International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust

International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust

International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust is a global observance recognized by the United Nations with a focus on honouring the six million Jews, alongside countless Romani people, Poles, disabled individuals, and other targeted groups, who lost their lives during the Holocaust. The day serves a dual purpose. It acts as a solemn memorial to those who died, while simultaneously ensuring the horror of the Holocaust is never forgotten in order to prevent such atrocities from reoccurring.

The date was officially established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2005, 60 years after the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp. In Canada, this commemoration holds special significance. The country became home to more than 40,000 Holocaust survivors in the aftermath of World War II, enriching the Canadian cultural fabric but also creating a community deeply affected by this tragic history. Now, it serves as a day for Canadians to remember and reflect upon the implications of hate, discrimination, and genocide.

In Canada, the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust is marked with various ceremonies and educational activities. Communities gather to respectfully commemorate the victims, host Holocaust exhibits, and conduct educational programs to raise awareness about this dark chapter in history. The observance is recognized annually on January 27, in alignment with the global commemorations. This day provides an opportunity for Canadians to reaffirm a collective commitment to upholding human rights and practicing tolerance and respect.

Top 10 Facts for 2026 International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust in Canada

• The following are important and interesting facts regarding the 2026 observance of the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust for a Canadian audience:
  
  The 2026 international observance marks the 81st anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi concentration and extermination camp, where the United Nations has designated the official theme as Holocaust Remembrance for Dignity and Human Rights.
• For many Canadians, this year’s commemoration is particularly significant as the 2025-26 academic year marks the first time that Holocaust education is a mandatory requirement in the Grade 10 curriculum for students in both Ontario and British Columbia.
• A major milestone in Canadian cultural history will occur in 2026 with the scheduled opening of the new 45,000-square-foot Montreal Holocaust Museum, a $120-million facility located on Saint-Laurent Boulevard that will feature advanced technology, including interactive hologram testimonials.
• The National Holocaust Monument in Ottawa, entitled Landscape of Loss, Memory and Survival, is expected to undergo a series of prominent exhibit updates by spring 2026 to ensure the interpretive content more accurately reflects the historical reality of Jewish victims and addresses Canada's restrictive wartime immigration policies.
• Many Canadians participate in the global #WeRemember campaign, an initiative that often results in the yellow illumination of national landmarks, such as the CN Tower and various provincial legislatures, to honor the six million Jewish victims of the Shoah.
• Historical ties between the two nations are often highlighted during this period, such as the fact that Canadian forces liberated the Westerbork Transit Camp in the Netherlands in April 1945, saving approximately 900 Dutch Jews who were still interned there.
• In a somber linguistic connection, prisoners at Auschwitz-Birkenau actually named the camp’s storage warehouses for plundered belongings Kanada because they viewed the country as a symbol of hope, abundance, and a land of plenty.
• The 2026 observance also encourages reflection on the story of the MS St. Louis, a ship carrying over 900 Jewish refugees that was famously turned away from Canadian shores in 1939, a tragedy for which the Canadian government issued a formal apology in 2018.
• International educational campaigns such as The Art of Remembrance will highlight the resilience of the human spirit by showcasing works created by prisoners in extreme conditions, while the traveling exhibition Between Life and Death: Stories of Rescue during the Holocaust will continue to tour various global and Canadian venues.
• Canadians also mark the proximity of this date to Raoul Wallenberg Day on January 17, which honors the Swedish diplomat and Canada's first honorary citizen who saved tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews during the war.

In the News and Trending in Canada for International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust

Top things to do in Canada for this observance

• Join social media campaigns that promote awareness of the Holocaust, try tweeting using the hashtag #holocaustmemorial or #remembranceday.
• Read one of the thought provoking, gripping and saddening accounts of the Holocaust. Some choice picks include:
  1) The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
  2) Maus by Art Spiegelman
  3) Eichmann in Jerusalem by Hannah Arendt
• Watch a Candian film about the Holocaust:
  None Is Too Many: Canada and the Jews of Europe 1933-1948 - (1982): This is a landmark documentary film about Canada's refusal to offer as much assistance to Jewish Holocaust victims as did other nations.
  Inside Hana's Suitcase - (2009): This is an emotional documentary that tells the story of Hana Brady, a young Jewish girl who died in Auschwitz, through the discovery of her suitcase at a Japanese Holocaust museum.
• Read a book to learn more about Victims of the Holocaust:
  Starting Anew: The Rehabilitation of Child Survivors of the Holocaust in Canada - by Batia Siebzener
  Haven from the Holocaust: Europe's Jewish Refugees and the Promise of America - by Diane Afoumado