Today, we remember, honour and mourn the victims of the Holocaust, including the over six million Jews and millions of Slavs, Poles, Romani, people with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ2IA+ community. 

Jan. 27 marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a solemn reminder of one of the darkest chapters in our human history. Eighty years ago, Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp was liberated from the Nazis and the world came face to face with what unchecked hatred and discrimination can lead to and vowed, never again. 

Antisemitism is on the rise in Canada with hate crimes against Jewish people increasing by 71% between 2022-2023.1 It’s a time to echo that promise made 80 years ago to remain vigilant in the face of antisemitism, hatred and discrimination. As we continue to build an equitable and inclusive University community, we must work together to confront hate whenever and wherever it appears. We all have a responsibility to learn more about how antisemitism and hatred manifests, and to stand against it when we see it in the form of symbols, words, violence and gestures. Antisemitism in any form is unacceptable and wrong. 

Holocaust Education Week on Campus 

We know education is an important tool in combatting hatred and discrimination, so I encourage you to set aside some time today to learn more about the Holocaust and ways to stand against antisemitism. Guelph Hillel is hosting a Holocaust Education Exhibit in the University Centre this week where you can read powerful testimonies and learn more about how the pain and impact of the Holocaust still affects our society today.

On Holocaust Remembrance Day, please join me as we honour the lives lost by remembering and reflecting on the past and by coming together to reaffirm our to commitment to build a better future for everyone.

Sincerely,

Indira Naidoo-Harris
Associate Vice-President, Diversity and Human Rights

 

  1. Statistics Canada

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