Support to Fight Antisemitism

Province investing in more supports to combat rising antisemitism in communities

The Ontario government is marking Holocaust Education Week (November 4 to 10) with an investment of $551,000 for additional resources to help students, families and educators combat antisemitism in schools. This funding reaffirms the province’s commitment to fighting hate and racism, including antisemitism, to promote safe and welcoming communities in schools and beyond.

“Our government is increasing supports to help Ontario students gain a deeper understanding of the significance of the Holocaust to counter the alarming increase of antisemitism-related incidents,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Education. “As the world recently marked the one-year anniversary of the October 7, 2023, attack against Israel, our government is taking a strong stance against antisemitism, reiterating the need to support our Jewish friends and neighbours. Racism, hate and discrimination have no place in Ontario’s schools and communities.”

To help combat antisemitism, Ontario is providing $551,000 during the 2024-25 school year to the following organizations:

• Liberation75 – $140,000 to develop education resources on the Holocaust and antisemitism, including classroom materials, lesson plans and workshops for educators and students that combat racism and antisemitism in school boards across the province
• Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) – $150,000 toward Building Safer Schools: Enhancing Intercultural Competency and Supporting Jewish Learners and Educators, a program scheduled for release in Spring 2025 that provides educators, administrators and school staff with the training on skills and knowledge necessary to foster a more supportive and culturally responsive education setting. Funding will also support the Ontario Regional Intercultural Immersive Program, which is focused on learning about the Jewish identity and contemporary antisemitism, and is designed specifically for educators and school board leaders. The investment will also support the development of an accessible online platform for all Ontarians, offering learning modules and resources for parents, educators and the public
• Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies – $150,000 to expand the organization’s capacity to deliver student-focused workshops in elementary and secondary schools on historical and contemporary antisemitism through a dedicated education specialist
• In addition to these resources, the Ontario government is also providing an investment of $111,000 to the following organizations to support the implementation of mandatory Holocaust learning in the Grade 6 Social Studies curriculum:
  • $47,000 to Liberation75
  • $42,000 to Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies
  • $22,000 to Toronto Holocaust Museum (United Jewish Appeal of Greater Toronto)

These resources and supports build on previous initiatives to combat antisemitism in Ontario elementary and high schools. Announced last fall, the province is implementing new and expanded learning about the Holocaust in the Grade 10 History curriculum starting September 2025. Additionally, last year Ontario introduced new mandatory learning on the Holocaust in the Grade 6 Social Studies curriculum.