April 15, 2007

"It has been over 60 years since the Holocaust and we are still shocked by the cruelty, hatred and heartlessness behind the slaughter of millions of human lives. Today, Canadians join with survivors and the entire world in remembering these crimes against humanity.

For Jewish communities marking this Yom ha-Shoah, it is a time to come together and open their hearts and souls to remember this painful time in our history. The responsibility of remembering concerns all of us, no matter who we are. We cannot forget that under a murderous, totalitarian, inhumane and racist regime, millions of women, men and children were persecuted and exterminated, not only because of their religious beliefs—like those of the Jewish faith—but also because of their ideas, skin colour, sexual orientation, ethnic origin or disabilities.

Last month, I had the privilege of hosting a student forum on the elimination of racial discrimination. I invited young Canadians from all walks of life to take part. It is vital that we remain vigilant and work together to ensure that the ideologies and actions that led to the irreparable horrors of the Holocaust never happen again.

Today Canadians will reflect on Kristallnacht, the night of broken glass, when anti-Semitism boiled over, as well as on the concentration camps, where dehumanization took place on a horrifying scale. We will also remember that it is hope which finally triumphed—the hope that an evil, barbaric regime could be conquered—thanks to the courageous actions, words, and resistance efforts of people all over the world.

Ultimately, despite all our advances, we must still work tirelessly to create a world in which discrimination does not exist. We must learn from history, and especially from the painful chapter of the Holocaust."

Michaëlle Jean

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Isabelle Serrurier
Rideau Hall Press Office
613-998-7280