International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust

International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust

International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust is a global observance recognized by the United Nations with a focus on honouring the six million Jews, alongside countless Romani people, Poles, disabled individuals, and other targeted groups, who lost their lives during the Holocaust. The day serves a dual purpose. It acts as a solemn memorial to those who died, while simultaneously ensuring the horror of the Holocaust is never forgotten in order to prevent such atrocities from reoccurring.

The date was officially established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2005, 60 years after the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp. In Canada, this commemoration holds special significance. The country became home to more than 40,000 Holocaust survivors in the aftermath of World War II, enriching the Canadian cultural fabric but also creating a community deeply affected by this tragic history. Now, it serves as a day for Canadians to remember and reflect upon the implications of hate, discrimination, and genocide.

In Canada, the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust is marked with various ceremonies and educational activities. Communities gather to respectfully commemorate the victims, host Holocaust exhibits, and conduct educational programs to raise awareness about this dark chapter in history. The observance is recognized annually on January 27, in alignment with the global commemorations. This day provides an opportunity for Canadians to reaffirm a collective commitment to upholding human rights and practicing tolerance and respect.

Facts about Victims of the Holocaust

• The theme for Holocaust Memorial Day in 2024 was Fragility of Freedom. The theme in 2023 was Ordinary People
• If we bear all this suffering and if there are still Jews left, when it is over, then Jews, instead of being doomed, will be held up as an example. ― Anne Frank, well-known Holocaust victim
• Canada has been an active supporter of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) since joining in 2009. The IHRA is an intergovernmental body dedicated to promoting Holocaust education, remembrance, and research in its 34 member countries.
• Prior to and during World War II, Canada had strict immigration policies that limited how many Jews were allowed to enter the country. Canadian authorities were unsympathetic to the plight of Jewish refugees, often because of prevailing anti-Semitic attitudes. In 1939, the Canadian government infamously rejected the MS St. Louis, a ship carrying over 900 Jewish refugees, forcing them to return to Europe where over 250 ultimately perished in the Holocaust.

In the News and Trending in Canada for International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust

Top things to do in Canada for this observance

• Join social media campaigns that promote awareness of the Holocaust, try tweeting using the hashtag #holocaustmemorial or #remembranceday.
• Read one of the thought provoking, gripping and saddening accounts of the Holocaust. Some choice picks include:
  1) The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
  2) Maus by Art Spiegelman
  3) Eichmann in Jerusalem by Hannah Arendt
• Watch a Candian film about the Holocaust:
  None Is Too Many: Canada and the Jews of Europe 1933-1948 - (1982): This is a landmark documentary film about Canada's refusal to offer as much assistance to Jewish Holocaust victims as did other nations.
  Inside Hana's Suitcase - (2009): This is an emotional documentary that tells the story of Hana Brady, a young Jewish girl who died in Auschwitz, through the discovery of her suitcase at a Japanese Holocaust museum.
• Read a book to learn more about Victims of the Holocaust:
  Starting Anew: The Rehabilitation of Child Survivors of the Holocaust in Canada - by Batia Siebzener
  Haven from the Holocaust: Europe's Jewish Refugees and the Promise of America - by Diane Afoumado