Opinion: B.C.’s new Holocaust education curriculum comes at a crucial time

Written for Daily Hive by Nico Slobinsky, vice president of the Pacific region for the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, and Hannah Marazzi, executive director of the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre.

Eighty years after the end of the Second World War, a shocking study from the Association of Canadian Studies revealed that nearly one-in-five (18 per cent) Canadians between the ages of 18 and 24 believe that “the Holocaust is exaggerated.” In British Columbia, that is about to change. 

This fall, Holocaust education becomes mandatory for all Grade 10 students, fulfilling a commitment made by the provincial government in October 2023 to include one of history’s darkest chapters in its curriculum.

Its introduction could not come at a more critical moment. According to a recent survey by the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, two-thirds (62 per cent) of B.C.’s Jewish community “have experienced at least one antisemitic incident.” 

Given this reality, it’s more important than ever that the next generation learns about the Holocaust — not only its history and the testimonies of survivors, but also how to combat hate and antisemitism today.

By helping young British Columbians understand the Jewish community’s historical and ongoing experiences with antisemitism, we can confront the disturbing rise in hate incidents and build a more inclusive society.

This milestone is the result of more than three decades of advocacy, much of it led by survivors who rebuilt their lives in Canada and made B.C. their home. Many endured the horrors of the Holocaust when they were younger than the Grade 10 students who will now hear their stories.

Yet they went on to become pillars of our community, founding institutions like the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre, sharing their stories with tens of thousands of students. Thanks to their efforts, the centre now reaches more than 25,000 people annually.

Sadly, with each passing year, there are fewer survivors. Introducing mandatory Holocaust education now helps preserve their memory and ensures that future generations understand their legacy.

We hope B.C.’s example will inspire all Canadian provinces to follow suit. At the time of the announcement in October 2023, B.C. was only the second province to mandate its Holocaust education (Ontario was the first, introducing it in Grade 6).

Even with Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta committing to teaching the Holocaust in the coming years, students in half of Canada’s provinces still won’t be required to learn about it. 

This educational gap exists despite troubling national data. According to the latest figures from StatCan, while Jewish Canadians make up just one percent of the population, one in five (18.8 per cent) police-reported hate crimes in Canada targeted Jews, making Jewish Canadians 25 times more likely to experience hate than any other group. 

Since the Hamas terrorist attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, Jewish communities across this country have experienced an alarming rise in antisemitism. Sadly, many Holocaust survivors are being forced to relive traumas they endured eight decades ago.

Now more than ever, it is essential to educate all young Canadians about the Holocaust, so they are equipped to build a future free from antisemitism and all forms of hatred and discrimination.

British Columbia’s adoption of mandatory Holocaust education is a meaningful and necessary step. But it also serves as a solemn reminder: the promise of “never again” is not a lesson of the past — it is a call to action for today.