This school supported three groups of students to develop ‘My Hometown’ projects, exploring the lives of Holocaust survivors who settled in Winnipeg after the war. Students met with the Fink family, the oldest surviving siblings of the Holocaust living in Winnipeg, originally from Poland. They also conducted additional research on Canadian Jewish survivors with support from the Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada.

Students learnt how to interpret a variety of historical sources, from local library archives to materials housed at the Canadian Jewish Congress. They were able to develop their interviewing skills when they met with Belle Jarniewski, the daughter of Holocaust survivors and Chair of the Holocaust Education Centre, and they also developed a range of multi-media and film production skills.

One group of students made a dramatized documentary about the Fink family siblings, based on their research and interviews. Another made a film about Belle Jarniewski, sharing details of her family’s Holocaust experience and featuring footage from their interview with her. A third group made a beautiful poster, which visually pulls together all the students’ research and learnings.

All three groups of students demonstrated excellent teamwork and were excited to share what they had learnt with each other. They are now sharing their projects with the wider school and parent community, as well as with other schools in Winnipeg. They hope this platform will further raise the profile and tell the stories of the Holocaust survivors in their hometown.