Good morning. This is Hanna Lee.

Some of Canada's most notorious white supremacists are training for what they believe is an upcoming race war, branding themselves as "active clubs" — and many of them are in public places, some near children's areas. CBC's visual investigations unit spent months investigating the story. More on that below.

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Tracking Canada’s fascist fight clubs

(CBC News)

In public areas like parks and gyms, some of Canada's most notorious white supremacists are preparing for what they believe is the impending race war. CBC spent months tracking them — and found exactly where they're training.

What's happening: Called active clubs, they're part of a decentralized white supremacist and neo-Nazi network. These clubs bill themselves as defenders of Canada's European roots, and a place for community and fitness. But some experts say they're the fastest-growing extremist threat in Canada.

Where they're training: Locations include private gyms and martial arts studios including those in Hamilton and Welland, Ont., though many of the gyms' owners said they were unaware of these groups' affiliations, and some barred them afterwards. Several groups trained at parks and community spaces in Hamilton, like Gage Park, near children's splash pads and gardens.

The rebranding of Pierre Poilievre

(Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

In the months since his federal election loss, Pierre Poilievre has been feeling dejected and disappointed, sources say. But after a period of reflection, he's re-emerged with a ramped-up byelection campaign and a revamped strategy.

What's happening: Among other changes, he's speaking to the media now, even taking an interview with CBC Radio's The House last week. He also took on a different tone in that interview, saying he didn't blame Prime Minister Mark Carney "entirely" for lack of progress on a trade deal with the U.S. and saying his leadership can't just be tied to what the Liberals are doing.

What's not changing: His reliance on his campaign adviser, Jenni Byrne. Despite rumours of her ouster — and the Conservatives' own mixed feelings about her — Byrne and Poilievre still speak often, a source said, and a party spokesperson confirmed she's still working for them. Now, as Poilievre faces the byelection in Battle River-Crowfoot, observers will be watching for his margin of victory.

Is that QR code actually a scam? Here's what to know about 'quishing' before you scan

QR codes are everywhere — and so are QR-related cybercrimes. In this case, it's "quishing" (or phishing, with a Q).

What's happening: QR code usage is commonplace, and users often aren't paying attention to where they lead to when they scan them. That makes them a great way for attackers to hide malicious URLs they send people to. Just this week, officials in Montreal warned against fraudulent QR codes popping up near parking meters that took QR code-based payment. 

Looking to the future: There haven't been many documented cases of this form of fraud in Canada, but experts say it's poised to become a real problem. Experts say pay attention to the URL to which a QR code directs you, especially if it's for a time-sensitive situation, like buying last-minute concert tickets. Scammers can also place fraudulent stickers over legitimate QR codes in public spaces, so try scratching the code to see if it may have been pasted on.

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IN LIGHTER NEWS

New northern Ontario art installation lets visitors call a local river or lake

(Submitted by Eric Powell)

Next time you're in northern Ontario, give a lake a call. A new installation from sound artist Eric Powell called Voice of the Water connects a 1970s-era rotary phone to recordings of nine nearby waterways, each with their own corresponding phone number. The goal is to allow people to engage deeply with the environment around them — which is why Powell chose the rotary phone as his medium, given how intimate calling someone can be. The project will be shown at the New Adventures in Sound Art gallery in South River, Ont., starting July 18.