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WHO WE ARE

LEADERSHIP Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) is governed by a Board of Directors Chairman of the Board Fred Waks

Honorary Chairman Gerald Schwartz, OC

President and CEO Michael Levitt

Board of Directors Lawrence Bloomberg, C.M., O.Ont

Rabbi Meyer May

Michael Bregman

Sam Mizrahi

Paul Bronfman

Philip Reichmann

David Cynamon

Jill Reitman

Gordon R. Diamond, O.C., O.B.C.

Gloria Salomon

Joel Feldberg

Molly S. Shoichet, O.C., O.Ont.

Jeremy Freedman

Raymond Stone

Ron Frisch

Eric Weisz

Tom Koffler

Eddie Weisz

Rabbi Marvin Hier Honorary Board Members Cecil Yolles Samuel Belzberg z"l Honey Sherman z"l

For the full list of our Board of Governors and Senate, please visit www.fswc.ca

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FSWC STAFF Michael Levitt, President & CEO Avital Borisovsky, Associate Director of Communications Jordan Desai, Educator Elena Kingsbury, Senior Educator Jaime Kirzner-Roberts, Director of Policy Elise Korne, Office & Events Manager Cindy Liu, Accountant Daniella Lurion, Tour for Humanity Director Melissa Mikel, Director of Education Ariel Tobe, Campaign Associate

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A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIRMAN Fred Waks Chairman of the Board Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center

I became Chairman in January 2020, which as a child of a Holocaust survivor and a proud member of the Jewish community, is a cause that is incredibly close to my heart. In my capacity as Chairman, I am committed to supporting the ongoing work of FSWC in promoting tolerance and human rights and countering all forms of hatred.

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A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO Michael Levitt President and CEO Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center

In September 2020, I started my new role as President and CEO, a position which I am incredibly honoured and excited to hold. FSWC is an integral and essential part of the Jewish community. In this new role, I am committed to upholding the organization’s proud legacy and continuing the work of fighting antisemitism and promoting human rights. In the following pages you will also see new partnerships with other organizations in education, advocacy and beyond. I have always believed in the collective power of people working together and am very much committed to building bridges and working collaboratively to help strengthen our community. FSWC

ABOUT FSWC Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC) is a non-profit human rights organization that is committed to countering racism and antisemitism while promoting the principles of equity, social justice and Canadian democratic values through advocacy and education. We are named in honour of Holocaust survivor and Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal. As a human rights advocate, he was one of the first voices post-war to state that “the Holocaust was not just a Jewish story, but a human story.” Wiesenthal believed that there was no hierarchy to suffering and that injustice towards one person should be perceived as injustice towards all. We are guided by one of his most famous quotes: “Freedom is not a gift from heaven. You have to fight for it every day.”

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COVID-19 IMMEDIATE RESPONSE Like many others, FSWC has had to adapt to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Suddenly classrooms were empty and events were postponed, but we know our work remains more pertinent now than ever as hate and intolerance become even greater threats in times of crisis. Sadly, this is true in Canada and around the world. FSWC responded to this call immediately. We have shifted our efforts to help communities in need, offering assistance to seniors living alone, and continuing to combat hate through our advocacy and educational efforts.

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COVID-19 VIRTUAL PROGRAMS Once schools were closed, our Education Department immediately pivoted our in-person workshops and programs to online formats. We are proud to be providing virtual workshops to classrooms across Canada, and connecting with communities through our In Conversation With A Survivor speaker series. The fall months are typically busy with annual events such as Freedom Day and State of the Union - and 2020 has been no exception. Thousands of students across Canada tuned in to FSWC's Freedom Day video on September 24, and on November 9 we were thrilled to welcome you to the inaugural virtual State of the Union broadcast.

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EDUCATION WORKSHOPS FSWC's unique and innovative education programs provide meaningful and authentic learning opportunities that confront hatred and intolerance for elementary, high school and post-secondary school students. Based on the Equity & Inclusivity Strategy, FSWC’s workshops address provincial curriculum expectations while generating meaningful discussions that challenge perspectives and build on lessons their teachers deliver every day in their own classrooms.

