BC News Release: Premier Marks Holocaust Memorial Day

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
Office of the Premier

2006OTP0079-000481

April 25, 2006

PREMIER MARKS HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY

VICTORIA – The Province paid tribute today to the more than six million victims of the Holocaust in a ceremony attended by over 90 Holocaust survivors at the provincial legislature to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.

“The lingering scar of the Holocaust stands out in human history as a profound and painful reminder that we must all stand united in the goal of stamping out hate and upholding the fundamental rights of every individual,” said Premier Gordon Campbell. “Today is a day to remember and reflect. We are honoured to be joined by those who endured so much and we pledge that their suffering and sacrifice will always be remembered.”

As part of the ceremony, six survivors lit six candles to remember the six million Jewish men, women and children killed by the Nazis between 1933 and 1945. Holocaust Memorial Day is also a day to remember the over five million people who died during the same time period because of their physical or mental disabilities, race, religion or sexual orientation.

“It is through commemoration and remembrance that we pass on the lessons from this dark time in history to future generations,” said Mark Weintraub, chair of the Canadian Jewish Congress, Pacific Region. “We must combat racism and dehumanization in our time, so the millions of people who paid the ultimate price of hatred and fear did not make their sacrifice in vain.”

“In British Columbia, we value the diversity and equality that is demonstrated in our multicultural communities,” said Wally Oppal, Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism. “Today we reflect on the painful lessons of history and remind ourselves that hate and racism have no place in our society.”

Holocaust Remembrance Day is marked around the world. The Holocaust Memorial Day Act, passed in 2000, declares Yom Ha’Shoah, the Day of the Holocaust as determined each year by the Jewish calendar, as Holocaust Memorial Day throughout British Columbia.

British Columbia was the second province in Canada to enact legislation marking Holocaust Remembrance Day as an official day on the provincial calendar. Ten provinces have now passed this legislation.

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Media contact:
Mike Morton
Press Secretary
Office of the Premier
250 213-8218

For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca.

Vancouver Sun: Two arrested in connection with synagogue vandalism

Kim Bola

Relieved members of the Jewish community were praising the RCMP Monday after two men were arrested in connection with an anti-Semitic attack on a Richmond synagogue a week earlier.

Richmond RCMP confirmed there were two arrests but said they would not provide any details because charges have not yet been laid.

Cpl. Peter Thiessen said Monday he could not comment because "we are still in the midst of an investigation."

But the head of the Canadian Jewish Congress, Pacific Region, said video camers at the Beth Tikvah synagogue that captured images of the suspects during the April 15 attack were instrumental in identifying the two people picked up in the case.

"Canadian Jewish Congress, Pacific Region and Beth Tikvah synagogue have worked closely with law enforcement throughout the investigation and we are pleased to say that the RCMP demonstrated to our community from the outset that the incident was being treated very seriously," regional congress chair Mark Weintraub said. "We are thankful to the RCMP and the BC Hate Crimes Team for all of their effort and are relieved that the perpetrators were caught."

The synagogue, on Geal Road, was defaced with anti-Semitic graffiti including a picture of a hanging man, with the word Jew written over it, swastikas, and anti-Jewish profanity.

It was the second time in recent months that Richmond RCMP have been called to investigate anti-Semitic vandalism.

kbolan@png.canwest.com