The B.C. Government paid tribute to the more than six million victims of the Holocaust and honoured survivors and family members in a ceremony at the provincial legislature marking Yom HaShoah - Holocaust Memorial Day.

 

The important occasion was an opportunity to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and to acknowledge the enduring lessons of the Holocaust to British Columbians and Canadians. The Honourable Gordon Campbell, Premier of British Columbia, addressed close to 150 survivors and their guests at a special ceremony in the Parliament Building. As part of the ceremony, six survivors lit six candles to remember the six million Jewish men, women and children killed by the Nazis between 1933 and 1945.

 

The Honourable Wally Opal, Attorney General, served as Master of Ceremonies of the event, which featured moving messages from Jody Dales, President of the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre; Dr. David Zimmerman, President of the Victoria Holocaust Remembrance and Education Society; and Gerry Cuttler, Chair, CJCPR who received the official Proclamation from the Premier. The powerful keynote address was provided by Dr. David Kirk, Victoria Holocaust Remembrance and Education Society.

 

Holocaust Memorial Day serves not only to honour the victims and survivors, but also as an opportunity to educate Canadians of the enduring lessons from the Holocaust in order to prevent those atrocities from occurring again.

 

Highlights from the day can be viewed online here.

 

CJCPR would like to thank: Deb Brendeland, Events Coordinator, Public Affairs Bureau, Provincial Government; Alex Buckman, Vancouver Holocaust Education Society; Jack Shalinsky, Victoria Holocaust Remembrance and Education Society; Lena McLeod, Community Relations Coordinator, CJCPR (on maternity leave) for their hard work, support and dedication in the organization of the day.

 

 

On May 20, 2008, Canadian Jewish Congress, Pacific Region (CJCPR) attended the sentencing hearing for two offenders who defaced Beth Tikvah Synagogue with antisemitic graffiti on the morning of Holocaust Remembrance Day, April 15, 2007. The two were charged with mischief motivated by hate of a religious group. Based on the recommendations by the Crown Council, the Judge, who stressed the need to rehabilitate the minors, sentenced the offenders, to the following: 

- 18 months probation;
- Mandatory counseling during their probation period 100 hours of community service;
- Mandatory attendance at educational programs related to the Holocaust and other genocide;
- A 1000 word essay on intolerance and a formal letter of apology to the Synagogue;
- Pay restitution to the Synagogue for the property damage.

 

Beth Tikvah Congregation and CJCPR welcome the sentences handed down to the two perpetrators. We commend the Judge for recognizing the seriousness of the offense and the Crown Council's diligence during this investigation and for recognizing that this type of intolerance in unacceptable.

 

 

In May, Canadian Jewish Congress was asked to become a permanent member to the Canadian educational subcommittee of the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research (ITF). CJC has advocated for years that Canada ought to seek membership on the ITF. Secretary of State for multiculturalism, the Honourable Jason Kenny picked up on our advocacy and began the process of seeking membership. In that light, part of Canada's responsibility for ITF membership is: to create programs in Holocaust education or to further develop existing information materials and activities in this area working together with the Task Force. To this end liaison projects are established between countries and the Task Force for long-term cooperation. CJC Ontario Chair Dr. Frank Bialystok, one of Canada's most eminent Holocaust scholars, has been appointed as CJC's permanent delegate to this Holocaust education sub-committee overseen by the department of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism.

 

 

The St. Louis, filled with 907 Jewish refugees fleeing Hitler's Europe, was turned away at every port in North America including Canada. The ship was forced to return to Europe where virtually all the Jewish families perished in the Shoah. CJC has been advocating for St. Louis redress for 20 years. This would involve the proper historical recognition of the tragedy of the ship and the "None is too many" exclusionary immigration policy underpinning the refusal to let the 900 plus refugees from Hitler's Europe land. While we believe that we do not have the right to receive an apology on behalf of the victims, we would welcome such a gesture from the government of Canada, indicating a willingness to acknowledge how profoundly wrong this misguided policy was and to use the lessons of such dark historical episodes to advance today's diverse Canada and its core values.

