Wednesday, January 15

10:00 am – Walter Murray Collegiate

1:10 pm – St. Joseph High School

In 1985 Canada awarded the first ever honorary Citizenship to Raoul Wallenberg.  Wallenberg was a Swedish diplomat who, with great courage and determination saved the lives of tens of thousands of Budapest Jews from Nazi persecution during World War II.   Challenging the machinery of German and it’s Hungarian allies, employing his imagination as an offensive weapon, Wallenberg resolved to do the impossible.  With the help of others, Wallenberg demonstrated that human courage has no limits and that one person can change the world.

This year, we celebrate “The Power of One: A tribute to Raoul Wallenberg” at two schools, with two powerful events.  Each program will have representation from Federal, provincial and local government.  Avon Whittles and Greg Chatlain, directors of each division will be in attendance at their respective events.  Ray Morrison, Board Chair of the Saskatoon Public School division will bring greetings at Walter Murray.    Four hundred plus students at Walter Murray, and a thousand plus at St. Joe’s will hear a personal Wallenberg story.

Congregation Agudas Israel Synagogue has recognized this day for more than 15 years, and the seeds of change and responsibility within the message have taken root in our Saskatoon community.  The large number at the programs, and the follow up within schools are evidence that not only is the message timeless, but, increasingly relevant in a city of growing diversification.

The students assembled will be challenged and rewarded by Judge David Arnot, chief Justice of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission to use the inspiration of this compelling story for change and for good.