FSWC RECEIVES GOVERNMENT PLEDGE TO TAKE A NEW LOOK AT NAZI WAR CRIMINALS LIVING IN CANADA

It was a small group, but a symbolic one with a powerful voice. On the eve of Yom HaZikaron FSWC travelled to Parliament Hill in Ottawa with a group of four Holocaust survivors to request the government do all it can to deport, after decades of legal wrangling, the two living Nazi war criminals who remain in Canada.

(L-R) Vera Gara, Howard Chandler, Max Iland, Alex Eisen & Avi Benlolo on Parliament Hill

The delegation, including Max Iland, a hidden child from Belgium, Alex Eisen, who saw Hitler wave to cheering crowds in Vienna and lived through the horrors of the Budapest ghetto,  Howard Chandler, who survived Auschwitz-Buchenwald and Terezin and Vera Gara, who endured Bergen-Belsen, joined FSWC President and CEO Avi Benlolo and Communications Manager Stacey Starkman in meetings with Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Culture, Rob Nicholson, Minister of Justice and Attorney General and York Centre MP Mark Adler in a series of meetings about the urgency of deporting these criminals.

With Minister Jason Kenney

"In our meetings with the Cabinet Ministers we received a promise to review the files of Vladimir Katriuk and Helmut Oberlander- two Nazis who are living comfortably in our country," said Avi Benlolo, President and CEO of FSWC. "We believe the information we presented to them will provide sufficient evidence to move forward with the deportation of these individuals and are pleased that this government, which has done so much to help the fight against antisemitism and to promote human rights around the world, has agreed to give this pressing matter the attention it deserves."

"There is a duty for all of us who are alive

With Minister Nicholson

"I would like to remind you that we are all citizens of the world."

So said 13 year old Jessica Copetti, winner of FSWC's first ever Speakers Idol contest designed to challenge students to explain how they would make the world a better place.

In an exciting and spirited event attended by teachers and families, 15 student finalists had the opportunity to impress celebrity judges Rick Campanelli from ET Canada and Sarah Taylor of Much Music, as well as FSWC judges with their ideas on how to improve our world.

"Each one of us is here for a purpose to contribute in our own unique way.  Our common goal together should always be to make the world the best place we can, for you, for me, and for future generations.  For no matter

Speakers Idol winner Jessica Copetti with celebrity judges Sarah Taylor & Rick Campanelli

how different we may think we are, cultural, religious, social, economic, black or white, we must never forget the one main fact, that we all belong to one race, the human race," said Idol winner Jessica as part of her speech.

According to FSWC judge Victor Arluk, Speakers Idol was an encouraging event. "Two things come to mind," he explained. "I thought it was awesome- I was so impressed by a group of young kids, and the event restores my faith in today's youth. It was inspiring."

MONTREAL HONOURS ISRAEL'S FALLEN HEROES AND CELEBRATES ISRAELI INDEPENDENCE 

A memorial hosted by the Consulate of Israel in Montreal on Erev Yom HaZikaron paid tribute to fallen soldiers of the IDF and the victims of terror attacks; of particular note was the memorial candle lit for Montreal native Jason Friedberg, who made Aliyah in 1991 and was kidnapped and murdered by Hamas terrorists at the age of 25 while serving in the IDF.

On Thursday, the mood changed from somber to joyous as thousands of Montrealers took to the streets in celebration of Yom Ha'atzmaut. The annual Israel Day rally featured video messages from both Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed directly to the Montreal crowd. Dignitaries who joined the singing and dancing included the mayors from Montreal, Cote St. Luc and Hampstead, MNA Lawrence Bergman, MP Irwin Cotler, Senator Leo Housakos and the Consul General of Greece.

"As usual, the turnout for the rally in Montreal shows the strength and involvement of the Jewish community of Montreal and the province of Quebec," said Robert Steinman, FSWC Director, Quebec and Maritimes. "Despite sporadic antisemitic incidents in Quebec, including the recent vandalism of Hasidic summer homes in the Laurentians, this rally proves that the Jewish community of Montreal is vibrant and remains a strong element in the social fabric of the province."