Jen Wilkinson
March 19, 2026 Volume 7, Issue 14
Gale has resigned as chair of the Regional Municipality of Niagara following controversy sparked by allegations that he owned a signed copy of Mein Kampf, the political manifesto written by Adolf Hitler.
Gale submitted a resignation letter to Rob Flack on Wednesday, March 11, stating that his resignation was effective immediately.
The issue became public after a joint statement from the Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association and Justice 4 Black Lives Niagara alleged that Gale had purchased and owned a copy of the book signed by Hitler. The organizations said they were informed of the alleged ownership by a whistle-blower.
In their statement, the groups called on Gale to explain his ownership of the item and apologize. They argued that possessing material associated with Nazi ideology is troubling, given ongoing concerns about racism and antisemitism in the region.
“Buying and taking the trouble to authenticate hate material signed by Hitler makes any reasonable person wonder,” said Saleh Waziruddin of the Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association in the statement. The groups also urged Gale to destroy the book, describing it as hate material tied to the genocide of Jewish people during the Holocaust.
Sherri Darlene, founder of Justice 4 Black Lives Niagara, said Gale’s resignation was welcome but questioned the broader issue of accountability. She also thanked the whistle-blower who brought the matter forward.
In his resignation letter, Gale did not issue an apology but defended his interest in collecting historical artifacts. He described himself as “a passionate historian with a broad collection of historical art and artifacts.”
Gale wrote that his collection includes items such as a letter from abolitionist John Brown, correspondence from George Washington, and a letter from former British prime minister Winston Churchill. He also cited historical documents related to Niagara Falls, including a signed copy of an early book about the falls by Louis Hennepin.
Gale suggested the controversy was driven in part by political opposition to his appointment as chair, writing that a “strong vocal minority” sought to undermine him.
“Today, a member of the communist party circulated a dated document that listed my name as the owner of a historical book found in many libraries,” Gale wrote.
Gale had been appointed regional chair by the Province of Ontario in December rather than elected directly by voters.
Following the resignation, Niagara Region confirmed that the chair’s duties will continue under its existing bylaws for temporary absences. Lincoln councillor Rob Foster will serve as acting regional chair for the remainder of March.
