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Earlier today, Premier Doug Ford and other distinguished members of the Ontario Legislature joined Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) in celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Tour for Humanity, a specially equipped, mobile education centre that has been travelling across Canada educating students about the Holocaust, genocide and human rights since 2013.

The event at Queen's Park, co-hosted by FSWC and Ontario Minister of Education Stephen Lecce, included remarks from Premier Ford, leaders and members of opposition parties and Holocaust survivor Andy Reti. The reception was followed by Ontario government officials and staff visiting and experiencing the Tour for Humanity bus, which was parked just outside the Legislative Building.

"When it comes to standing against antisemitism, there are no political stripes," said Premier Ford, whose message was echoed by outgoing Liberal Party leader John Fraser, NDP MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam and Green Party leader Mike Schreiner, all of whom delivered poignant remarks on the importance of Holocaust education and combatting antisemitism and all forms of hate.

We thank Minister Stephen Lecce for co-hosting this special event with us and for his remarks, along with Premier Doug Ford, MPP John Fraser, MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam, MPP Mike Schreiner and Andy Reti. We appreciate all the MPPs and staff members who joined us in marking this momentous occasion.

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Launched in 2013, the Tour for Humanity is a technologically advanced mobile human rights education centre that teaches students, educators, community leaders and front-line professionals about the Holocaust, genocide and Canada’s human rights history through workshops. Originally consisting of a single bus, the program expanded in fall 2022 by adding a second bus. As demand has continued to increase, a third bus has been ordered and will hit the road in 2024.

The educational sessions conducted on the bus help inspire and empower people of all ages and backgrounds to raise their voices and take action against hate, intolerance and bullying and to promote justice, human rights and a more inclusive society.

Since its inception, the Tour for Humanity has visited more than 1,000 schools across Ontario and other provinces – including Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia – reaching more than 175,000 students, educators and community members.