Historical exhibition explores Canada's response to the Holocaust
Artifacts from rescuers and survivors highlight new exhibit at the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre
A new exhibit is exploring Canada's response to the Holocaust through the lens of both survivors and members of the Canadian military.
The event, put on by the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre, will share tales of survival and rescue from one of the darkest chapters in human history.
"We're trying to take a look at the experience of the Canadians, as well as those who had been victimized," said Richard Menkis, a professor at the University of British Columbia.
Menkis is one of the researchers and writers of the exhibition, alongside partner Ronnie Tesler. He says the exhibit is meant to highlight the prolonged physical and psychological effects endured by survivors that extend far beyond the end of the Second World War.
"The story continues beyond the moment of 'liberation.' They were still dealing with illness, and still dealing with the [loss of family]," he said. "The experiences of the war didn't end at the end of the war."
Nina Krieger, executive director of the centre, says the exhibit will resonate with attendees, both emotionally and intellectually.
"I hope that visitors are left with a deepened and more nuanced understanding of this period." she said.
"There are some very compelling testimonies of survivors, of liberators, and of war artists that reflect on how the encounters with Holocaust survivors and the evidence of Nazi crimes changed them forever."
Canada Responds to the Holocaust, 1944-45 will run until March 31, 2017 at the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre, located at 50 — 950 W 41st Avenue.
With files from CBC's The Early Edition
To listen to the full segment, click on the audio labelled: Holocaust survival stories highlight new exhibit in Vancouver