Today, we mark Raoul Wallenberg Day
OTTAWA, Jan. 17, 2018 /CNW/ - Today, we pay tribute to Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat whose heroic acts and ingenuity saved the lives of tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews in Nazi-occupied Hungary.
Mr. Wallenberg put his own life in jeopardy to issue a special 'protective passport' to Jews, the Schutz-Pass, which allowed tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews to escape deportation and almost certain death in Nazi extermination camps. Along with the creation of a network of safe havens—hospitals, safe houses, soup kitchens and child care centres—Mr. Wallenberg's actions over the course of six months saved more Jews from the horrors of the Holocaust than any single organization or government.
Tragically, on January 17, 1945, Mr. Wallenberg was taken into Soviet custody, never to be seen again. In 2001, the Government of Canada designated January 17, the anniversary of his disappearance, as Raoul Wallenberg Day. Although his fate remains unknown, his legacy of courage and humanitarianism lives on.
As Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for Multiculturalism, I encourage all Canadians to take this opportunity to celebrate the incredible bravery and compassion of Mr. Wallenberg. Let his life and legacy serve as a powerful reminder to us all that the actions of one individual can transform the world for the better.
SOURCE Canadian Heritage
(media only), please contact: Simon Ross, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage, 819-997-7788
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