Prime Minister Trudeau to Attend 80th Anniversary of Auschwitz Liberation
OTTAWA, ON — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will travel to Poland later this week to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest concentration and extermination camp operated by the Nazi regime during the Holocaust. The visit will take place from January 26 to 28, 2025, and will highlight Canada’s commitment to Holocaust remembrance, combatting antisemitism, and promoting peace and human rights globally.
The Prime Minister will attend a commemorative event at the Auschwitz-Birkenau site, where he will be joined by Holocaust survivors and Deborah Lyons, Canada’s Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism. The event will serve as a solemn occasion to remember the millions of lives lost, including six million Jews, one million of whom were murdered at Auschwitz-Birkenau, as well as 500,000 Roma and Sinti, ethnic Poles, and countless others persecuted by the Nazis.
Prime Minister Trudeau emphasized the significance of the anniversary, stating:
“What happened at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp is a stark reminder of what happens when we give way to hate. Eighty years later, we remember the unimaginable horrors that the Holocaust inflicted on millions of Jewish people, we fight against hate and antisemitism, and we reaffirm our unequivocal pledge of ‘Never again.’”
During his time in Poland, the Prime Minister will meet with Holocaust survivors to hear their personal stories and reaffirm Canada’s vow to combat hatred and bigotry in all forms. Trudeau will also hold bilateral discussions with Polish President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. These talks will address key topics, including Canada’s ongoing support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, the importance of transatlantic security, and opportunities for cooperation on clean energy and nuclear initiatives to bolster Poland’s energy security.
The visit will also provide an opportunity for Trudeau to meet with international leaders to discuss pressing global challenges, including the evolving situation in the Middle East and the need for sustained global unity in the defence of peace, democracy, and human rights.
This trip underscores Canada’s leadership role in preserving the memory of the Holocaust and its ongoing commitment to standing against antisemitism and hate worldwide. As the world reflects on the atrocities of 80 years ago, the message remains clear: “Never again.”
SOURCES: PMO
