Augusta Lokhorst, chair of the EBPG, would like to dedicate this post to the memory of her friend Frances Hoyd who survived Auschwitz, was active in holocaust education and lived into her 90s. - zichronah livracha (זיכרונה לברכה) may their memory be a blessing.

Holocaust Remembrance Day is observed internationally on January 27th, designated by the UN to commemorate the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in 1945. Some countries and Jewish traditions have separate dates like Yom HaShoah (a movable date in Spring) for different observances.

On January 27, 1945, the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, where more than one million people were sent to gas chambers and to their agonizing deaths during the Holocaust, was liberated. In 2005, that day was designated as the annual International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. Each year, Canadians and individuals all over the world take this opportunity to remember victims and survivors of the Nazi regime, reflect on the dangers of antisemitism, racism, and hatred, promote Holocaust education throughout the world and commit to preventing future atrocities.

Key Dates:

International Holocaust Remembrance Day: January 27th (Annual).
Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day in Jewish Tradition): A lunar date, often in April or May. In 2026 - Mon, Apr 13, 2026 – Tue, Apr 14.
In 2020, the Mayor and Council of the City of Vancouver passed a motion that the International Holocaust Remembrance Day would become one of Vancouver’s official observances. At this particular time in history, Antisemitism is on the rise around the world, in Canada, and in Vancouver. We needn’t look far to see that hatred has flourished in the digital age. As we continue to develop our anti-racism and equity strategies to ensure that Vancouver is a more inclusive and fair place, it is more important than ever that the lessons learned and the horrors of the Holocaust remain present in the public consciousness so they are never repeated.

Learn more

For more information on the Holocaust and to advance reconciliation, anti-hate, and equity strategies, visit the following sites:

Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre
Yad Vashem - The world Holocaust Remembrance Center
Reporting incidents and getting help
Learn more about what hate crimes are and what you can do if you are victim or a witness to a hate crime with videos created by the Province of BC. They are available in several languages. Phone 3-1-1 with questions and concerns, including reports of racist incidents or experiences with City of Vancouver staff, programs, or materials. We will follow up on incidents involving City staff, programs, and services.
Call the Racist Incident Helpline to speak with a trained professional who will help you navigate resources available to you in your community. Free, confidential and available in over 240 languages. 1-833-457-5463 (1-833-HLP-LINE).
Report Hate Crime - City of Vancouver
Report Hate Crime - Province of British Columbia
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