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CTV News
3 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
London, Ont. street named after a Nazi ‘unacceptable,' says human rights group
A prominent human rights organization is demanding that a London city street named after a man with ties to the Nazi regime be renamed. This sign has been posted in an industrial area in southeast London for over two decades. Max Brose Drive sits near Brose Canada, one of several industries along the roadway. However, founder Max Brose has a dark past, according to the human rights organization Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC). 'This man was a Nazi and complicit in war crimes,' said Jaime Kirzner-Roberts, an FSWC spokesperson. She cites Max Brose's record with the Nazi regime. 'This man was happy to have Jewish and other slaves working in his plant to produce armaments for a genocidal war effort,' said Kirzner-Roberts. On its website, Browse contends its founder was determined to be a 'passive follower' of the regime, and not a 'Nazi activist.' Max Brose Drive An undated image of Max Brose. (Source: The center vehemently disagrees, calling him 'a major supporter' of German National Socialism. They further contend that the City of London should have known better than to have named a street after Max Brose. It argues that the street signs are fundamentally incompatible with Canadian values and a stain on the good name of the nation. It is demanding that Mayor Josh Morgan take action. In a letter sent to his office, dated July 31, the FSWC calls for Max Brose Drive to be renamed. The organization acknowledges it had been unaware of the street until recently, 'We certainly were surprised to find out that there was a street in London named after a Nazi.' CTV News reached out to the mayor's office for comment and have been told he had just become aware of the letter and is preparing to review it. Kirzner-Roberts hopes that it happens quickly, 'This is on the property of a government and of a nation that fought the Nazis at great expense, at great cost. And we find this unacceptable.'
CTV News
3 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Holocaust centre urges Edmonton to rename road named after former Nazi
A group is asking the City of Edmonton to rename a road that honours a former Nazi. The Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) on Wednesday called on the City of Edmonton to rename Savaryn Drive, a road in Summerside named after Peter Savaryn. Savaryn Drive Savaryn Drive in Edmonton's Summerside neighbourhood. (Google Maps) It says Savaryn served in a Nazi military unit during the Second World War. In 2023, following the Yaroslav Hunka controversy, the Governor General's office apologized for awarding the Order of Canada to Savaryn in 1987. Hunka and Savaryn served together during the war. Savaryn moved to Edmonton in 1951, served as University of Alberta chancellor from 1982 to 1986, and died in 2017. Peter Savaryn Peter Savaryn (Source: Savaryn Drive A local charity asked the City of Edmonton to honour Savaryn in some way in 1994, the city said in a statement on Wednesday. Savaryn's name was added to the Names Reserve List 'based on (his) work of more than 60 years to preserve the Ukrainian language and culture in Canada as Edmonton has a very rich Ukrainian heritage and history.' Edmonton's Naming Committee approved the use of his name in 2007 'before the city was aware of Peter Savaryn's history during the Second World War.' 'In 2007, a development firm building the Summerside neighbourhood (following the road naming practice of the time, was required to name all roads within the neighbourhood starting with an S), submitted a Naming Committee application to use the name Savaryn which it derived from the Names Reserve List,' the City of Edmonton explained in the statement. 'That request was approved the same year and Savaryn Drive was the result.' In order to rename it, the city explained that an area resident or business needs to make a request and that 75 per cent of impacted homeowners, building and business owners need to support it. 'The continued existence of these street names causes pain to Holocaust survivors, the Jewish community and all Canadians who cherish human rights and historical truth,' said Jaime Kirzner-Roberts with the FSWC. 'Such a disgrace also dishonours the 45,000 Canadian soldiers who gave their lives fighting Nazism.'
Toronto Sun
30-07-2025
- Toronto Sun
Groups alarmed at house arrest for man who vowed to kill Jews
Waisuddin Akbari told car dealership manager he'd see him "on the news" for bombing synagogues, killing Jews Scales of justice OTTAWA — The decision to sentence a convicted Toronto man to house arrest for a disturbing antisemitic tirade has Canadian Jewish groups seeking answers. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account On Tuesday, Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) are called for big changes to Canada's hate crime laws after 41-year-old Waisuddin Akbari — charged after promising staff at a BMW dealership that he intended to kill Jews and blow up synagogues — was handed 60 days of house arrest instead of a prison term. 'It's because of Akbari and those like him that Jewish Canadians don't feel safe, and indeed are not safe, even in the very spaces meant to offer solace and peace,' said FSWC's Jaime Kirzner-Roberts. 'While we appreciate the court's acknowledgment of the virulently antisemitic nature of this crime, this minimal sentence fails to reflect the severity of the threat made against the Jewish community.' Court transcripts reveal Akbari's chilling words. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. According to the Nov. 2024 decision by Justice Edward Prutschi, of the Ontario Court of Justice, the problems began when Akbari visited the dealership for an oil change. In a conversation with a sales manager identified in transcripts as 'Mr. Ahmad,' Akbari — who, according to court records, was born in Afghanistan but spent his childhood in Pakistan — expressed concerns about financing a new vehicle because he believed his interest payments would be funnelled to the Israeli government and fund a so-called 'genocide' in Gaza. Akbari, according to the records, believes the Israeli government controls the world and aims to 'exterminate anyone who was not Jewish,' telling Ahmad that Israel intended to enslave the world. