Ottawa’s civil servants unite to fight antisemitism on the job with a new network of their own
After years of enduring antisemitic jokes and thoughtlessness, a new network of federal bureaucrats wants to tackle the problem head-on. The Jewish Public Servants’ Network includes about 250 members in the Ottawa area. It has taken on the challenge of changing a culture of antisemitism throughout the public service. It was formed last year in […]
Edmonton unveils a mosaic that shines a light on antisemitism
A mosaic that illustrates how the community feels about antisemitism was unveiled by the Jewish Federation of Edmonton at a Jan. 12 virtual event, featuring Mayor Amarjeet Sohi and artist Lewis Lavoie. Shine a Light on Antisemitism features a large hanukkiah over top of 613 small tiles of art, representing the number of laws in […]
Montreal cultural groups urge Ottawa to act quickly on its pledge to fight antisemitism
A growing number of cultural community leaders are urging the federal government to act quickly against antisemitism, which they say has reached a disturbing level in Canada. Over 25 Montreal organizations, predominantly representing racialized minorities, signed on to a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his antisemitism envoy Irwin Cotler urging the government to […]
A new Canadian Jewish faculty group opposes the IHRA definition of antisemitism
A new coalition of Jewish academics has formed to reject the International Holocaust Remembrance Association’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which members say has been used to stifle certain criticisms of Israel, representing an affront to academic freedom. The impetus for the foundation of the Jewish Faculty Network (JFN) was the Canadian Association of University Teachers’ […]
University of Toronto’s plan to tackle antisemitism gets a cool response from Jewish advocacy groups
The final report of the University of Toronto’s Antisemitism Working Group was released earlier this week to a tepid reception from Jewish organizations. The report’s eight recommendations call for giving the university’s Anti-Racism and Cultural Diversity Office responsibility for addressing antisemitism and ensuring that equity staff are adequately equipped to address antisemitism in the same […]
Toronto school board rejects call to censure trustee Alexandra Lulka for speaking out about antisemitism in teaching materials
Toronto public school trustees voted 10 to 7 to reject a report calling for the censure of Jewish trustee Alexandra Lulka, who spoke out against antisemitism in materials sent to teachers, last May. The vote took place during a Dec. 8 meeting of the Toronto District School Board. Jewish advocacy agencies, which mounted a campaign […]
Toronto school board trustee Alexandra Lulka criticized for calling out antisemitic teaching resources
A new report has called for the censure of a Toronto school board trustee who called out antisemitism in materials distributed to teachers earlier this year. The report, by the Toronto District School Board Integrity Commissioner, criticizes trustee Alexandra Lulka, who is Jewish, for failing to note positive aspects of materials the commissioner admits is […]
Ontario MPP Gila Martow co-ordinates coalition of smaller Jewish groups to tackle antisemitism in the public sphere
Prompted by an “alarming rise” in antisemitism in the public square, an Ontario MPP is spearheading a counterattack with a bluntly named coalition of grassroots organizations: The Working Group Against Jew-Hatred. Thornhill Conservative MPP Gila Martow, said it’s not a new Jewish organization but an effort to give smaller groups a voice by banding together. […]
Ottawa police probe antisemitic posters on the city’s west side
Ottawa Police Service’s hate and bias crime unit is investigating a series of antisemitic posters that appeared in the city. The incident occurred Nov. 7 in the Centrepointe Drive area, when posters with antisemitic and hateful content were discovered near a skate park, a police media statement says. Police are investigating eight similar incidents throughout […]
An apology from University of Toronto faculty association president Terezia Zoric falls short, critics say
The president of the University of Toronto’s Faculty Association (UTFA) has apologized for remarks she made in June that accused an “entitled powerful Zionist minority” of conducting “psychological warfare.” But critics say her apology falls short. Terezia Zoric had accused “Zionists” of waging a campaign of “unending harassment and psychological warfare” against supporters of Valentina […]
