NPSC-Holocaust Learning Across Ontario

NPSC Hosts the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies

Over the last year, the Ministry of Education has expanded Holocaust Learning Across Ontario through providing resources to school boards to combat hate and racism, including antisemitism. To support this critical learning regarding the Holocaust for our students, we are excited to announce that the Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board will be hosting the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) for Holocaust Studies in the St. Joseph-Scollard Hall auditorium as follows:

On this day, we will be honoured for our Grades 7-12 students to receive a presentation from Holocaust survivor Andy Réti as a part of the FSWC education program.  FSWC’s education programs provide engaging learning opportunities that confront hatred and intolerance.  Based on the Equity and Inclusivity Strategy, workshops address Ontario Ministry of Education curriculum expectations while generating lively discussions that challenge perspectives and offer greater understanding of often difficult subjects.  As a Catholic faith learning community, this important learning opportunity is in alignment with our NPSC Pastoral Plan spiritual theme of Hope and reflects our shared commitment to promoting the dignity of the human person with our students and community.

 Hearing from a Holocaust survivor or a descendant provides a poignant, personal insight into the human cost of unchecked hatred.  Students will gain an empathetic and informed understanding of the Jewish experience during the Holocaust, becoming witnesses to this dark chapter of history and enhancing their knowledge.

 Born in 1942 in Budapest, Andy Réti was only two years old when his mother and grandmother were forced out of their home in Hungary and into a Jewish ghetto. Andy’s father and grandfather had already been moved to a forced labor camp. He was liberated from the Budapest ghetto on January 18, 1945, by the Soviet Red Army. He and his mother, grandmother and grandfather survived the horrors of the war through good fortune and grit. They immigrated to Canada shortly thereafter. Andy attributes his survival to the courage, resilience and sacrifice of his mother and grandmother. He believes that “every Holocaust survivor’s story is a love story; the love of life, family and freedom.” Andy has been involved in Holocaust education since 1998. In 2001, he wrote The Son of an Extraordinary Woman — a sequel to his mother’s book, An Ordinary Woman in Extraordinary Times, which was written in 1990. In 2016, the two books were combined and re-released as Stronger Together.