The key to recognition of the St. Louis will be an historical marker in Halifax harbour, which will act as a sensitization and educational tool for generations of Canadians to come. Recently, CJC received the incredible news that the Conservative government will provide CJC with a $300,000.00 grant for this long requested initiative. This is another example of perseverance and relationship building leading to significant deliverables and outcomes.

 

 

 

Last month, representatives from Canadian Jewish Congress Pacific Region and Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver met with the Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety.

CJCPR Chair Gerry Cuttler and Vice Chair Richard Kurland thanked the Minister on behalf of CJCPR and our community for the government's recent announcement of $300,000 in funding to commemorate the S.S. St. Louis, as well as the planned apology regarding the incident of the Komagata Maru. CJCPR also expressed appreciation for the creation of the Security Infrastructure Program (SIP), which provides funding to at-risk communities. Mr. Day was very receptive to the idea of keeping the lines of communication open to discuss the overall application process as he would like to receive feedback from our community regarding the process once the results are in.

Here in Vancouver, various changes to the application process between Round 1 and Round 2, led to a decrease in the number of applications from the Jewish community. Mr. Day expressed concern that these organizations did not reapply and articulated that he tried to clear up some of the issues regarding the application process.

Deb Brendeland, Events Coordinator with the Public Affairs Bureau of the Provincial Government.

 

For the past three years, Deb Brendeland has been instrumental in the organization of the Provincial Government's annual Yom HaShoah Commemoration ceremony in the B.C. Legislature. Working in partnership with the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre, Victoria Holocaust Remembrance and Education Society, and Canadian Jewish Congress, Pacific Region, Deb has worked hard to ensure the event is a memorable and significant event for everyone, especially the Holocaust survivors. The Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony is one of Deb's favourite and most meaningful events that she is responsible for organizing. She believes it is important to remember the tragedies and the price that the survivors endured. Always deeply moved by the speakers' remarks each year, Deb is happy that the government is able to play a role in honouring the survivors and being a part of this annual event. CJC Pacific Region is very appreciative of all of the hard work Deb dedicates to this event.
 
Deb lives in Victoria, B.C. and has two daughters. Her eldest daughter is completing her degree in History and will be heading into the Bachelor of Education program next year to obtain her teaching degree. Her youngest is in the process of completing the Legal Assistant program.

The Canadian Press
May 13, 2008
Feds to Fund Education Program on Canada's 1939 Rejection of Jewish Refugee Ship
By Bruce Cheadle

 

OTTAWA - The Canadian government has set aside money for an education program and monument memorializing the shameful rejection of the Jewish refugee ship St. Louis in 1939.
 
No official apology is in the works for the incident, which epitomized a period of anti-Semitic Canadian immigration policy in the 1930s and '40s.
 
But Canada's Jewish lobby has been campaigning since the late 1980s to have the story of the St. Louis memorialized, and a government official is confirming that's about to happen......

 

The Toronto Star
May 27, 2008
Voyage of the SS St. Louis
By Bernie M Farber

"Are you a Jew?" asked one of the guards.
"Yes," answered the child at the barrier.
"Jews are not admitted," snapped the guard.
"Oh please let me in. I'm only a very little Jew."
Such was a game played by children aboard the doomed SS St. Louis, the ship that set sail May 27, 1939, with 937 Jews from Germany headed for Cuba. All of them had valid Cuban visas, and were hoping to be saved from Hitler's coming madness......

 

The Chai Folk Ensemble Celebrating Israel @ 60
 
This event is presented by The Louis Brier Jewish Aged Foundation. Thursday June 19, 2008 at the River Rock Theatre in Richmond, BC. Start time 7:30 pm. Please visit The Chai Folk Ensemble for more information.

I Have Never Forgotten You; The Life and Times of Simon Wiesenthal
 
This feature length documentary examines the life and deeds of Simon Wiesenthal. It features interviews with longtime associates, government leaders, friends and family members, many of whom have never discussed the legendary Nazi hunter on camera. What drove him to pursue this dangerous and thankless task? What kept him going when for years the odds were against his efforts? What is his legacy today? Tickets are $18.00 and are available at the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre, 604-264-0499. The film will be shown at the Norman Rothstein Theatre 950 West 41st Ave. Vancouver, BC from 2:15 pm to 4:15pm.