An antisemitic reference denying the Holocaust has been discovered in a yearbook from West Bedford High School in Nova Scotia, prompting school officials to request the return of all copies for reprinting. The quote, which reads “6 million? Nah, 271k,” was shared on Facebook and quickly condemned by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which classifies “271k” as a hate symbol.
Community Reaction
Neli Shpoker, whose son attends the school, expressed dismay but not surprise. “It is painful to see, but unfortunately not surprising,” she told the National Post. Shpoker, whose maternal grandparents were Holocaust survivors, criticized the lack of Holocaust education in the curriculum, stating that students may not grasp the significance of such harmful quotes encountered online.
Legal Context
The Criminal Code of Canada prohibits denying or downplaying the Holocaust. In October, a North Bay man received a nine-month jail sentence and two years’ probation for Holocaust denial, a case described by the Friends of the Simon Wiesenthal Center as the first conviction of its kind in Canada.
School Response
Shpoker commended West Bedford’s administrators for their swift action in recalling the yearbooks after the quote was reported. The school confirmed receipt of a request for comment but did not respond in time for publication. According to CBC, the school principal apologized to parents via email and asked students to return the yearbooks so they can be reprinted without the offensive material.
Call for Mandatory Education
Shpoker urged school administrators and provincial leaders to make Holocaust education mandatory. “While Holocaust denial is a criminal offence, prevention through education is just as important,” she said.
The Atlantic Jewish Council (AJC) echoed this sentiment, noting a critical gap in Holocaust education in Nova Scotia. “Someone clearly did not do their job, and if they think they did, then we have a responsibility to address this failure and protect our students,” the AJC stated.
Mixed Online Reactions
The yearbook quote generated varied responses on the Halifax Share Anything Facebook group. Some commenters questioned whether the quote constituted Holocaust denial, with one writing, “Am I missing something, where did they deny the holocaust? I see them claiming a different number, not that it didn’t happen.” Another added, “I would have not known without your context that this was holocaust denial.”
