Brantford, Ontario, isn’t usually the epicenter of viral fame, but on April 19, a single snapshot at a Liberal rally turned a retiree into an internet lightning rod. Matt Janes, a St. Thomas resident and local Liberal volunteer, stood in line outside Sassy Britches Brewing Co., waiting to hear Mark Carney, the party’s leader, speak. What happened next—two raised middle fingers aimed at a camera—sparked a digital wildfire, earning Janes the nickname “Brantford Boomer” and a torrent of memes that flooded social media.
The scene wasn’t calm. Over a thousand people packed the brewery for Carney’s meet-and-greet, part of a heated federal election campaign. Outside, a rowdy group of protesters waved flags emblazoned with “F*** Carney” and hurled insults, some calling Liberal supporters “pedophiles” through megaphones. For nearly an hour, the heckling didn’t let up. Janes, caught in the chaos, later said the crowd’s harassment pushed him to a breaking point. His gesture, captured by an independent journalist’s lens, wasn’t planned. He called it impulsive, a split-second reaction to the noise and hostility.
By April 21, the photo was everywhere. Commenters online slapped the “Brantford Boomer” label on Janes, a nod to his age and the city where it all went down. Memes multiplied, some portraying him as a symbol of Liberal arrogance, others mocking the protesters’ antics. The image racked up thousands of views across platforms, with right-wing circles amplifying it as a jab at the Liberal campaign. A satirical account even popped up, posting fake quotes to troll struggling Canadians, though Janes himself steered clear of social media after the storm hit.
Janes didn’t expect the fallout. By April 22, he was fielding online abuse, not just aimed at him but at his family and former workplaces. Railway City Brewing Co., where he’d once been involved, issued a statement on April 22 distancing itself from the controversy. Janes, in a statement to a local outlet on April 23, expressed regret. The gesture, he said, wasn’t meant to define him or his politics. He described the protesters’ behavior as “vulgar” and said the constant harassment—cameras in faces, shouted obscenities—wore him down.
The rally itself, held on April 19, drew over 1,000 supporters, a mix of local Liberals and curious voters. Carney’s campaign, focused on economic promises and dodging Trump-era tariffs, was a lightning rod for critics. The protesters, a smaller but louder group, targeted Carney’s record, waving signs and chanting through the evening. Janes wasn’t the only one rattled; other attendees reported feeling cornered by the crowd’s aggression.
By April 26, the “Brantford Boomer” saga had become a case study in how fast a moment can spiral. News outlets dug into the context, piecing together footage that showed the lead-up: a tense standoff, shouted slurs, and a retiree who snapped. Janes, now back in St. Thomas, has stayed out of the spotlight since. The election, set for April 28, rolls on, but his double-barreled gesture remains the campaign’s most unforgettable image.
Matt Janes is a retired Liberal volunteer from St. Thomas, Ontario. The photo was taken on April 19 at Sassy Britches Brewing Co. in Brantford. Over 1,000 attended the Carney rally. Protesters used megaphones and carried “F*** Carney” flags. Janes reported harassment on April 23. Railway City Brewing Co. issued a statement on April 22. The election is scheduled for April 28.