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'He went on to equate Israelis and Jewish people to roaches or insects who should be exterminated and to a cancer that needed to be eliminated,' the decision read. According to court records, Ahmad 'became uncomfortable with the direction the conversation was headed as Mr. Akbari went on to make extremist and antisemitic remarks against the Israeli government and the Jewish people.' Recommended video As the two were parting company, Akbari told Ahmad to remember his face, and that the next time he'd see it would be on the news. 'I know when I'm going to die because I'm going to plant a bomb in every synagogue in Toronto and blow them up to kill as many Jews as possible,' Akbari told Ahmad. 'I'll make sure those attacks are filmed and posted online so the world can see what I've done.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Ahmad, who said in court he believed Akbari was 100% serious, reported the exchange to the police the next day, which led to Akbari's arrest. 'The mens rea (guilty mind) of the offence is made out if the accused intended the words he uttered either to intimidate or to be taken seriously,' Prutschi continued in his decision. 'It is not necessary to prove that he intended to actually follow through or carry out on the stated threat.' Canada has seen an explosion of antisemitism since the Oct. 7 2023 terror attacks, which saw scores of Palestinian terrorists conduct a campaign of kidnappings, murder and sexual assault against Israeli men, women and children. In Toronto, far-left anti-Israel activists have vandalized Jewish businesses, homes and places of worship, opened fire at Jewish schools, and conduct regular intimidation marches on city streets — even through Jewish neighbourhoods. bpassifiume@ X: @bryanpassifiume Read More MLB Toronto Blue Jays Toronto & GTA Canada Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Star
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Star
Performers pushing hate need to face the music
By Contributing Columnist Michael Levitt, a Toronto-based freelance contributing columnist for the Star, is the president and CEO of Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC). @LevittMichael. True to a time-honoured tradition, the summer air is filled with the sound of music emanating from the many festivals at this time of year. Sadly, some performers are singing out of tune with dangerous anti-Israel tirades as part of their performance. Increasingly, since the Hamas atrocities of Oct. 7, 2023 and the ensuing spike in antisemitism, certain musicians have added extreme anti-Israel and anti-Jewish invective to their repertoire. Latest case in point: In southwest England, at the Glastonbury Festival, Britain's largest such musical gathering which attracts some 200,000 fans each year, the punk-rap duo, Bob Vylan, recently led crowds in chants that included 'Death, death to the IDF,' calling for the killing of members of the Israel Defense Forces. Less covered in the media were the vile comments by the duo's frontman, Pascal Robinson-Foster, which included him referring to 'working for [expletive] Zionists.' He also told the audience: 'Sometimes we have to get our message across with violence, because that's the only language some people speak, unfortunately.' Opinion articles are based on the author's interpretations and judgments of facts, data and events. More details
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Jewish community bears brunt of Toronto's rising hate crimes
Live Events Graffiti, vandalism, and the challenge of justice Masked offenders exploit post-COVID reluctance to enforce anti-disguise laws. Weak prosecutions leave hate crimes with the lowest charge rates in Canada. Political inaction means repeat offenders face little deterrence. Neighbourhoods on edge FSWC is lobbying for tougher hate crime laws and mask bans during offenses. Toronto Police are expanding outreach but stress evidence hurdles. Advocates urge citizens to report incidents—even "small" acts of vandalism. (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel When Jaime Kirzner-Roberts opens the latest Toronto police hate crime report, the numbers confirm what she already knows—what her friends, colleagues, and neighbors all know.177 incidents targeting Jews in 2024. A 40 per cent share of all hate crimes. A small community, just 4 per cent of the city, carrying an outsized burden of fear.'We are the leading target of hate-motivated crimes by a very, very large margin,' says Kirzner-Roberts, senior director at the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC). 'And in per capita terms? It's even more shocking.'The report, released this week, shows hate crimes in Toronto rose 19 per cent in 2024, the third consecutive increase, with nearly half driven by religion. Jews were the most frequent victims, followed by the LGBTQ+ and Black communities. For many, the statistics aren't just data; they're personal.'If it hasn't happened to us, we know somebody it has happened to,' Kirzner-Roberts anti-Jewish hate crimes fall under 'mischief', a bland legal term masking the ugliness of swastikas scratched into synagogue doors, cemeteries defaced, and schools tagged with slurs. Of 148 such incidents reported last year, only 10 led to charges.'Many offences happen without witnesses, without forensic evidence,' the police report admits. But Kirzner-Roberts argues the problem runs deeper:'It's not the police who need to change, it's the lawmakers,' she worst-hit areas? 52 Division (north Toronto, home to many Jewish families) and 32 Division (downtown, including the islands). Public transit saw an 88 per cent spike in hate crimes, graffiti doubling, assaults up by a there are glimmers of hope. Toronto police have worked closely with Jewish groups, developing antisemitism training for officers. The FSWC is pushing for similar education for transit staff, hoping to curb attacks on subways and Kirzner-Roberts' plea is broader: Wake up.'I hope these numbers finally push leaders, municipal, provincial, federal, to make this a priority.'Because behind every statistic is a person. A family. A community wondering if they'll be next?"Silence," says Kirzner-Roberts, "isn't an option anymore."
