with the conservative movement but sees this as pragmatic, rather than ideological. Young people who can't make ends meet, he says, 'are choosing to put their faith in a party that historically runs on economic integrity, runs on fiscal responsibility.'
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It's all part of a cycle, he suggests; there was a spike in young men's support for conservatives in the Mulroney era, and again with the rise of the Reform Party. 'It is a cycle that keeps on happening over and over, and I don't believe social issues have any play within it. Amongst my friends, social issues are not at the forefront of our minds.'
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At 6-foot-3, Chui towers over me, cutting an imposing figure in his wide leg jeans and suede jacket. His experience as a Christian street preacher may have shaped him into the most patient 20-year-old I've ever encountered.
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'Don't fret too much,' is Chui's primary message (as a mother worried about boys, I'm somewhat comforted); however, his experience door-knocking — most recently, in the Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills constituency on behalf of United Conservative Party MLA Tara Sawyer — sends me reeling.
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'At the doors,' Chui shares, 'when I do encounter a conservative and the question comes up, 'would you like a lawn sign?', it is often, more times than not, a 'no.' And almost every single time, it is due to the fact they don't want their neighbours to know they are conservative because of the weight that carries.'
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'You're talking about rural Alberta?' I ask, incredulously.
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'You would expect to have almost every single house welcoming a lawn sign with open arms,' Chui answers, 'but that's far from the truth.
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'A lot of the people you encounter at these doors are centrists, and they cast ballots with their pocketbooks,' he explains. 'They want fiscal responsibility and that takes precedence over social issues… things like trans rights, things like homosexual rights, social safety nets.'
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They feel disenfranchised and are looking for change, he concludes, 'but when you take up that lawn sign, what does that say to your neighbour? That you're a 'racist'.'
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Somewhat dumbstruck, I wade into the murky waters of DEI quotas and cancel culture. 'Would you like to see wokeness dialled back at your school?' I ask.
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'It's almost like the 'he who shall not be named', Voldemort question, among my circles at least,' Chui quips. 'It's not even spoken about. We almost pretend they (DEI quotas) don't exist and just carry on.'
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With its rainbow flags, rainbow crosswalk and posters everywhere, 'DEI is very, very fundamentally rooted into the Mount Royal (University) culture,' Mitch answers. While it may be a great idea, at his school, he says it's unrealistic to think about shutting down the whole DEI ideology. 'What we need to do, to lean into that direction,' he offers, 'is foster a sense it's OK to have different opinions.'
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'Guilt has allowed this to perpetrate,' Chui observes, 'and that has almost created a world of absolutes where you're either for or against. And it's almost painful to live in because you're gagged.'
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'So you silence yourselves?' I say. They both nod.
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It's a difficult question, Chui reflects, and one he's discussed with a guy from Alberta's Republican Party, who, he reports, 'believes the only way you can fight for change … if you're backed up to the wall, is show you're willing to punch them in the face.'
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Chui doesn't believe this is the 'proper sentiment' because then the pendulum goes back and forth, and 'you have people disenfranchised on either side, time and time again.'
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'It's going to be a long fight,' he says, 'if you want to be cordial. But I think it's the right fight.'
