In a deeply troubling act that has sent shockwaves through Canada’s Jewish community, Ottawa’s National Holocaust Monument was discovered defaced with red paint early Tuesday morning. The vandalism, which police are investigating as a potential hate crime, comes amid escalating antisemitic incidents across the country following the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.
The monument, which stands as Canada’s solemn tribute to the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, was splattered with red paint across several of its concrete walls. Ottawa Police were alerted to the vandalism around 7:45 a.m. and immediately cordoned off the area as forensic investigators began collecting evidence at the scene.
“This desecration represents not just an attack on a physical structure, but an assault on our collective memory and the solemn promise to never forget,” said Rabbi Daniel Friedman, who chairs the National Holocaust Monument Development Council. “The timing suggests a deliberate attempt to intimidate Jewish Canadians at a moment of heightened vulnerability.”
Public Services and Procurement Canada, which oversees the monument, mobilized cleanup crews by mid-morning. Workers were observed carefully removing the paint using specialized cleaning agents designed to protect the monument’s distinctive concrete surfaces. By afternoon, most visible traces of the vandalism had been removed, though the emotional impact lingered heavily.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned the act on social media, stating: “The desecration of the National Holocaust Monument is reprehensible and has no place in Canada. We stand firmly with Jewish Canadians against antisemitism in all its forms.” His sentiments were echoed by Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre and Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, who called the vandalism “a disgraceful act of hate.”
Since October 2023, antisemitic incidents have surged across Canada, with B’nai Brith Canada documenting a 90% increase compared to the same period last year. The organization’s CEO, Michael Mostyn, connected this trend directly to the monument’s defacement, noting that “each act of vandalism against Jewish sites normalizes the next.”
The monument, which opened in 2017 after decades of advocacy, features six triangular concrete volumes arranged to form a Star of David when viewed from above. Its design, by renowned architect Daniel Libeskind, creates spaces for contemplation and remembrance while educating visitors about the horrors of the Holocaust and Canada’s own complicated history with Jewish refugees.
Community leaders have announced plans for a solidarity gathering at the monument this weekend, emphasizing the importance of standing united against hatred. “We refuse to be intimidated,” said Andrea Freedman, President of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa. “This monument exists precisely because humanity must confront its darkest chapters to ensure they are never repeated.”
Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs confirmed that investigators are reviewing security camera footage from the area and have increased patrols around other Jewish sites in the city as a precautionary measure. No suspects have been identified yet, though police are urging anyone with information to come forward.
As Canadians from all backgrounds express outrage over this desecration, we are left to consider a troubling question: In a country that prides itself on pluralism and tolerance, how do we confront the persistent undercurrent of antisemitism that continues to manifest in such disturbing ways?
