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A recent investigation by Steven Monacelli and Kyle Phalen has uncovered disturbing connections between an influential white nationalist social media account and British Columbia's Trinity Western University (TWU).
The X (formerly Twitter) account, @captivedreamer7, which boasts followers including US Vice President JD Vance and engagement from Elon Musk, appears to be run by Geoffrey Martin, whose father (Dr. Todd Martin) was named president of the Langley-based Christian university last month.
Trinity Western's Troubling Association
The revelation that the likely administrator of this account is the son of TWU's new president raises serious questions for the Langley-based university.
President Martin is no newcomer to TWU. He has served on the university faculty since 2008 where he taught the subjects of sociology and family studies. Prior to his promotion into the President's office, he was dean of Faculty of Faculties and Social Sciences.
He is also currently a member of the National Council on Family Relations, which has a very clearly clearly defined and principled dedication to diversity and inclusion.
In recent years TWU has received its fair share of controversy with the alleged mistreatment of marginalized people - mainly the LGBTQ+ members of its own community.
The university faced significant legal challenges due to its controversial "community covenant," which prohibited students from having sexual relations outside of heterosexual marriage.
Additionally, there have been persistent allegations of widespread homophobia on campus and criticism for suppressing OneTWU, a support group for LGBTQ+ students and alumni. These concerns have troubled the university for many years.
The content posted by the account seems to stand in stark contrast to TWU's stated mission. Captive Dreamer has shared content praising Adolf Hitler, quoting Mein Kampf, denying the Holocaust, and using explicitly racist language against Black people, Arabs, and other groups.
Lower Mainland Ties Run Deep
Following this institutional connection, the digital evidence further links the account to our region. According to Monacelli and Phalen's investigative report, multiple digital breadcrumbs connect @captivedreamer7 to the Lower Mainland of British Columbia.
The investigation revealed that Captive Dreamer has posted about experiences in Vancouver and Abbotsford, shared images from the highway connecting the two cities, and made specific references to the University of British Columbia.
One particularly telling post criticized UBC's diversity, stating: "Last time I was on UBC campus it was probably 80-90% non white. Bleak."
The reporting shows that Martin graduated from UBC with a classics degree, winning an award for Greek translation in 2009 and completing his studies in 2012. This academic background aligns with Captive Dreamer's posts about reading Greek and translating German texts.
The account has referenced being Canadian with dual citizenship and has consistently mentioned locations in the Pacific Northwest, creating a clear local connection that brings American far-right influences directly into our communities.
Disturbing Content Exposed
The investigation revealed deeply troubling content shared by the account that goes far beyond typical political discourse. These posts demonstrate explicit racism, antisemitism, and admiration for Nazi ideology.
In one deleted post from June 2024, Captive Dreamer wrote: "I believe in Hitler. In National Socialism, in Total N****r death."
The account has repeatedly dismissed the Holocaust, writing: "I simply don't care at all about the 'Holocaust.' Means nothing to me," and in another post, "Boohoo the 'Holocaust' who gives a shit."
Captive Dreamer's racist views extend to multiple groups. In January 2024, the account posted: "Racism doesn't exist. Blacks just aren't smart enough to fly planes." Another post from December 2023 stated: "I think it's probably the fact that Arabs are low IQ and extremely low in impulse control."
Under a previous handle, @Stefangeorge77, the account was even more explicit about its white supremacist ideology, posting in September 2023: "I believe in a white future. An Aryan future. A future where my children will make Indian Bronson shine our shoes. Where brown people can't secure a line of credit. Blacks pick cotton. We will win – this is what we fight for."
The account has also declared: "I am a colonialist. I make no effort to hide this. I believe in world wide white supremacy."
These statements represent views that most British Columbians would find deeply offensive and contrary to our province's multicultural values.
Cross-Border Tensions Amplified
This revelation comes at a particularly sensitive moment in Canada-US relations. With the Trump administration's return to power and ongoing threats to annex Canada as "the 51st state", the connection between a Canadian academic institution and an account followed by the US Vice President adds another layer of complexity to cross-border dynamics.
The investigation shows that Captive Dreamer boasted that his viral tweets about Haitians allegedly eating cats in September 2024 "put it on Vance's radar, sparking a weeks-long panic." This misinformation reportedly influenced the 2024 US election narrative.
Even more concerning, the account now has direct engagement from high-ranking American officials.
🆕 @jdvance has started following @captivedreamer7 pic.twitter.com/jukwjPp915
— U.S. Politics Alert (@USPoliticsAlert) November 12, 2024
As documented in the investigation, both Vice President JD Vance and Elon Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), have interacted with the account despite (or perhaps because of) its history of white nationalist content.
Implications for Trinity Western University
TWU now faces difficult questions about its leadership and institutional values.
While the investigation doesn't suggest the university endorses the views expressed by the account, the family connection places TWU in an uncomfortable position that may require a public response.
The account's content represents values that would seem fundamentally at odds with an educational institution's mission, particularly one founded on Christian principles that ostensibly promote love and dignity for all people.
Indeed, TWU's website highlights that they strive for Inclusive Excellence, and explicitly states "Our goal is to promote a consistent atmosphere of inclusion and belonging at TWU by establishing a shared commitment to diversity and equity founded in the truth of the gospel."
However, for TWU students and alumni, this association creates potential reputational concerns in a community that generally values Canada's multicultural identity and increasingly resents American-style culture wars.
The Local Impact
For residents of Langley and the broader Fraser Valley, this situation highlights how global extremism can have local implications. The region has long balanced faith-based values with Canada's commitment to diversity and inclusion.
While the owner of Captive Dreamer appears to embrace extremist ideologies more commonly associated with American far-right movements, the account's connection to our community demonstrates how these worldviews can find footholds even in a Canadian society that traditionally focuses on cooperation and collective well-being.
This case raises important questions about how our local institutions respond to extremism in their midst, especially as American-style culture wars increasingly influence Canadian social discourse.
Moving Forward
As this story develops, the implications for Trinity Western University and the broader community remain to be seen. The investigation reveals how the digital world can create unexpected connections between local institutions and international extremism.
For communities across the Lower Mainland, this case highlights the importance of maintaining distinctly Canadian approaches to pluralism and community cohesion, even as digital platforms enable the spread of divisive ideologies across borders.
The challenge for institutions like TWU will be to clearly define where they stand in relation to extremist ideologies that may have connections, however indirect, to their leadership. Their response will reflect not just on the university, but on our region's commitment to creating inclusive spaces where all community members can thrive regardless of background.
Update: TWU Response
The following message was sent out from Trinity Western University:
"President Todd F. Martin expresses our values as a diverse global Christian university comprised of students from over 80 countries.
As a University, we are committed to fostering a community where everyone is treated with respect and dignity. Our priority is to provide a safe learning environment for our students.
The University's message also includes the following response from President Todd Martin:
"Today, I want to make something crystal clear: regardless of its source, I have always and will continue to stand against racism in every form. I reject white supremacy and any ideology that elevates one group of people over another. I denounce the use of derogatory and disparaging labels and language and any attempts to dehumanize another individual or group. I strongly oppose the use of social media for spreading such harmful ideas. And I do this not just because it’s the right thing to do but because it is what God expects of us and how His Spirit compels us to live.
To my brothers and sisters of every background, know this: you are loved. You are valued. And in Christ, we are one. I want to be clear: that is what I stand for, and as president, that is what Trinity Western University stands for."
The full message, in addition to a video message from President Martin can be viewed at this link.
References and Resources
Steven Monacelli, Kyle Phalen
Carter Sawatzky
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