A national report highlighting antisemitism in Canadian universities and colleges has revealed an “alarming prevalence” of this harmful behavior across the nation, along with a general failure to tackle the issue.
“The findings indicate that many Jewish students face widespread and ongoing antisemitism on Canadian campuses as a significant aspect of their post-secondary experience, influencing their actions, engagement in campus activities, safety, and overall well-being,” the report stated.
This report merges results from two surveys: one involving 900 Jewish students enrolled in institutions nationwide and another with 755 non-Jewish students “from the broader campus population.”
The surveys carried out from Nov. 17 to Dec. 19 last year showed that 95.7 percent of Jewish students had either experienced or witnessed at least one incident of antisemitism within the past year.
The report also noted that 18 percent of these incidents were seen by victims as being instigated by faculty members, while another seven percent involved teaching assistants.
One unnamed student mentioned a “professor wrote that we should kill all Zionists, that she’s worked with them and sees how evil they are.”
Another student reported a professor declaring “Hitler was a hero,” while yet another heard a professor say “Jews belong in Poland and need to go back.”
Jewish students shared multiple accounts of bias from faculty, unbalanced portrayals of complex matters, and teaching assistants pushing students whose work they were grading to participate in pro-Palestinian protests.
Antisemitism on Canadian campuses is ‘systemic’: report author
The first of two Campus Antisemitism and Student Experiences reports indicated that 95 percent of students reported ‘experiencing or witnessing at least one form of antisemitism in the previous year,’ said Jack Jedwab, president of the Association for Canadian Studies and Metropolis Institute. Jedwab remarked that these findings reveal ‘antisemitism on Canadian campuses is neither isolated nor episodic.’
A third of students who witnessed or encountered an antisemitic event reported it to their university; however, 63 percent expressed dissatisfaction with how their complaints were handled.
In total, 70 percent of Jewish students felt their university doesn’t take this issue seriously enough while 68 percent believed campus life isn’t safe or inclusive for Jewish individuals.
“Jewish students mention altering what they say, where they go, what they wear, and whether they remain active in academic life at all,” according to the report.
This survey highlights personal experiences faced by those who’ve dealt with or observed antisemitism on campus; it’s part one out of two reports commissioned by Canada’s federal government’s former special envoy focused on preserving Holocaust remembrance and fighting against antisemitism. The second part will examine views regarding antisemitism among general student populations. This surge in antisemitic incidents across Canada has escalated since hostilities began between Israel and Hamas; synagogues have been shot at or firebombed while businesses owned by Jewish people have come under attack. Meanwhile members within Canada’s Muslim community have faced Islamophobic acts directed towards their places worshipping as well as businesses during this time frame too. According to Gaza Health Ministry reports coupled alongside human rights organizations’ information indicates over seventy thousand Palestinians have died due largely due operations conducted over nearly three years now by Israeli military forces throughout Gaza region itself. The conflict erupted following an assault led by Hamas upon southern Israel which resulted into more than one thousand fatalities & approximately two hundred fifty individuals taken hostage thereafter… In light these findings released through aforementioned document , the Centre For Israel And Jewish Affairs, B’nai Brith Canada & Friends Of Simon Wiesenthal Center jointly issued statement urging action be taken…”We call upon leaders within university systems & governments alike take careful consideration surrounding contents found within our recently materials.” The joint statement continues “… Drivers behind such hatred – including anti-Zionist sentiments-are widely understood already ; hence now it becomes imperative see tangible measures enacted towards protecting all Canadians attending educational institutions.”![]()
This art installation at University Alberta’s Rutherford Library suffered defacement earlier this year featuring swastikas alongside messages glorifying Popular Front Liberation Palestine – designated terrorist organization according Canada’s own governmental standards.(Submitted Michael Cor)
This particular publication hit news cycles simultaneously when U. S.-based think-tank known only ‘Jewish Tulsa’ gained prominence via pressuring President Donald Trump concerning offering refugee status anybody needing escape rising levels experienced throughout country ranging particularly target vulnerable communities like themselves.”Given urgency surrounding challenges observed plus slow responses thus far here north border asylum pathway seems logical option,” remarks executive director Joe Roberts speaking exclusively press outlets covering story.”Roberts himself hailing originally from Ohio relocated up north around twenty-sixteen fearing democratic degradation unfolding under previous administration rules given nature events taking place locally where he lived …When suddenly spotting increase instances graffiti promoting anti-Semitic imagery appearing parks near home earlier today decided relocating further away seemed best course action possible.” Roberts revealed local group established aiding new arrivals settling down city received inquiries totaling somewhere between eight hundred nine hundred separate households representing about two thousand folks contemplating leaving altogether back south…”Most families interested pursuing route available either qualify eligibility via existing trade agreements present between USA/Canada called CUSMA OR possess citizenship pathways stemming familial connections arising through marriages,” concluded Mr. Robert accordingly.
