Finding Light in These Dark Times
Every day, I hear from people all over the world who are determined to do their part to stop the slide into gangster authoritarianism.
It’s why, even in these darkest of times, I feel hope. Canadians are looking out for our neighbours. We’re calling out the well-worn playbook of the far right. We’re standing up for democracy. And the world is watching.
Last week Meidas Canada and West End Phoenix held an incredible town hall focused on how we find light in these difficult and challenging times. The Toronto event was sold out and thanks to the generosity of those who attended, we were able to donate $1,000 to the Parkdale Community Food Bank.
Then it was over to Belleville, where The Kafana, a wonderful local Ukrainian restaurant, had invited my band, Grievous Angels, to headline a fundraiser for Humanity for Free Ukraine.
Another full house and another amazing evening of music, food, community and grassroots resistance. All proceeds went directly to help the people of Ukraine.
Fellow resisters, it’s been a helluva year.
Since launching Charlie Angus / The Resistance in January, we’ve published 242 essays and become one of the most widely read online sites. This community is over 70,000 subscribers strong. Our focus from day one has been on making sense of this dark historical moment and providing tools for grassroots resistance.
Your support made it possible to bring the Resistance Tour to Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, across Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia. I’m not gonna lie, some weeks, the travel was gruelling, but the people we met along the way made it all worthwhile.
The 2026 tour calendar has started to come together - we’ll update folks as communities are announced and tickets become available.
As always, past and upcoming tour details can be found here:
And as if writing and touring weren’t enough, on Labour Day, we launched the Meidas Canada Network — a global news service for the resistance. In just under three months we’ve had over 9 million views. On December 1st, we hit 200,000 subscribers, putting us in the top spot for independent news analysis in Canada.
And what’s really exciting is that Meidas Canada has become the go-to stop for resistance and community for viewers from all over the globe.
The stories we share through Charlie Angus / The Resistance Substack and the Meidas Canada Network are free for anyone to read and watch — including the full archives. No paywalls. No barriers. And that will never change.
But we could use your help.
Before we close out the year, here are three simple ways you can support our work:
If you haven’t already, we hope you’ll subscribe to the Meidas Canada Network channel — it’s free & easy to do.
If you enjoy Charlie Angus / The Resistance as a free subscriber, would you consider upgrading to a paid subscription? This financial support gives our team the stability to plan for and take on important projects in 2026.
If you’re already a paid subscriber, would you consider a one-time contribution to help fund our on-the-road activities? Travelling across the country with our video team is challenging, but crucial for our work. Email info@charlieangus.ca and we will walk you through the process.
🚨Meidas Canada Merch!
Meidas Canada t-shirts went fast as part of the fundraiser for the Parkdale Community Food Bank but we still have a limited number of ball caps available.
To place an order:
Email info@charlieangus.ca with “Meidas Canada Ball Cap” in the subject line
Include your name and mailing address in the body of the message — someone from our team will respond with confirmation and next steps
Caps are priced at $30 each and can be paid for by e-transfer
Please note we are only shipping to Canadian addresses right now.
And finally fellow resisters, if you are not in a position to contribute financially or simply choose to support other causes, thank you so much for reading, sharing and being apart of this community. We couldn’t do this without you.
I’ve been thinking about what Charlie Angus/The Resistance has meant to me all this year. It’s significant. It’s been good reading, placing the present moment in the context of our history. I’ve been filled with pride — not, I hope hubris, but pride — in the courage of our ancestors, so often. It’s a year’s story of determined activism, not doom-scrolling. Inspiring. I’ve done my best to refrain from buying American, sustained by the stubborn comments of the people who read this Substack right away, as soon as it comes out. I’ve been deeply encouraged by the community that gathers here, in these comments— encouraged to continue to believe in Canada, democracy, human rights, and human kindness. Maybe it’s the Northern Ontario roots found here, for those who are watching. Maybe it’s the solid belief in reconciliation, underpinned by years of caring for people in remote communities, and fighting for justice — St. Anne’s School, Shannen Koostachin— and more. All this. Stay strong, Charlie. Canada needs you. Keep kicking at the darkness. The daylight is bleeding through.
When life is easy, we are not tested. Nobody wants the hard times, but only then can we find out our strengths and who our real friends are. These are when the real lessons are learned.
Thank you Charlie for your energy and the spirit you bring.