Collingwood council took a first step this week toward making Collingwood’s Jewish community feel more welcome.
During council’s committee of the whole meeting on April 8, councillors voted unanimously in favour of the town adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Association’s definition of antisemitism, in a move they hope shows support.
“Antisemitism is not a problem that can be solved by Jewish communities alone,” reads the staff report on the issue presented to councillors. “It requires the entire community to ask questions, be introspective, learn more about the Jewish experience, seek out the voices of the Jewish community and create spaces for sharing experiences.”
The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism is that antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.
The definition is not legally binding.
Back in January, Rashell and Dr. Michael Feldman deputed to councillors on behalf of the Southern Georgian Bay Jewish Community, calling on the Town of Collingwood to adopt the definition. Rashell founded the group in 2023, and it currently boasts 200 members. The couple spoke at that time about their own experiences with antisemitism in Collingwood since moving to the area.
At that meeting, Coun. Kathy Jeffery put forward a notice of motion to have town staff come back with a report on the issue with a recommendation and to consult with the Southern Georgian Bay Jewish Community and the town’s Unity Collective as part of that report.
“I really appreciate staff and their diligence in resourcing this. It’s part of our ever-evolving commitment to inclusivity in our community,” said Jeffery during Monday’s meeting.
Mayor Yvonne Hamlin also wanted to thank the Feldmans.
“I want to thank our community (members) who came forward to bring this to our attention,” she said. “What they’ve been exposed to has not been pleasant."
The IHRA was established in 1998, and is a forum that brings governments and experts together for the purpose of promoting Holocaust education, research and remembrance.
The City of Barrie adopted the IHRA’s working definition of antisemitism in 2020, while Canada adopted the definition as a non-legally binding tool on June 25, 2019, as part of its anti-racism strategy.
In 2021, Statistics Canada reported that the Jewish community in Canada was the most frequently targeted religious minority group based on police-reported hate crimes.
The 2022 Annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents published by B’nai Brith Canada reported 2,769 recorded incidents of antisemitism (Canada-wide) and a 64.8 per cent increase in incidents in Ontario (compared to 2021).
There were 1,353 recorded incidents in Ontario that year.
The decision will need to be ratified at the next meeting of council before going into effect.
