Today, Tour for Humanity stopped in Penetanguishene at a Catholic elementary school. Four of today's workshops were Grades 4-8 students from one school and another 2 student groups of students travelled from another nearby Catholic elementary school. Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC) Educator Elena taught the Canadian Experience workshop to four of the groups and Simon's Story to two groups of Grades 4-5 students. 

The student population consisted of a both European and Indigenous backgrounds. One student was very proud to tell Elena that he was Metis, explaining that his ancestors were mixing cultures together for hundreds of years! At first many students were shy to share their knowledge about the Holocaust but once they warmed up it was clear that they had all heard of Jewish people being victims of the Nazis and that Adolf Hitler was their leader. Elena took some time to talk about the swastika as a symbol of hatred against Jews and asked them to think of times they may have seen it used in graffiti around their own community. Most kids said they had seen it somewhere (carved into a table at a park was one example given). Elena asked the students to think about why people continue to use it and whether people who use it are trying to promote hatred and fear.  

One of the more lighthearted moments of the day came from one of the younger groups. While working through the cultural perceptions activity, Elena asked the students what religion they thought she practiced. One student guessed: "Capricorn"? Elena then struggled to explain what astrology is and why it isn't a religion. The kids certainly keep the FSWC educators thinking!