On January 27, the world will observe International Holocaust Remembrance Day. From Israel, to Germany, to right here at home, survivors, their families, and their broader communities will gather to honour those who were killed and recommit to making a better world for all people, so that such atrocities will never happen again.

Canada’s annual national commemoration will take place in Ottawa at the National Holocaust Monument at 11 a.m. that morning. Organized by the National Holocaust Monument Committee and held in partnership with the Embassy of Sweden, along with other national Canadian and Jewish organizations, including the Jewish Federation of Ottawa, the solemn gathering at the monument will allow for quiet reflection in community.

This year’s event theme is “the power of one,” emphasizing the dire need to stand together as a community, city, and country against antisemitism, which has seen a drastic increase globally since the October 7 attacks.

“We need to take the lessons from our survivors and apply them today,” said Joel Diener, co-chair of the National Holocaust Monument Committee. “We need to honour their memories with action.”

During the event, which will be livestreamed, there will be a handful of speakers talking about various subjects. Among the speakers will be Jewish Federation of Ottawa’s President and CEO, Adam Silver, who will be talking about Bert Shinwell, a Second World War veteran originally from Glasgow, Scotland, who fought in Normandy, the Battle of the Scheldt, and into Germany. There, he witnessed the horrors of the Bergen Belsen concentration camp.

Other speakers include Jewish professionals and diplomats, who will each talk about remarkable individuals, such as Raoul Wallenberg and others who made a difference fighting for justice.

“From these heroes, especially as the Jewish community is facing uncertainty and violence globally, we learn from their individual courage to stand against tyranny which inspires us to persevere in these times,” said Diener.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day serves as a reminder for people across the globe that antisemitism has no place in modern society, and that it takes individuals to stand up for what’s right to confront hatred.