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EDUCATION TOUR FOR HUMANITY Our award-winning state-of-the-art mobile human rights education classroom travels across Canada bringing Holocaust and human rights education to students of all ages, empowering them to raise their voices and take action against hate and intolerance. Since its launch in 2013, Tour for Humanity has visited 780 schools and communities across Canada, educating over 120,000 students, law enforcement members and influential leaders. A second Tour for Humanity bus is currently under construction, with plans to have both buses on the road simultaneously.

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EDUCATION LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING Members from police services across the country have attended FSWC’s law enforcement training programs, which are specially created to build an understanding of the increasingly complex and diverse environments in which they are working. These workshops break down the multi-layered and globalized world in which we live, emphasize the importance of human rights and aim to develop essential links between current events and the daily work of law enforcement officials on the ground across Canada. FSWC's 2021 Law Enforcement Conference, Building A Case Against Hate, drew over 1,100 participants from 50 Police Services across Canada.

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EDUCATION EDUCATOR TRAINING FSWC has created specialized programs aimed at practicing classroom teachers that are seeking to learn more about anti-oppressive curriculum and teaching about human rights issues within their schools. With an emphasis on teaching sensitive subjects such as the Holocaust and genocide, our teacher workshops consider the need for all students to think about the past to better help them understand the present and make positive changes in their futures.

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EDUCATION COMPASSION TO ACTION Each year, FSWC invites Canadian leaders on a remarkable educational journey to learn about the Holocaust, racism and intolerance. Over 300 police chiefs, educators, mayors, provincial and federal parliamentarians, philanthropists and thought leaders have taken this intensive journey with us. In previous years we have visited the ancient Jewish town of Krakow, saw the hallowed grounds of Auschwitz, witnessed original documents for the Final Solution in Berlin, visited Nazi sites in Nuremberg, learned about the trials of Nazi war criminals, walked the path of the ancients in Jerusalem and experienced modern Israel in Tel Aviv.

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EDUCATION SURVIVOR TESTIMONY Testimony can illuminate the suffering of survivors and give a voice to the people who did not live to tell their stories. By placing a face and voice to depict the horrors of human suffering, FSWC has created resources and specialized programs to preserve the stories of survivors and ensure that they are never forgotten. We are particularly proud of an on-going partnership with the Raoul Wallenberg Centre featuring the In Conversation With A Survivor survivor speaker series and neverforgetme.ca website.

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EDUCATION FREEDOM DAY Freedom Day is an annual event designed to commemorate the life of Simon Wiesenthal and inspire young people to be the change-makers in their homes, schools and communities. Advocating for human rights is critical both globally and locally and it is imperative that young people feel empowered to be able to go out and shift the cycle of intolerance to make a difference. Each year, thousands of students gather at Yonge-Dundas Square for the celebration, and in 2020 we extended our reach Canadawide with a virtual Freedom Day program. Past speakers have included Gen. Romeo Dallaire, Astronaut Chris Hadfield and Olympian Meaghan Mikkelson.

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EDUCATION SPEAKER'S IDOL Speaker's Idol has become a widely recognized public speaking competition for students in Ontario and beyond. This year we reached students from across Canada by moving the competition online. While commenting on a quote by Simon Wiesenthal, students connect these words to their vision of how to improve their communities and the world around them. Simon Wiesenthal believed that future generations needed to learn from the past, and therefore, the onus is for the next generation of student leaders to look deep into the past in order to improve the world. Winners of Speaker's Idol have been students who understand that to make the world a better place, they must take action.

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EDUCATION INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY Each year on January 27th, the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of Victims of the Holocaust, FSWC hosts programs that feature notable academics, historians, educators, survivors and more. These speakers engage participants in discussions about preserving Holocaust history for future generations. Past guest speakers have included Jennifer Teege, Wendy Lower and Liebe Geft. We were thrilled to offer an entirely virtual program for January 2021, which was viewed by over 3,000 people.

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EDUCATION HELLIN LEARNING CENTRE The Hellin Learning Centre has been designed as a digital collection of articles for people looking to expand their knowledge about Canadian, Holocaust and human rights history. Continuously updated with relevant academic information on these subjects, the Hellin Learning Centre serves as a useful tool to enhance independent or group learning.

