Facing History provides

1,800 area educators with our programs and resources.

Facing History and Ourselves@Centre for Social Innovation215 Spadina Avenue, Suite #170Toronto, Ontario M5T 2C7, Canada416-901-3831facinghistory.orgCANADA

SPOTLIGHT: DEBORAH BROWN

of educators report that

Facing History impacts their ability to foster students’ sense of empathy.

of educators report that

Facing History impacts their ability to teach students to think critically.

95% 96%

Over

200 schools in Canada have Facing History-trained educators.

106,800students are reached by these educators each year.

Anestimated

Equality

of educa-tors report

that Facing History helps students recognize racism, antisemitism, and other forms of bigotry.

92%

Facing History and Ourselves trains and sup-ports educators, develops curricular materials,

and provides myriad resources and programs to promote a more humane and involved citizenry.

Our program enables secondary-school teachers to encourage students’ historical understanding, critical thinking, and social-emotional learning, and facilitate transformative dialogue in their classrooms. As students explore the complexities of history and human behavior, they reflect on the choices they confront and consider how they can make a difference today.

Facing History engages more than 3.5 million students annually through our global network of 35,000 educators and reaches the public through community events and extensive online resources. Facing History has had a strong presence in Canada since 1981.

For more information about our work in Canada, visit facinghistory.org/toronto or contact us at 416-901-3831.

Deborah Brown, a Facing History

teacher from Hamilton, Ontario, was

one of the top five finalists in this year’s

Facing History Together Teacher Recog-

nition Contest. Deb has been a teacher

with the Hamilton Wentworth District

School Board for 18 years, and the Histo-

ry Department Head at Sir Allan MacNab

Secondary School since 2002.

Brown was selected from a pool of 400

nominations, and was among the top 20

Facing History teachers who reached the

final voting stage of the contest. The win-

ning teacher received a $5,000 school

grant. While Deb did not win the grand prize, she was recognized as a dedicated and

courageous teacher, who creates opportunities for students to engage in rigorous

academic, emotional, and ethical learning.

“Deb’s ability to connect theoretical concepts from the classroom with real-life ex-

amples had a huge influence on how I view myself as a global citizen, and largely

ignited my passion for speaking out against human suffering and injustice,” wrote

the former student who nominated her for the contest.

COMMUNITY EVENT

CANADA

HELP US GROW!

A MEMORABLE AFTERNOON FOR ALL: Honouring Nate Leipciger with the Upstander Award

Facing History and Ourselves@Centre for Social Innovation215 Spadina Avenue, Suite #170Toronto, Ontario M5T 2C7, Canada416-901-3831 • facinghistory.org

Visit the Facing Canada blog: onnetwork.facinghistory.org

Help us reach more students: Introduce us to new teachers and schools.

Support our work: Make a gift at facinghistory.org/gift.

Join our community:

facinghistory.org/together

On October 26, 2014 Facing History

awarded Holocaust survivor, educator, and

long-time board member Nate Leipciger

with the inaugural Upstander Award for his

commitment to Holocaust education and

standing up for social justice. The sold out

event was filled with 400 friends, family

members, and supporters. We exceeded

fundraising goals, and introduced Facing

History to many individuals who were new

to our work.

Facing History board member and event

co-chair Ron Hoffman opened the after-

noon’s program, which included moving

testimonies of Nate’s impact from Woburn Collegiate Institute teacher Ben Gross

and students Ryan Venedam and Stephan Goslinski. The students thanked Nate,

saying, “This course, this man, and this project, have had deep impacts on our

lives. Before long, we saw a change in ourselves—a change that is still working in

us to this day.”

Following the students’ speech, Nate’s wife Bernice and his daughters Ronda Green,

Arla Litwin, and Lisa Pinkus, each gave touching speeches praising Nate for his role

as a husband, father, and grandfather.

As Nate came onto the stage to accept his Upstander Award, he received a thun-

derous standing ovation. He proceeded to speak to a rapt audience about surviv-

ing the Holocaust, and the importance of Facing History’s work. Many left the event

with a strong understanding of Facing History’s purpose, and with the fulfillment

that comes from expressing gratitude to someone who deserves it – as Nate un-

doubtedly does.

On November 6, for Holocaust Education Week, over 150 people spent a memorable evening with Dr. James Waller, the Cohen Professor of Holo-caust and Genocide Studies at Keene State Col-lege in New Hampshire, and author of Becoming

Evil: How Ordinary People Commit Genocide and

Mass Killing, to learn about the persecution of gay men by Nazi doctors during the Holocaust.

Waller presented findings from his research on genocide, which paint a surprising portrait of the perpetrators of genocide—one not of mythical monsters or megalomaniacal villains, but rather of “everyday” people. Waller’s insights inspired the audience to reflect on how we as individuals can prevent events of mass violence today.

To see a complete listing of upcoming events in Canada, visit facinghistory.org/toronto