LLOYDMINSTER MUSEUM + ARCHIVES TO HOST MONTREAL HOLOCAUST MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS
Lloydminster, AB/SK – Lloydminster Museum + Archives will host two travelling exhibitions from the Montreal Holocaust Museum: Witnesses to History, Keepers of Memory; and Tell me a Story! Youth Literature and the Holocaust, from November 1, 2024 – January 11, 2025.
Witnesses to History, Keepers of Memory
The exhibit shares the stories of 30 Holocaust survivors who have, for over 40 years, educated students and visitors at the Montreal Holocaust Museum. Each portrait is displayed alongside a personal item, and by scanning a QR code, visitors can access the virtual version of the exhibit with extra photos and audio clips where survivors describe the significance of their items. These objects highlight the range of Holocaust experiences and underscore the duty to remember.
“The heroism of these individuals lies not only in their survival during the Holocaust, but also in their efforts to repair the world and educate the next generation about the dangers of racism and antisemitism,” stated Daniel Amar, Executive Director of the Montreal Holocaust Museum.
“Survivors founded our museum in 1979, and they remain at the heart of our institution today to ensure that we remember, learn, and act.”
The exhibition was created to express profound gratitude to the 30 survivors for their outstanding contributions to Canadian society and their ongoing commitment to education about the Holocaust and human rights.
Tell me a Story! Youth Literature and the Holocaust
Aimed at audiences aged eight and up, this exhibit introduces the Holocaust through children’s books, addressing racism and antisemitism through personal stories. “Young people are able to better understand the dangers of hatred and the impacts of genocide, when they learn through personal stories,” explained Marie-Blanche Fourcade, Head of Collections and Exhibitions at the Montreal Holocaust Museum. “This was a key objective in creating Tell me a story! and the five selected books reflect the educational purpose of the exhibit.”
The five children’s books presented in the exhibition are inspired by the unique experiences of individuals:
- In Hiding by Marguerite Élias-Quddus: A memoir of survival in WWII France.
- The Fresh Smell of Soap by Kees Vanderhayden: Friendship during post-war Europe.
- What World is Left by Monique Polak: A story inspired by the author’s mother’s imprisonment in Theresienstadt.
- Fania’s Heart by Anne Renaud: A tale of courage at Auschwitz.
- Hana’s Suitcase by Karen Levine: The journey of Hana Brady’s suitcase to a children’s education center in Tokyo.
While the children’s stories reflect moments of horror and loss, themes of hope, friendship, and perseverance are at the heart of the books. Young visitors and their parents are invited to discover replicas of photo albums and artefacts, read books in a dedicated space, and ask difficult questions that may arise. With the assistance of pedagogical tools offered by the Montreal Holocaust Museum, parents and educators can better prepare themselves to answer these questions.
Tell me a story! Youth Literature and the Holocaust was created by the Montreal Holocaust Museum team. The design and manufacturing of the exhibit was done by the Musée de la Nature et des Sciences Sherbrooke, MNS2.
The Montreal Holocaust Museum would also like to thank the authors, Marguerite Élias-Quddus, Kees Vanderhayden, Monique Polak, Anne Renaud and Karen Levine for their invaluable collaboration, as well as the Azrieli Foundation, Les Éditions de la Paix, Orca Book Publishers and Second Story Press.
This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada.
About the Montreal Holocaust Museum
The Montreal Holocaust Museum educates people of all ages and backgrounds about the Holocaust, while sensitizing the public to the universal perils of antisemitism, racism, hate and indifference. Through its museum, its commemorative programs and educational initiatives, the Montreal Holocaust Museum promotes respect for diversity and the sanctity of human life.