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Calgary Herald
20 hours ago
- Calgary Herald
Kennedy-Glans: The life of a conservative male on a Canadian campus: 'We are not the demons that you see us as'
Article content 'Mount Royal especially is a very progressive school,' Mitch reports, 'and there are a lot of conservative young men on campus, but they're not necessarily out there with their political opinions.' Article content Because progressives have such negative connotations about conservatism on campus, Mitch explains, he seizes opportunities to sit down with people of different political persuasions, to explain, 'we are not the demons that you see us as.' He insists, believing in fiscal responsibility and conservative values, 'doesn't make me racist; doesn't make me sexist.' Article content Chui's take is slightly different; 'I seldom encounter someone who has been corrupted by the 'manosphere',' he says with a grin, 'and when I do encounter them, it's more a fad than anything. After a few months, after a season, it's over; they're back to normal.' Article content As for the radical right coming for our sons, Chui acknowledges the growth in young men's affiliation with the conservative movement but sees this as pragmatic, rather than ideological. Young people who can't make ends meet, he says, 'are choosing to put their faith in a party that historically runs on economic integrity, runs on fiscal responsibility.' Article content Article content It's all part of a cycle, he suggests; there was a spike in young men's support for conservatives in the Mulroney era, and again with the rise of the Reform Party. 'It is a cycle that keeps on happening over and over, and I don't believe social issues have any play within it. Amongst my friends, social issues are not at the forefront of our minds.' Article content At 6-foot-3, Chui towers over me, cutting an imposing figure in his wide leg jeans and suede jacket. His experience as a Christian street preacher may have shaped him into the most patient 20-year-old I've ever encountered. Article content 'Don't fret too much,' is Chui's primary message (as a mother worried about boys, I'm somewhat comforted); however, his experience door-knocking — most recently, in the Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills constituency on behalf of United Conservative Party MLA Tara Sawyer — sends me reeling. Article content Article content 'At the doors,' Chui shares, 'when I do encounter a conservative and the question comes up, 'would you like a lawn sign?', it is often, more times than not, a 'no.' And almost every single time, it is due to the fact they don't want their neighbours to know they are conservative because of the weight that carries.' Article content 'You're talking about rural Alberta?' I ask, incredulously. Article content 'You would expect to have almost every single house welcoming a lawn sign with open arms,' Chui answers, 'but that's far from the truth. Article content 'A lot of the people you encounter at these doors are centrists, and they cast ballots with their pocketbooks,' he explains. 'They want fiscal responsibility and that takes precedence over social issues… things like trans rights, things like homosexual rights, social safety nets.' Article content They feel disenfranchised and are looking for change, he concludes, 'but when you take up that lawn sign, what does that say to your neighbour? That you're a 'racist'.' Article content Somewhat dumbstruck, I wade into the murky waters of DEI quotas and cancel culture. 'Would you like to see wokeness dialled back at your school?' I ask. Article content 'It's almost like the 'he who shall not be named', Voldemort question, among my circles at least,' Chui quips. 'It's not even spoken about. We almost pretend they (DEI quotas) don't exist and just carry on.' Article content With its rainbow flags, rainbow crosswalk and posters everywhere, 'DEI is very, very fundamentally rooted into the Mount Royal (University) culture,' Mitch answers. While it may be a great idea, at his school, he says it's unrealistic to think about shutting down the whole DEI ideology. 'What we need to do, to lean into that direction,' he offers, 'is foster a sense it's OK to have different opinions.' Article content 'Guilt has allowed this to perpetrate,' Chui observes, 'and that has almost created a world of absolutes where you're either for or against. And it's almost painful to live in because you're gagged.' Article content Article content 'So you silence yourselves?' I say. They both nod. Article content It's a difficult question, Chui reflects, and one he's discussed with a guy from Alberta's Republican Party, who, he reports, 'believes the only way you can fight for change … if you're backed up to the wall, is show you're willing to punch them in the face.' Article content Chui doesn't believe this is the 'proper sentiment' because then the pendulum goes back and forth, and 'you have people disenfranchised on either side, time and time again.' Article content 'It's going to be a long fight,' he says, 'if you want to be cordial. But I think it's the right fight.'
