Ottawa’s National Holocaust Memorial, inaugurated in 2017, is located downtown at the corner of Wellington and Booth Streets. The memorial is intended to ensure that “the lessons of the Holocaust, as well as the remarkable contributions of Holocaust survivors to Canada, remain in the national consciousness for generations to come,” according to the website of the National Capital Commission, which is responsible for for the maintenance. The Holocaust is one of the worst genocides in human history, with more than six million Jews murdered during World War II. Andrea Freedman, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa, says photography and music videos have no place at the Holocaust Memorial. (Nicole Williams/CBC) The design of the memorial includes tall, dark, concrete slabs with many murals inside depicting scenes of the Holocaust. There are also signs inside with evidence of what happened. Large signs on either side of the site’s entrances read “National Holocaust Memorial.” Despite this, many people have flocked to the site to use it as a background for photos and videos that have nothing to do with honoring the victims and survivors. Several people have tagged themselves on Instagram, posing at the memorial. Local clothing company V Kentay recently faced criticism both online and offline for doing just that. A video she posted on her social media platforms and website last year – which has gained attention recently – shows a model wearing pieces from a new swimwear collection, posing around the memorial. At least two other videos from the company were filmed there. Footage from a company’s fashion campaign video where a model walks through the memorial wearing designs from a local clothing company. The company apologized and removed the videos after backlash online. (V Kentay/YouTube) “To know that this place has been desecrated, that their memory has been desecrated and that a place of dark thought and education has been used in a fashion shoot, not for the first time, is incredibly disappointing and disappointing,” said Andrea Freedman. president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa; While the space itself is public with no official rules about photography and videography, Freedman said people should understand its intended use.
The photo shoot at the National Holocaust Memorial is drawing criticism
Ottawa clothing company V Kentay posted several videos of a model posing at the National Holocaust Memorial last year, drawing criticism both online and offline. It welcomes people to take pictures of themselves and even post photos or selfies with the monument online. However, this should always be done respectfully for the purpose of educating the world about the Holocaust. When contacted by the CBC, V Kentay co-founder Phoebe Genus apologized. “It has come to our attention that V Kentay has offended the Jewish community and the Ottawa community,” Genus wrote in an emailed statement. “Creatively, the monument art seemed to fit perfectly with what my team and I were looking for aesthetically for this particular campaign,” he wrote. “I made the mistake of thinking about any political or emotional ramifications this decision might have caused. I deeply apologize and regret making this decision. I made an honest and immature mistake as a new business owner.” The videos have been removed from the company’s website and social media platforms. But other members of the Jewish community said it serves as a good reminder of the need for Holocaust education. Mina Cohn, left, and Judy Young are both at the Center for Holocaust Education and Scholarship in Ottawa. They say more education is needed about the memorial and what it means to both the Jewish community and Canadians. (Nicole Williams/CBC) Since the memorial was unveiled five years ago, Mina Cohn, president of the Center for Holocaust Education and Scholarship (CHES), said she has seen several photographers and videographers at the site, shooting Instagram ads, fashion campaigns and music videos. . “It’s very disturbing that it’s happening again and it’s not the first time it’s happened,” he said. Judy Young, another CHES member and a Holocaust survivor herself, said she is not interested in seeing these people punished, but that more needs to be done to inform the public. “I think there needs to be more information, not just about the monument itself, but information about the significance of this place,” he said, whether it’s from the NCC, the federal Heritage Department or CHES as a community organization.
