Alex Thompson and AJ Willan

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Alex and Ashley posing for a photo.

Today we would like to introduce you to Alex Thompson, Ottawa Active Club member and friend of several white nationalist extremists such as: Patrick MacDonald aka Dark Foreigner (alleged propagandist for terror group Atomwaffen Division who’s currently awaiting trial for multiple terrorism charges), Ben Mockler aka Aquila the Eagle (neo-Nazi recruiter for Ottawa Active Club), and Ryan Immel & Ryan Marshall  (senior members of the Vinland Hammerskins).

Alex first came to our attention when we saw him in one of Ben Mockler’s workout videos at his gym Nova Signum. At the time, Nova Signum was being used by Mockler to create training videos for members of Active Clubs locally, nationally, and even internationally. The gym is now closed after an eviction notice was posted on the door last September, citing non-payment of rent (whomp whomp). Not much was known about his red-headed assistant, until now.

Image showing Alex and Ben working out in his now closed gym.

Fast forward to December 2023, when a group of anti-fascists in Sweden leaked the purchase logs from Midgard, an online store that sells neo-Nazi merch, music, and other paraphernalia. One particular entry caught our eye, made by an Ashley Jacqueline “AJ” Willan who purchased a copy of “Kill Baby, Kill! – Product of Society” in 2018. Turns out, not only is she a fan of Nazi music, but her partner Alex turned out to be the mysterious red-headed assistant we’d seen before with Mockler. The world works in mysterious ways.

Below is a photo of Ottawa Active Club, featuring Ryan Marshall, Ryan Immel, Alex Thompson, Patrick MacDonald, Erik Skov, and Ben Mockler. Active Clubs have become the big thing with white nationalist and neo-Nazi groups. They’re using the active lifestyle to bring in new members for radicalization.

Some reading on Active Clubs if you need to get caught up to speed:

Ottawa Active Club

While Ashley is originally from Winnipeg and Alex from Ottawa, they got together in Vancouver around 2014 while Ashley was taking a Culinary Arts program. They both lived an active lifestyle together, with Ashley even documenting her experience getting her personal trainer license. While it’s unknown if Alex did the same, we think it’s very possible and he may have been working as a personal trainer in the area. In 2017 Ashley got pregnant, so the pair decided to move back to Ottawa.

Alex holding AJ while she is pregnant

We also know Alex’s parents purchased his home in Alta Vista. We’re not going to publish who his immediate neighbour is, but with some sleuthing you can figure it out. We did and it’s extremely concerning. Let’s just say we don’t think it’s a coincidence how he got involved in white nationalism.

Screen grab of Alex's step father talking about buying and renting his house to Alex.

Alex was born January 11th, 1991 and graduated from Brookfield High School in 2009. He now works in the trades and frequently wears various white supremacist clothing labels while out and about, even while at family gatherings and posing for family photos.

Yearbook Entry Reads "I would like to thank all my teachers, especially Ms H. and Ms. P. for all their help. I couldn't have done it without you!Thanks to the whole crew for making it an interesting four years especially James and Allen. Have a good one.

Picture of Alex at a bar wearing neo-Nazi symbols on his clothing.

Alex is wearing his favourite sonnenrad shirt, arguably the most popular neo-Nazi symbol, from Vinland Battlewear while drinking with an extended family member at Ralph’s Sports Bar @ 1990 Russell Road.

Alex wearing another Vinland Batttlewear shirt containing a now neo-Nazi appropriated symbol the wolfsangel. On the right he is wearing an Operation Werewolf shirt. Operation Werewolf is the gym and lifestyle brand of Paul Waggener, the ideologue behind a network of fascist gyms. In 2021, Operation Werewolf supporter Lyndon McLeod murdered 5 people in Denver.

We know they visit a bakery near their house and are very good friends with the business owner. While we don’t know their full connection to the place, other than it being close to their house, we believe that people should know where it is and that it isn’t safe to hang.

Pictures of Alex at a bakery wearing neo-Nazi symbols on his clothing.

Alex at 3 Sisters Bakery @ 2211 Arch St. He is wearing a wolfsangel hat, an old Germanic symbol appropriated by Nazi Germany. He’s also wearing shirt from Thor Steinar, a neo-Nazi brand banned in Germany.

After deleting her last Facebook account, Ashley created a new, cleaner profile to start an arts and crafts business called ‘redfoxmooncraft’. Ashley isn’t innocent though. On top of her taste in white nationalist music, she also wears the merch. Here she is wearing a Vinland Battlewear shirt on her arts and crafts instagram. Vinland Battlewear is a popular clothing line with the Active Club community.

Ashley holding her phone over her face taking a picture in the mirror while wearing a Vinland Battlewear shirt.

She’ll also be hosting a table at the Shenkman Market on October 26th. I wonder if they know what Ashley believes in.

Slowly but surely we’re unmasking these violent neo-Nazis. We need help though. If you know anything about this couple please reach out on twitter or via email ottawaresistance[at]protonmail.com. We keep ourselves safe.