ARISTIDES SOUSA MENDES PARK, TORONTO, ONTARIO   Playground Dedication and Film Screening Sunday Oct 20th - Honouring Aristides de Sousa Mendes 2013-10-04 12:00:36 On October 20, 2013 at 2 pm, the City of Toronto will name the newly renovated playground the “Sousa Mendes Playground,” situated across from the new Leo Baeck Day School on Arlington Avenue. Aristides de Sousa Mendes was a Portuguese Consul General serving in Bordeaux, France from 1938 to 1940. He was responsible for saving countless Jews and other refugees of the rapidly advancing Nazi army, by defying the direct orders of his government and issuing some 30,000 visas, including about 10,000 to Jews, allowing safe passage to Portugal from Occupied France. The program includes the unveiling of a plaque and speakers from the Jewish and Portuguese communities. After the unveiling, a brief reception will be followed by the screening of Disobedience.  Directed by Joel Santoni and starring Bernard Le Coq, this powerful film tells the true story of Aristides de Sousa Mendes whose courageous actions have been described as “the largest rescue action by a single individual during the Holocaust.” This event will give voice to an important Portuguese & Jewish story of rescue and moral courage during the Holocaust. It will be facilitated by Councillor Joe Mihevc, working in partnership with the City of Toronto’s Parks Department and The Leo Baeck Day School through Eric Petersiel, Head of School. For more information, contact  (416)315–9849 . This event is part of the pre Holocaust Education Week 2013 programming coordinated by the Sarah and Chaim Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto.

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