Toronto (February 5, 2020) - Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) commends the City of Westmount for adopting the international definition of antisemitism backed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).

The Montreal-area suburb became the second municipality in Canada to adopt the IHRA definition, after the City of Vaughan did so last month. Canada’s federal government officially adopted the definition last year, and a motion for the Province of Ontario to adopt the definition is currently before the legislature.

“It is wonderful to see municipalities like Westmount showing leadership and determination in the fight against antisemitism,” said Avi Benlolo, president and CEO of FSWC. “We call on all municipalities across the country to follow the lead of Westmount and Vaughan, stand up to growing antisemitism and adopt the IHRA definition.”

The IHRA definition of antisemitism was developed by a team of international experts, including the Simon Wiesenthal Center. With its detailed set of examples, the definition offers a detailed conceptualization of antisemitism that captures both classic blood libels as well as modern antisemitic tropes and rhetoric.