Global News
a day ago
- Global News
Former UCP MLAs aim to revive the Progressive Conservative party
In front of a small crowd of approximately 30 supporters, two former United Conservative Party MLAs expressed their hopes to revive a political dynasty that held power in Alberta for nearly 50-years: the Progressive Conservative party. 'Alberta isn't far right, Alberta isn't far left,' explained Airdrie-Cochrane MLA Peter Guthrie. 'Alberta is and always has been a progressive conservative province.' Guthrie and Sinclair were voted out of the UCP caucus earlier this year for speaking against the party, saying they were unhappy with a party they felt was no longer serving the best interests of Albertans. 'I felt both relief and sadness,' Guthrie said. 'Relief because I no longer had to stand beside something I couldn't support, sadness because the UCP was no longer the party I joined. It wasn't the party Albertans elected' Lesser Slave Lake MLA Scott Sinclair had a similar view, he was voted out of caucus for refusing to support the budget tabled back in March. Story continues below advertisement 'This premier has done me a great service by removing me from a UCP party I no longer recognize,' Sinclair said to those gathered. 'This new hostile version of the UCP is not the party of Lockheed or even Ralph Klein. Not even close.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy In order to revive the party, the two MLAs need to obtain at least 8,800 signatures or have three MLAs within their ranks before Nov. 27, 2025. As of Saturday, Guthrie and Sinclair estimated they already had a few hundred signatures and said they are working behind the scenes to get more. 'Based on the overwhelming amount of positive support that we've had in the past few days, I believe we're going to be able to convert those conversations over to signatures quite quickly,' Sinclair said. Guthrie and Sinclair want to bring discourse back to the middle of the political spectrum, a move one policy expert says could prove fruitful. 'Polling shows that most Albertans view themselves as centrist,' said Lori Williams, a professor of policy at Mount Royal University. 'This could hurt not just the UCP but also the NDP if they get any traction.' If Sinclair and Guthrie can communicate effectively, Williams continued, they could potentially be a very painful thorn in the government's side. 'If they gain some momentum then the split will no longer be on the right, where Danielle Smith has been focusing her attention, but it might be at the centre,' said Williams, noting that Guthrie and Sinclair's concerns are similar to what brought about change in the 2015 election. Story continues below advertisement 'If you say there is corruption, if they aren't following their own rules, if they're behaving in a way that's entitled, that's what led to the demise of the Progressive Conservative Party after a 44-year dynasty.' But former UCP board member and president Cynthia Moore told Global News that support for the government, and especially Premier Smith as leader, won't be shaken by the grumbles of the now independent MLAs. 'I think they're voices in the wind,' Moore said. 'Danielle Smith is doing a phenomenal job. Smith got 91.5 per cent in her most recent leadership review. The party has out fundraised the NDP three-to-one in Q1 of this year… The mood for her leadership is so extremely positive, and people love the fact that she's fighting for Alberta.'
Vancouver Sun
a day ago
- Vancouver Sun
The life of a conservative male on a Canadian campus: 'We are not the demons that you see us as'
Young men are falling behind, at school and at work, and the stats on drug overdoses and death by suicide are sobering. Not unlike other mothers of sons, I've keenly observed the raging 'masculinity' debate, to ensure my own sons aren't undone by their own sense of being treated unfairly. We're used to seeing males in positions of power so there's often not a lot of empathy for the struggles of young men. Mega-influencers — Scott Galloway, New York University professor and host of The Prof G Pod, and Jordan Peterson , Canadian-born psychologist and author — describe the manosphere, making sure we understand how even the nicest guys can be susceptible to the seductions of social media driven poison. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. But what really caused my head to spin was an essay published last month by political and cultural thinker and writer Rod Dreher, and a longtime personal friend of J.D. Vance, titled 'The Radical Right is Coming for Your Sons,' where he makes the case for why ignoring the bigots in our midst is perilous, for both the left and right. Chui Yang and Mitch Murray are card-carrying conservative, post-secondary students in Calgary, and I'm grateful they are open to meeting at the University of Calgary campus for an on-the-record conversation about these unnerving questions. Mitch, 19, is a first-year finance major at Mount Royal University who aspires to study and work abroad, and Chui, 20, just completed year three of a history/poli sci degree and aims to get into government relations in support of Alberta's oil and gas sector. 