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The province of Manitoba is making Holocaust education mandatory in secondary schools.
Premier Wab Kinew made the announcement on Apr 24, 2025, Holocaust Remembrance Day.
“We are one Manitoba that cannot be divided by hatred,” said Kinew. “Now more than ever, we must honour the diversity and inclusivity in our province and commit to learning the lessons of history so that they cannot be repeated. Learning lessons from the past protects some of the intrinsic values of our province – diversity, inclusion and human rights. The best way to uphold that basic understanding is to help foster these values in our young people.”
Beginning this fall, the grades 6, 9 and 11 social studies curriculum will be updated, and Holocaust education will be mandatory in all schools across the province.
"B’nai Brith Canada commends Premier [Wab] Kinew for making good on his campaign promise to improve Holocaust education in Manitoba," said Dr. Ruth Ashrafi, B’nai Brith Canada’s Regional Director for Manitoba and Saskatchewan. "We look forward to continuing to collaborate with the province on initiatives to combat hate."
The province has partnered with the Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada and hired dedicated staff to develop the new mandatory curriculum. They are also creating new resources, including supports to prepare educators to teach about the Holocaust, an overview of Holocaust topics to study and curricular connections.
Manitoba is the sixth province in Canada to make Holocaust studies mandatory in secondary schools.
Other provinces that have committed to making Holocaust education a mandatory component of their curriculum include Ontario, B.C, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
The Northwest Territories has also added Holocaust education to its Grade 6 curriculum, making it the only territory to do so.
The new curriculum will take effect in September 2025.