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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