Montreal students mark Holocaust Remembrance Day

Students, veterans and dignitaries gathered at the National Field of Honour in Pointe-Claire yesterday to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day, placing stones on graves in a ceremony honoring the millions who perished and the Canadians who fought for freedom. The ceremony brought together Grade 11 students like Keziah Clayton, who described listening to the Rabbi's prayers as "really special" and something that "touched my heart." Nearly 100 Jewish Canadian veterans are laid to rest at the West Island cemetery, each remembered not just for how they served, but why they chose to fight against fascism. Eliaz Luf, Consul General of the State of Israel in Montreal, emphasized the educational mission behind such gatherings. "It's essential that the young generation will know, will learn from history," he said, "and each one of them will make sure that nothing like that will ever happen to any kind of people." The ceremony served a dual purpose — honoring those who lost their lives simply for being Jewish while ensuring younger generations understand how quickly democratic freedoms can disappear. For Pointe-Claire residents, the National Field of Honour represents more than a cemetery; it's a repository of stories about neighbors who understood that liberty isn't guaranteed. Michel Bourque, the cemetery's president and retired Canadian Armed Forces Colonel, connected the historical lessons to contemporary challenges. "This is part of their community, it's part of their history," he explained. "It's part as well of their understanding that peace and liberty isn't something that's just given. It's something that I would say is earned." The stone-placing tradition carries particular weight in Jewish mourning customs, where visitors leave stones rather than flowers as lasting markers of remembrance. Each stone becomes a physical promise that these stories will continue to be told, that the names will not be forgotten. As reported by Global News, organizers stressed that remembering the Holocaust isn't just about historical education — it's about recognizing warning signs and preventing similar atrocities from occurring again. The ceremony demonstrated how local institutions like the National Field of Honour serve as bridges between past and present, connecting West Island students with veterans who witnessed history's darkest chapters. In a world where Holocaust denial persists and antisemitism is rising globally, yesterday's ceremony in Pointe-Claire proved that sometimes the most powerful lessons happen not in classrooms, but standing among the graves of those who refused to let evil win without a fight.