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ADVOCACY CONFRONTING ANTISEMITISM FSWC’s ongoing advocacy efforts combat antisemitism and hate throughout the country. We engage with law enforcement, military, schools, social media platforms, universities, labour unions, political parties, all levels of government and other civil society groups in confronting hatred towards the Jewish community and other minority groups. We work to promote Canadian values, including human rights, justice and equality for all Canadians. With hate crimes and intolerance towards the Jewish community on the rise, FSWC’s advocacy efforts are often featured in prominent news outlets throughout the country, bringing the issue of antisemitism to a national audience.

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ADVOCACY STANDING UP FOR ISRAEL FSWC is a proud supporter of the State of Israel. We stand up to and challenge the vilification and demonization of Israel both at home and abroad. Whether on university campuses challenging Israeli Apartheid Week, or at the UN Human Rights council where Israel is singled out and held to a standard not applied to any other country, FSWC will be there to raise our voice in support of the Jewish state.

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EVENTS COMMEMORATION FSWC hosts multiple events throughout the year commemorating the Holocaust, giving people the opportunity to reflect on one of humanity’s darkest moments in history, and to understand what actions we can all take to ensure it is never repeated. Ranging from plays, public gatherings, interfaith ceremonies and more, FSWC is committed to spreading the message of Never Again.

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EVENTS SPIRIT OF HOPE The Spirit of Hope Benefit is one of the most iconic fundraising events in the city of Toronto, bringing together top business leaders, philanthropists, community and political leaders in a celebration of the rights and freedoms championed by Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center. The evening event brings people together from all over the world that promote tolerance, justice, freedom, and human rights. Past speakers have included former U.S. presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush; former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper; Elie Wiesel, Shimon Peres and most recently, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley.

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EVENTS STATE OF THE UNION State of the Union is an annual event featuring thoughtprovoking speakers from political, cultural and economic spheres across Canada and beyond. For 2020 we were pleased to bring you an entirely virtual State of the Union. The event was a tremendous success, with over 2,000 views and exceding our campaign goals. Past speakers have included former U.S. senators Rick Santorum and Joe Lieberman; human rights activists Majid Nawaz and Simon Deng and Canadian humanitarian Amanda Lindhout.

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PARTNERSHIPS FSWC is thrilled to work with Irwin Cotler and the Raoul Wallenberg Centre through an ongoing partnership which includes the In Conversation With A Survivor speaker series. This important program focuses on educating Canadians about the Holocaust and other genocides through a bi-weekly series.

FSWC has entered into a partnership with ShadowLight, an organization created by young leaders, that has built an innovative and immersive Holocaust education program.

At FSWC we feel it is important to give back to our community and to help those in need. Through a generous gift we have been able to help Baycrest Health Sciences provide services and support to vulnerable seniors, including Holocaust survivors. FSWC

PARTNERSHIPS FSWC is pleased to be entering into a number of new partnerships that will further our human rights educational goals with like-minded organizations such as Outside Looking In, a Canada-wide program focused specifically on Indigenous youth.

Reena and FSWC joined forces to custom design and facilitate an interactive, engaging and inspiring Holocaust education program – Digital Hate: What if Hitler had Social Media? This partnership and program were such a success and demonstrated an authentic model of collaborative and community inclusion, that FSWC and Reena are working together to facilitate this educational session on a virtual platform for diverse audiences of all ages and backgrounds across the Toronto area.

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INTERNSHIPS

FSWC has created a paid internship program to postsecondary students interested in human rights, social justice and the non-profit sector. Kayne Alleyne-Adams, the first intern in this program, is a young activist and previous political worker, dedicated to fighting racism, sexism, homophobia and antisemitism. He is a current Senior Fellow with the Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee (CJPAC) and pursuing his B.A. at York University.

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TRIBUTE DOROTHY SHOICHET z"l

In Loving Memory of Dorothy Shoichet We are saddened by the passing of Dorothy Shoichet, a longtime friend and supporter of Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center and mother of Molly Shoichet, member of the FSWC Board of Directors. Dorothy was a steadfast advocate of FSWC’s programs, particularly the Tour for Humanity which she referred to as her “beloved bus.” Her loss will be felt by everyone at FSWC and the entire community. We extend our thoughts and prayers to Molly and all of the Shoichet family. FSWC

CONTACT

5075 Yonge Street, Suite 902 Toronto, Ontario M2N 6C6 416.864.9735 | swcmain@fswc.ca www.fswc.ca Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center CanadianFSWC friendsofsimonwiesenthal