Canary in the Coal Mine: The Dangerous Normalization of Antisemitism in Canadian Society
Tuesday, November 15, 2022 - 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
The Centre for Human Rights, Equity & Inclusion (Centre) is pleased to invite you to its Equity and Inclusion Dialogue series for the 2022-2023 academic year. Online registration is now open for this event. View the flyer for event details. Limited seating available.
View the full listing of the Centre’s 2022-2023 Equity & Inclusion Dialogue series.
Session Overview:
From conspiracy theories and fake news to the distortion of the Holocaust and the demonization of the Jewish people, what happens when “othering” becomes a societal norm? As antisemitism and anti-Jewish hate annually tops hate-motivated crime statistics across North America, Jews continue to be a barometer for the insidiousness of society’s intolerance of others. Are Jews the proverbial canary in the coal mine? Is there cause for concern? How do we combat antisemitism when veiled by the ubiquity of e-mod bullying and historical distortions? How can the “others” narrative be uncovered, engaged with, and/or dismantled as a pedagogical tool of critical inquiry? This session will introduce participants to the need to recognize and reject antisemitism and other forms of hate, intolerance, and discrimination while providing tools, techniques, and topics for exploration around what I call – Canary in the Coal Mine: The Dangerous Normalization of Antisemitism in Canadian Society.
Learning Objectives:
This workshop will:
- Work to foster a democratic and self-reflective citizen with the critical competence and confidence to recognize and reject antisemitism and other forms of hate, intolerance, and discrimination, peacefully and collectively.
- Be an environment where participants develop resilience to extremist ideologies, including antisemitic propaganda, by fostering critical thinking, building media information literacy, and advancing learners’ understanding of the function and allure of conspiracy theories.
- Equip participants with the knowledge to identify antisemitism and biased or prejudiced messages, and understand how to raise awareness about the forms, manifestations and impact of antisemitism faced by Jews and Jewish communities.
- Identify how academia can be equipped to address instances of antisemitism in education while building practitioners’ knowledge of what to react to and how to respond effectively in the classroom and other educational environments.
Facilitator Bio:
Dr. Neil Orlowsky, OCT, MEd., Ph.D
Dr. Neil Orlowsky is the Director of Education and Chair of Global Education with the Abraham Global Peace Initiative. Dr. Orlowsky holds dual-PhDs in Social Justice Education and Comparative International Development Education (OISE) where he examined education as a tool of political indoctrination. Dr. Orlowsky holds a certificate in International Humanitarian Law (University of Ottawa), a Master of Education in Sociology and Equity Studies (OISE) and his BEd and Specialized BA from both York University and Queens University. A former Canadian and World Studies educator, department head, certified Ontario principal (Lakehead University), and Humber sessional instructor, Dr. Orlowsky has been seconded to York University’s Faculty of Education where he provides insight and expertise in anti-oppressive and culturally responsive pedagogies; teaching for diverse and equitable classrooms; international development education, and K-12 Social Studies/Social Science education. With more than twenty years in the classroom, Dr. Orlowsky now chairs AGPI’s team of international experts and stakeholders in developing a new and innovative curriculum to reflect the vision and mandate of the foundation.
