Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC)proudly launched our new website dedicated to Holocaust commemoration at theannual Freedom Day event in Toronto on Wednesday. More than 3,000 students fromschools in the Greater Toronto Area and beyond joined FSWC's celebration offreedom, democracy and human rights, and were the first to view the muchanticipated www.neverforgetme.ca site. 

"I believe it was necessary to launch this website atFreedom Day to ensure the students in attendance become witnesses to the truthabout the Holocaust, and advocates for democracy and human rights,"explained FSWC President & CEO Avi Benlolo. "To this end we also helda minute of silence in honour of Shimon Peres, and educated the dozens ofschools, hundreds of teachers and thousands of students about this courageousleader and his dedication to the cause of peace."

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The event began on a high note as Avi completed a 20 km 'Run forFreedom' in support of Freedom Day. "I would like to express my deepgratitude to everyone who supported my run this morning and helped me raise$51,922 to help fund this important event," he said. 

In addition to the website launch, Freedom Day includedinspirational speeches from several speakers including Toronto Chief of PoliceMark Saunders, Diversity Advocate Saman Alavi, Women's Health Champion, Dr.Toni Zhong and Keynote Speaker Emmanuel Jal, former child soldier, Rapper andPeace Advocate. The Sole Power dancers were on hand once again to kick up theexcitement while ET Canada's Rick Campanelli returned to Emcee the event whichwas, as always, a joyous and energetic celebration of Canadian rights,democracy and freedoms.

ClickHere to read more about Freedom Day in today's Toronto Sun