Yom HaShoah: First Official Event in Our New Centre

On Monday, May 6, 2024, the Hamilton Jewish Federation and the Margaret’s Legacy Holocaust Learning and Jewish Advocacy Centre officially welcomed the community into its new space for its first event following the opening: the community’s annual Yom HaShoah Community Commemoration.

While this was an important evening of remembrance, it was also the beginning of a new chapter for Margaret’s Legacy.

Keynote speakers included:

• Victoria Mancinelli, Director of Public Relations, Communications, Marketing and Strategic Partnerships at LiUNA OPDC and LiUNA C&E Canada
  

• Yoni Berrous, Head of Educational Programs at the Canada Overseas Education & Training Department at Yad Vashem
  

Their remarks helped frame the evening around both remembrance and the importance of education in today’s world.

The program continued with the exclusive Hamilton premiere of Irena’s Vows, a powerful film based on the true story of Irena Gut.

The film follows Irena, a Polish nurse who, while working in the home of a German army major during World War II, risked her life to hide and protect a group of Jewish individuals. Her story is one of courage, moral clarity, and extraordinary personal risk in the face of danger.

Directed by Louise Archambault, the film was released in Canada on April 15, 2024.

With limited seating and strong community interest, the evening brought together individuals from across Hamilton to mark Yom HaShoah in a setting designed specifically for this kind of learning and reflection. It set the tone for what the space is meant to be: a place where memory is honoured, stories are shared, and difficult conversations are approached with intention and care.