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Holocaust Survivor Addresses 3,000 Prince Albert High School Students

September 18, 2014

On September 17, an estimated 3,000 Prince Albert high school students attended inspiring presentations from Mr. Robert “Robbie” Waisman, Holocaust survivor and humanitarian.

Mr. Waisman described his life as a child in Poland at the beginning of World War II, being sent to the Buchenwald concentration camp, and losing six members of his immediate family to the Holocaust. “I have duty and obligation to speak for those that are not here, and to inoculate, particularly young people, against hatred and discrimination; and when I do this I honour the 1.5 million that are not here,” he said. It is estimated that 1.5 million children were murdered during the Holocaust.

Photo courtesy Heather Fenyes

In drawing from his highly personal experience, it is his aim to, “tell young people the importance of their lives and how lucky they are here in Canada because this is paradise.” The 1,200 High school students from Prince Albert Catholic School Division who gathered at St. Mary’s High School in the morning, and the 1,800 Saskatchewan Rivers School Division students who assembled at Carlton Comprehensive High School in the afternoon, were receptive to his compelling message.

When asked by a student what he would say to Adolf Hitler, if he could address him today, Mr. Waisman responded, “I would say, ‘Mr. Hitler, I won.’”

The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission was pleased to partner with the Prince Albert Catholic School Division, the Saskatchewan Rivers School Division, Congregation Agudas Israel, and Think Good, Do Good to support these events.