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‘Neither isolated nor episodic’
A different student recounted how a women and gender studies professor gave her zero per cent on an assignment because it addressed sexual assaults committed by Hamas against Jews during the attack on Oct. 7, 2023. The affected student claimed the professor advised her to focus instead on “Israeli police’s role in sexual assaults.” “The main takeaway here is quite clear: Antisemitism on Canadian campuses isn’t just isolated or sporadic.. it can rightly be termed systemic,” Jack Jedwab, the principal author of the report, stated in Ottawa on Wednesday. “There’s no qualifiers for this antisemitism; there are no adjectives or justifications for it,” said Jedwab, who serves as president and CEO of the Association for Canadian Studies and Metropolis Institute. WATCH | Jedwab on the report’s findings:
Antisemitism on Canadian campuses is ‘systemic’: report author
The first of two Campus Antisemitism and Student Experiences reports indicated that 95 percent of students reported ‘experiencing or witnessing at least one form of antisemitism in the previous year,’ said Jack Jedwab, president of the Association for Canadian Studies and Metropolis Institute. Jedwab remarked that these findings reveal ‘antisemitism on Canadian campuses is neither isolated nor episodic.’
A third of students who witnessed or encountered an antisemitic event reported it to their university; however, 63 percent expressed dissatisfaction with how their complaints were handled.
In total, 70 percent of Jewish students felt their university doesn’t take this issue seriously enough while 68 percent believed campus life isn’t safe or inclusive for Jewish individuals.
“Jewish students mention altering what they say, where they go, what they wear, and whether they remain active in academic life at all,” according to the report.
This survey highlights personal experiences faced by those who’ve dealt with or observed antisemitism on campus; it’s part one out of two reports commissioned by Canada’s federal government’s former special envoy focused on preserving Holocaust remembrance and fighting against antisemitism. The second part will examine views regarding antisemitism among general student populations. This surge in antisemitic incidents across Canada has escalated since hostilities began between Israel and Hamas; synagogues have been shot at or firebombed while businesses owned by Jewish people have come under attack. Meanwhile members within Canada’s Muslim community have faced Islamophobic acts directed towards their places worshipping as well as businesses during this time frame too. According to Gaza Health Ministry reports coupled alongside human rights organizations’ information indicates over seventy thousand Palestinians have died due largely due operations conducted over nearly three years now by Israeli military forces throughout Gaza region itself. The conflict erupted following an assault led by Hamas upon southern Israel which resulted into more than one thousand fatalities & approximately two hundred fifty individuals taken hostage thereafter… In light these findings released through aforementioned document , the Centre For Israel And Jewish Affairs, B’nai Brith Canada & Friends Of Simon Wiesenthal Center jointly issued statement urging action be taken…”We call upon leaders within university systems & governments alike take careful consideration surrounding contents found within our recently materials.” The joint statement continues “… Drivers behind such hatred – including anti-Zionist sentiments-are widely understood already ; hence now it becomes imperative see tangible measures enacted towards protecting all Canadians attending educational institutions.”
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