Six million Jews were the victims of state-sponsored, systematic persecution and annihilation by the Nazis and their collaborators from 1933-1945. Many more were targeted because of physical and mental disabilities, religious and racial backgrounds and sexual orientation. Over one million Canadians joined the Armed Forces during World War II to defeat the Nazis and liberate the prisoners of labour and concentration camps. Afterwards, Ontario became home to the majority of the Holocaust survivors who immigrated to our country – creating a more diverse and vibrant multicultural province. For these reasons, we recognize today as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. We commemorate the many victims of the Holocaust and condemn this evil for what it was. By maintaining our vigilance, we will ensure such a despicable travesty never occurs again.