Federation CJA renews EMSB Holocaust Education Program Funding

The English Montreal School Board, Quebec’s largest English public school board, will be able to continue and enhance its Holocaust Education Program thanks to the renewal of a special grant from Federation CJA. This year’s activities formally kicked off on Monday, November 24  when students from John F. Kennedy High School in St. Michel visited the Montreal Holocaust Museum.

Last year’s program provided over 1,400 students and 120 staff from 24 schools meaningful, hands-on education and sensitization regarding the atrocities that occurred during the Holocaust and the enduring lessons it continues to impart.

Students—from elementary, high school, and adult education centres primarily located in East End Montreal—engaged in powerful learning experiences over 28 events. The focus on the East End provided the opportunity for students from predominantly non-Jewish areas and backgrounds to learn, break down misconceptions, and become sensitive about current world issues. This can only support peace and tolerance moving forward.

In total, the 21 schools participated in 29 distinct events: Eighteen schools visited the Montreal Holocaust Museum (MHM), where they toured the museum with a guide and participated in workshops. Others had the privilege of welcoming speakers from the MHM or presenters from the Foundation for Genocide Education, who shared personal testimonials and educational insights. One school also organized a video presentation facilitated by Lara Brady, adding another dimension to this impactful programming.

To accommodate large student numbers, some schools, such as Vincent Massey Collegiate and Pierre Elliot Trudeau Elementary, organized multiple visits to the museum. A few schools even combined both museum visits and in-school presentations to deepen student engagement in their individual Holocaust Education programs. These events were organized by the EMSB’s dedicated Personal Development & Community Involvement Animators in collaboration with the Marketing and Communications Department. Each participating school submitted reflections and photos highlighting the profound impact this educational programming had on their students.

In 2022-23, the EMSB introduced this program after receiving a grant from the Jewish Community Foundation of Montreal. This enabled the EMSB to send many students to visit the Montreal Holocaust Museum, engage with survivors and have guest speakers come to their schools. Students have subsequently been sensitized to the true story of the Holocaust and the evils of antisemitism.  The following year the  EMSB relied upon private donations to continue school visits, but most of this support was promised as one-time contributions only.   It was soon after that Federation CJA stepped forward with assistance and support.

The EMSB Council of Commissioners have adopted resolutions calling for Holocaust and genocide education to become mandatory. EMSB Chair Joe Ortona and members of the Council have also visited and toured the Montreal Holocaust Museum.

“We are pleased with how the program went last year,” said Federation CJA President and CEO Yair Szlak. “Given the climate of antisemitism in the world and Montreal , we believe this an opportune moment to ensure that high school students in particular are properly educated about what happened in the Holocaust and the roots of antisemitism,” 

Mr. Ortona believes that this type of authentic learning will be carried over by students for a lifetime. “When one visits the Montreal Holocaust Museum for the first time, you walk away a changed person,” he said. “While other provinces in Canada have made Holocaus Education part of the regular curriculum, that has not occurred in Quebec yet. We hope that day will come”

The EMSB has a long history of focusing attention Holocaust and genocide education, dating back to a  small grant in 2004  from  the JCF.   In addition, the EMSB has declared May as Jewish Heritage Month.

About the English Montreal School Board

With a youth and adult sector population of more than 35,000 students, the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) is the largest English public school board in Quebec. Established on July 1, 1998, when the province created new boards along linguistic lines, the EMSB network consists of 73 schools and centres. For more details, visit the EMSB website at www.emsb.qc.ca.

About Federation CJA

For more than one hundred years, Federation CJA has been at the heart of the organized Jewish community in Montreal. In partnership with a vast network of agencies and organizations locally, nationally, and internationally, Federation CJA builds and sustains this community by providing leadership and by supporting the delivery of services and programs to care for the vulnerable and those in need, to ensure a bright Jewish future, to represent communal interests, and to positively affect issues in the wider society. 

Contact:

Michael J. Cohen
Manager, Marketing and Communications

English Montreal School Board
T: 514.483.7200 ext. 7243
Email: mcohen@emsb.qc.ca

Glenn J. Nashen
Director, Media Relations and Crisis Communications | Directeur, Relations avec les médias et communication de crise
Strategic Marketing and Communications | Marketing Stratégique et
communications
FEDERATION CJA
Glenn.Nashen@FederationCJA.org