Raoul Wallenberg commemoration

We would like to spread the word about our event this Sunday, Jan 17th in commemorating the first Honorary Canadian Citizen and Saviour of thousands of Jews in Budapest during the Holocaust “ Raoul Wallenberg. The event has a list of famous speakers, and the topic in parallels of our world today is of high importance and relevance. As memory fades, events from the past can become the present. Therefore, commemorating Humanity's heroes and remembering the past is necessary to prevent history from repeating itself and inspiring positive change actions.

As Governor Schwarzenegger recently stated œWe need public servants that servers something larger than their own power.., but a higher ideal"

In his statement for last year's Raoul Wallenberg Day said 

'Today, I encourage all Canadians to find inspiration in Mr. Wallenberg's remarkable example. Jewish communities in Canada and around the world still face unacceptable acts of antisemitism. We must always stand up to hatred and racism. With compassion and courage, we each have the power to make a difference in the lives of those around us.'

PRESSRELEASE:

Raoul Wallenberg

“ Honorary Canadian Citizen, Saviour of Thousands of Jews in Budapest A virtual event Sunday, January 17, 2021, 3 pm “ 4.30 pm EST presenting a new video

In this time of a world pandemic, strife, insurrection, sedition and hate, in the halls of power in the United States and elsewhere, it is more important than ever, to celebrate the legacy of heroes like Raoul Wallenberg and others like him.

Their aim was to save their fellow human beings from mass murder, just because they belonged to a different religion, ethnicity, or due to physical or psychological impairment.

A new YouTube video highlighting the background of how Raoul Wallenberg was the first person to be made an Honorary Canadian Citizen will be presented by Urban Ahlin, Swedish Ambassador to Canada, The Hon Irwin Cotler, Founder of the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights and Special Envoy for Preserving Human Rights and Combating Antisemitism, jointly with George Preger, Founder of OVED for Human Rights, producer of the video.

Canada honoured Raoul Wallenberg already in 1984 with the Honorary Citizenship. At the ceremony presenting the Honorary Citizenship, George Preger accepted the award on behalf of Sweden. He was at the time Chairman of the Swedish Canadian Chamber of Commerce. Mr Preger, was born in Vienna in 1936 and survived the Holocaust in Budapest and in a Hungarian village.

The Raoul Wallenberg Day in Canada was established January 17, 2001 honouring the Swedish diplomat and his daring actions to save Jews in Budapest at the end of World War II. The date was chosen as Raoul Wallenberg was captured by Soviet forces east of the Hungarian capital on January 17, 1945. Though not confirmed, it has been generally assumed that Raoul Wallenberg was liquidated by the Soviet Secret Police in Moscow in 1947.

After the war, and studies in Europe, George Preger moved to Sweden. He lived there for many years, worked and started a family.  In 1969 he and his family moved to New Brunswick eventually settling in Toronto in 1974.

In 2020, George Preger and a group of friends, initiated the production of a 15-minute video, Raoul Wallenberg “ Honorary Canadian Citizen, Saviour of Thousands of Jews in Budapest. The objective is to inform of Wallenberg's work in saving the lives of thousands of Jews in Budapest as well as to spread knowledge of the awarding of Canada's first Honorary Citizenship to Raoul Wallenberg.

- There are a dwindling number of Holocaust survivors left, says Mr Preger. It is so very important that the stories are being told to younger generations, so we and they never forget

The video is the focal point of the virtual event Sunday, January 17, 2021, but the program will have comments by numerous individuals, including Ann Linde, Sweden's Minister of Foreign Affairs, The Hon. Irwin Cotler, Founder of the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, The Hon. Linda Frum, Senator and Michael Lewitt, President & CEO, Canadian Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre for Holocaust Studies and several other distinguished speakers. In addition, Urban Ahlin, Sweden's Ambassador to Canada, will join George Preger after the video in a discussion about the video and its message.

The Wallenberg Day virtual event has been made possible by the Swedish- Canadian Chamber of Commerce, YouandMedia and several other organisations.

For more information and registration to this free event, please visit https://mailchi.mp/sccc/wallenberg2021 

or contact

ž¢ George Preger, 416 543 8537, pregergeorge@gmail.com

ž¢ Lars Henriksson, 416 402 6093, lars.henriksson@swedishconsulates.ca

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