'I've had to take a couple people out of the rabbit hole,' Mitch says, even the anti-Jewish rabbit hole (and Mitch is Jewish). What's his strategy? 'Asking questions: Why do you believe this; where do the ideas come from; do you believe this is something you've actually formed yourself or is it something you've seen online?' This approach, suggests Mitch, seems to free up critical thinking and forces people to question their ideas. Showing up for the interview in a black suit and a tie, Mitch immediately strikes me as a serious young man. He knows males of his demographic who are being pushed right, and he sees racists and extremists lurking in the social media shadows. 'Mount Royal especially is a very progressive school,' Mitch reports, 'and there are a lot of conservative young men on campus, but they're not necessarily out there with their political opinions.' Because progressives have such negative connotations about conservatism on campus, Mitch explains, he seizes opportunities to sit down with people of different political persuasions, to explain, 'we are not the demons that you see us as.' He insists, believing in fiscal responsibility and conservative values, 'doesn't make me racist; doesn't make me sexist.' Chui's take is slightly different; 'I seldom encounter someone who has been corrupted by the 'manosphere',' he says with a grin, 'and when I do encounter them, it's more a fad than anything. After a few months, after a season, it's over; they're back to normal.' As for the radical right coming for our sons, Chui acknowledges the growth in young men's affiliation with the conservative movement but sees this as pragmatic, rather than ideological. Young people who can't make ends meet, he says, 'are choosing to put their faith in a party that historically runs on economic integrity, runs on fiscal responsibility.' It's all part of a cycle, he suggests; there was a spike in young men's support for conservatives in the Mulroney era, and again with the rise of the Reform Party. 'It is a cycle that keeps on happening over and over, and I don't believe social issues have any play within it. Amongst my friends, social issues are not at the forefront of our minds.' At 6-foot-3, Chui towers over me, cutting an imposing figure in his wide leg jeans and suede jacket. His experience as a Christian street preacher may have shaped him into the most patient 20-year-old I've ever encountered. 'Don't fret too much,' is Chui's primary message (as a mother worried about boys, I'm somewhat comforted); however, his experience door-knocking — most recently, in the Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills constituency on behalf of United Conservative Party MLA Tara Sawyer — sends me reeling. 'At the doors,' Chui shares, 'when I do encounter a conservative and the question comes up, 'would you like a lawn sign?', it is often, more times than not, a 'no.' And almost every single time, it is due to the fact they don't want their neighbours to know they are conservative because of the weight that carries.' 'You're talking about rural Alberta?' I ask, incredulously. 'You would expect to have almost every single house welcoming a lawn sign with open arms,' Chui answers, 'but that's far from the truth. 'A lot of the people you encounter at these doors are centrists, and they cast ballots with their pocketbooks,' he explains. 'They want fiscal responsibility and that takes precedence over social issues… things like trans rights, things like homosexual rights, social safety nets.' They feel disenfranchised and are looking for change, he concludes, 'but when you take up that lawn sign, what does that say to your neighbour? That you're a 'racist'.' Somewhat dumbstruck, I wade into the murky waters of DEI quotas and cancel culture. 'Would you like to see wokeness dialled back at your school?' I ask. 'It's almost like the 'he who shall not be named', Voldemort question, among my circles at least,' Chui quips. 'It's not even spoken about. We almost pretend they (DEI quotas) don't exist and just carry on.' With its rainbow flags, rainbow crosswalk and posters everywhere, 'DEI is very, very fundamentally rooted into the Mount Royal (University) culture,' Mitch answers. While it may be a great idea, at his school, he says it's unrealistic to think about shutting down the whole DEI ideology. 'What we need to do, to lean into that direction,' he offers, 'is foster a sense it's OK to have different opinions.' 'Guilt has allowed this to perpetrate,' Chui observes, 'and that has almost created a world of absolutes where you're either for or against. And it's almost painful to live in because you're gagged.' 'So you silence yourselves?' I say. They both nod. It's a difficult question, Chui reflects, and one he's discussed with a guy from Alberta's Republican Party, who, he reports, 'believes the only way you can fight for change … if you're backed up to the wall, is show you're willing to punch them in the face.' Chui doesn't believe this is the 'proper sentiment' because then the pendulum goes back and forth, and 'you have people disenfranchised on either side, time and time again.' 'It's going to be a long fight,' he says, 'if you want to be cordial. But I think it's the right fight.' Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
