A history class marking the 31st anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide was held at Toronto City Hall, the main governing and legislative body of Canada’s largest city.
The event took place in the presence of Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, who wore the Flower of Srebrenica as a symbol of honoring the victims of the genocide. The history class was organized by the Bosnian and Herzegovinian community in Toronto, under the patronage of the Institute for Research of Genocide Canada, in cooperation with the Office of the Mayor of Toronto.
A video presentation on the Srebrenica genocide was given by Aldina Muslija, MA, a member of the International Expert Team of the Institute for Research of Genocide Canada. A significant speech with a strong message and moral was delivered by student Ahmed Salihović, a descendant of a Srebrenica genocide victim. Haris Zulović gave a harrowing testimony about his murdered father and other family members during the genocide. Finally, Dr. Ajdin Kajtazović addressed the audience regarding the Bosnian and Herzegovinian community in Toronto’s full readiness to support Bosnia and Herzegovina’s participation in the World Cup, especially for the match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Canada in Toronto.
In her well-prepared speech, the Mayor of Toronto emphasized that Toronto city commemorates July 11 each year as Remembrance Day for the Victims of Genocide in Srebrenica. She stressed that institutionalizing a culture of remembrance regarding the greatest crime in Europe since the Holocaust is highly significant, both for the surviving victims and for Toronto, Canada, and the entire world.
In addition to the annual proclamation, she supported the adoption of a special resolution on the Genocide in Srebrenica by the Toronto City Council. It is especially significant that the Mayor supported the construction of a monument to the victims of the Srebrenica Genocide in Toronto. She also supported including education about the Srebrenica genocide in Toronto schools. Finally, she supported naming one of the streets in Toronto “Srebrenica.” The Mayor also paid tribute to the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina and praised the activities of the Bosnian and Herzegovinian community in Toronto, which, through its daily work, contributes to the development of Toronto city.
The Institute for Research of Genocide Canada and the Bosnian and Herzegovinian Toronto Community, as a sign of appreciation for everything Mayor Olivia Chow has done for the culture of remembrance and for the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, presented her with a plaque. The plaque was presented by Dr. Emir Ramić, Director of the Institute for Research of Genocide Canada, and Haris Zulović.
The largest city in Canada and one of its most important political, economic, and academic centers, Toronto, stands firmly on the side of truth and a culture of remembrance. Toronto strongly supports the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Bosnian and Herzegovinian community in Toronto is becoming an increasingly influential ambassador, promoting Bosnian and Herzegovinian interests in Toronto and advocating for truth, justice, and a culture of remembrance.
Srebrenica is greater than oblivion in Canada, because we in Toronto and across Canada remember. But not in the way those who continually threaten us expect. We do not live on hate. We do not feed on revenge. We do not build a future on hatred and revenge. We remember good people, such as the Mayor of Toronto and many others in Canada, for having the courage to stand on the side of truth and justice, and to support the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina at a time when doing so is increasingly difficult.
