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On January 27, 1945, Soviet forces liberated Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest and most notorious Nazi concentration and extermination camp. What they uncovered defied comprehension — more than one million lives had been brutally extinguished there. Most of the victims were Jewish, targeted as part of the Nazis’ genocidal campaign, alongside Romani people, Poles, Soviet prisoners of war and others deemed “undesirable.”

More than six thousand prisoners, malnourished and emaciated, were found alive when the Soviets arrived. Countless others had been forcibly sent on death marches by SS guards in the preceding weeks. Auschwitz became the ultimate symbol of the Holocaust, a genocide perpetrated by Nazi Germany and its collaborators that claimed six million Jewish lives and millions of others.

Eighty years later, as we mark the 80th anniversary of that historic day, we reflect on the profound horror of the Holocaust — a systematic attempt to annihilate an entire people. We remember the victims who were persecuted and murdered and recognize the resilience and courage of the survivors who emerged to tell their stories and ensure the world would never forget.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day calls on us not only to honour the six million Jewish lives lost but also to confront the rising tide of antisemitism and hatred. Education remains a cornerstone in this fight, ensuring future generations understand the dangers of unchecked hate and prejudice and the consequences of silence. Yesterday and today, Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) is reaching thousands of students and professionals in Canada with educational programs, remembrance ceremonies and testimonies from Holocaust survivors in recognition of this important day.

Let this solemn anniversary strengthen our collective resolve to uphold the promise of “Never Again,” remembering that vigilance, moral fortitude and action are the pillars of a just and compassionate society.

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