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Earlier today, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, city councillors and Canada’s Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism Deborah Lyons gathered with Jewish community members at Toronto City Hall to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day in a moving ceremony hosted by Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) and Councillor James Pasternak.

Officially marked on January 27, the same day the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp was liberated in 1945, International Holocaust Remembrance Day honours the memory of the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust and other victims of the Nazis and their collaborators.

"It is not lost on me that the death toll in Israel in October is the largest number of Jewish civilians that have been killed since the Holocaust," Mayor Chow expressed, emphasizing the importance of committing to the vow of "never again" and that "antisemitism is never welcome here in Toronto."

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Holocaust survivor Rose Lipszyc spoke powerfully about the worst day of her life - the day in 1942 when she was separated from her family who were sent to their deaths by the Nazis - and the best day of her life - when she arrived in Canada 10 years later to start a new life. Having dedicated her time for many years to educating Canadians about the Holocaust, Lipszyc addressed the importance of young people learning the lessons from this dark chapter in human history.

"Since October 7, the horror of my childhood is right back in the midst of my life," she told the audience, with great anguish in her voice.

Special Envoy Lyons also shared powerful remarks, acknowledging the somber tone of this year's commemoration, given the rise in antisemitism in Toronto and around the world in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist massacre in southern Israel. "Never again is now," said Lyons, declaring that it’s up to all Canadians to work together in unity to protect our democracy and stand up against hatred and disinformation - on our streets, in schools, online and on the world stage.

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The event featured a special candle-lighting ceremony, with the mayor, city councillors, Lipszyc, FSWC lay leaders and members of the City of Toronto Jewish Staff Network, followed by Kaddish recited by Cantor Eric Moses.

FSWC is thankful to everyone who shared their compelling remarks today, including Mayor Olivia Chow, Councillor James Pasternak, Holocaust Survivor Rose Lipszyc and Special Envoy Deborah Lyons, to city councillors who attended to honour the victims and survivors of the Holocaust, and to members of the Jewish community and our allies who joined us for this meaningful ceremony.

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