CHES’ Pre-IWalk tours are designed to gain awareness of visitors’ understanding of the National Holocaust Monument and provide insight for the development of the ambitious IWalk Project. Visitors are asked for feedback while at the Monument and are also provided with a questionnaire about their experience while there. “We know that the information the Monument is meant to convey is not well understood by Canadians who generally have little knowledge of the Holocaust,” said CHES Chair Mina Cohn.
CHES conducted three Pre-IWalk tours of the Monument in September and October. The first, on September 28th, was a tour for over 45 participants from AJA50+. Though the morning was chilly, the visit was meaningful and impactful. All were engaged and stressed how the information shared with them enriched their understanding of the symbolism of the Monument. Concern over the current rise of antisemitism was on everyone’s mind.
On September 29th, CHES was joined by over 30 trustees of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) and the Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB). Participants from the OCDSB included Lynn Scott, the Chair of the Board of Trustees, Camille William-Taylor, the Director of Education, and Superintendent of Education Mary Jane Farrish, who is responsible for Equity and Diversity. Using the Pre-Iwalk format to facilitate the dialogue, the tour was productive and engaging and provided an amazing opportunity for learning. CHES Chair Mina Cohn focused on unlocking the symbolism of the Monument and the interpretations of the images. CHES board member Artur Wilczynski discussed the issues being confronted by Jewish students and staff at Ottawa schools. Time for answering questions was scheduled, and there were many!
Together, CHES and this incredible group of trustees and educators have made the first strides towards facing the shocking rise of antisemitism in our schools. We look forward to continuing to work together to combat this disturbing situation.
On October 14th, 17 Carleton University fourth-year students and their professor, Dr. Sarah Phillips Casteel, visited the Monument to learn about the potential of the IWalk project. The interactive tour was led by CHES executive assistant Jessica and MInda Chaikin, Chair of CHES’ education committee who added a personal lens and perspectives as the tour proceeded. The students were focused and were engaged throughout the tour.
“I want to thank you all so much for hosting my class at the Monument and for making it such a meaningful visit! The students learned a great deal and really benefitted from engaging with the monument,” wrote Dr Casteel.
On October 15th, CHES hosted a visit to the Monument by Mayor Takanobu Fuchikami, Chair of the City Assembly Masato Fukutani, and their colleagues from the City of Tsuruga, Japan. Tsuruga is a city in central Japan that earned the nickname “Port of Humanity” for welcoming Jews fleeing Nazi persecution. Many Jews who received visas from Chiune Sugihara, Japan’s Consul in Lithuania during the Holocaust and recognized by Yad Vashem as Righteous Among the Nations, found their way through Siberia and the port of Vladivostok to Tsuruga and safety. The delegation of 15 from Tsurgua was accompanied by Japan’s Ambassador to Canada, H.E. Kanji Yamanouchi and embassy staff. Tsuruga is home of a museum that commemorates this important part of Shoah history.
