A recent survey shows a concerning trend among young Canadians regarding Holocaust history
Ottawa: So, there’s this survey that just came out, and it’s raising some eyebrows. It shows that a growing number of young Canadians think the Holocaust is exaggerated. Can you believe that?
This survey was done by the Association of Canadian Studies and Leger, and it found that 18% of Canadians aged 18 to 24 actually agreed with that statement. That’s pretty alarming, right?
Even among those aged 25 to 34, 15% felt the same way. They surveyed over 1,500 Canadians, and it’s clear that this is a trend we need to pay attention to.
Deborah Lyons, who’s Canada’s special envoy on antisemitism, spoke about how important it is to keep the stories of Holocaust survivors alive. With fewer survivors around, it’s a real challenge to help people understand the emotional weight of those stories.
She mentioned that a year ago, there were about 245,000 Holocaust survivors still living, with only 5,800 in Canada. Most of them are over 90 now, which makes it even more crucial to share their experiences.
Lyons will be attending a ceremony in Poland to mark the liberation of Auschwitz, and she’s really passionate about making sure younger generations learn about this dark chapter in history.
Interestingly, the survey also looked at where Canadians get their info about the Holocaust. It turns out that 22% of those under 25 rely on online sources, which is more than any other age group. Films and documentaries are also popular, with 34% of people citing them as their main source.
Despite the concerning numbers, Lyons found some hope in the fact that 46% of respondents expressed interest in learning more about the Holocaust. She’s pushing for better education and outreach to help people connect with these stories on a human level.
Lyons emphasized that understanding the Holocaust is about more than just facts; it’s about connecting with our shared humanity. It’s a tough but necessary conversation to have, especially for the younger crowd.
So, it looks like there’s a lot of work to do in educating people about the Holocaust and ensuring that the stories of those who lived through it are not forgotten.
