Anne Frank's Chestnut Tree Will Bloom Once Again in Montreal

MONTREAL, Sept. 27 /CNW Telbec/ - Mr. Michael Vineberg and the Montreal Holocaust Memorial Centre will be holding a ceremony tonight in which a sapling from Anne Frank's tree will be planted in the presence of Lawrence S. Bergman, member for D'Arcy-McGee, as well as the representative of the Consul General for the Netherlands in Canada, Mr. Michael Polak, and Holocaust survivors.

After finding out the health of the tree was severely threatened, the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam has offered a dozen cities in North America saplings grown from cuttings taken from the famous tree.  In addition to the city of Washington, where the sapling will be planted at the White House, Montreal was the only city chosen in Canada to receive a sapling thanks to the involvement and participation of Michael Vineberg of the Montreal law firm Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg. Mr. Vineberg has been involved for several years with the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam.

"This is a great honour for us, because very few cities around the world will receive such a sapling. When you remember that Montreal welcomed the third largest proportion of Holocaust survivors in the world, after Israel and New York, the choice is that much more meaningful," stated Mr. Vineberg.

The chestnut tree, mentioned time and again in Anne's diary was her only link to the outside world during the years she was in hiding from the Nazis. "The tree gave her hope for a better future, so necessary to survival in such a situation (hidden in an attic) and, for her, it was a symbol of nature and continuity," added Mr. Vineberg.

The tree collapsed recently during a severe storm in Amsterdam, an event that made the news around the world. A few rare cuttings from the tree were taken and made available in order to celebrate Anne Frank's memory and vision.  The sapling that was grown from the original tree and will be planted in Montreal is a donation from the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam and will be the only one of its kind in Canada.

Over the past six decades, Anne Frank has contributed significantly to educating people about the Holocaust and the inherent dangers of racism and antisemitism.

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About the Montreal Holocaust Memorial Centre:

The Montreal Holocaust Memorial Centre 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 Centre promotes respect for diversity and the sanctity of human life.

/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the media/

For further information:

For any information or to request an interview, please contact:

Dominique Duchesne
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg
514-841-6451 or by email at [email protected]

Audrey Licop
Montreal Holocaust Memorial Centre
514-892-2605 or by email at [email protected]