White supremacists are marching into Edmonton.

For the first time, the group Blood & Honour is holding its white-pride rally here, inviting participants from across Canada to “openly express racial pride.”

The event is slated for March 24, according to a stormfront.org blog post.

An organizer first said Edmonton’s will replace Calgary’s march ‘ which has lost steam in recent years ‘ but later told Metro the event status in that city is “complicated.”

A blog post on Anti-Racist Canada’s website (anti-racistcanada.blogspot.com) gives details about a counter-rally planned for at noon at End of Steel Park on Whyte Avenue, in conjunction with The International Day Against Racial Discrimination.

The ARC Collective supports the event but is not organizing the rally, a spokesperson told Metro.

Const. Ken Smith with the Edmonton Police Service’s hate-crimes unit said members are prepared for “whatever happens.”

Three years ago, the two sides clashed in Calgary and police had to step in.

Smith said EPS has been in “constant communication” with Calgary Police Service.

He wouldn’t say how many officers will be present next Saturday or what measures will be taken.

Edmonton rally organizers must apply for a permit, but that hasn’t happened yet, said Smith, noting the group seems to be organizing here under the radar.

“What they wanted to do is catch the police off guard,” he said.            

With files from jeremy nolais