The Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies is offering two summer learning programs to counter rising antisemitism in Ontario communities.
The Ontario government is investing $327,000 in the programs, which will create new training initiatives for educators and supports for students.
“We will fight antisemitism with every tool available to us to ensure Jewish students feel safe and supported in Ontario schools,” added Education Minister Stephen Lecce. “That is why we are partnering with the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies to strengthen training for educators and supports for students, with the aim of promoting respect for all students, irrespective of their faith or heritage.”
The program for teachers aims to teach educators how to dismantle systems of oppression and antisemitism in homes, schools, and communities.
The virtual summer camp for students will teach about human rights, dealing with injustice, and encourage ideas for creating positive change.
According to Statistics Canada, there were 296 police-reported incidents in Canada targeting the Jewish population in 2019. That is the largest number of any religious group.
The government is investing a total of $6.4 million toward equity-related projects. This includes funding for programs to address anti-Asian racism and Islamophobia as well as support for Black, Indigenous, and 2SLGBTQI+ students.