By C.Haag (FSWC Educator)

Every April, Canadians observe Genocide Remembrance, Condemnation and Prevention Month, a designation adopted by Parliament in 2015. It serves as a reminder that genocide is a real and ongoing issue in modern history — and that Canadians cannot view themselves as distant bystanders.

April 7 marks the anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day, also often takes place in April. These dates ground remembrance in real events: organized mass murder, government involvement and the deliberate targeting of people because of their identity.

Canada has formally recognized several genocides, such as the Holocaust, the Armenian Genocide, the Holodomor and the genocide against the Tutsi. Recognizing these events is important — it shows we value historical truth. But it also makes us confront tough questions. In the 1930s and 1940s, Canada had some of the most restrictive refugee policies in the Western world and turned away Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazis. Since then, we’ve seen that saying 'never again' doesn’t always lead to quick action.

In classrooms this month, teachers can talk about genocide not just as a tragedy, but as something that unfolds in stages. The 1948 UN Genocide Convention defines genocide with specific legal language, focusing on the intent to destroy a particular group. Students are often surprised by how carefully planned and organized these crimes against humanity are. They aren’t random acts of violence — they’re systematic and intentional.

For us, April is an opportunity to help people better understand history. Students learn how early warning signs — like discriminatory laws, propaganda and growing divisions — appear long before violence begins. Preventing genocide starts with seeing these patterns. That’s why this matters in schools: it’s where young people learn how democracies can be protected, or weakened, over time.

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