CSYV HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL AT EARL BALES PARK

The CSYV Holocaust Memorial Site is situated near the entrance to the 15-hectare (36 acre) Earl Bales Park at 4169 Bathurst Street, in North York, Toronto. The site is adjacent to residential areas where thousands of Holocaust survivors rebuilt their lives in Canada after the war. The site was constructed in three phases over a period of 30 years and contains almost 5,000 names of victims and survivors of the Holocaust, the most extensive listing of any memorial site in Canada.

 
 
 

DESIGNERS

The Site was designed by Holocaust survivors and founders of the CSYV, David Smuschkowitz and Peter Silverman, as a permanent reminder of the Holocaust’s devastating toll on humanity and, also, of the triumph of spirit. In 1991, the memorial flame designed by artist Ernest Raab, the founding pillars, and central monument were dedicated.

 

BUILDING THE WALLS

Ten years later, in 2001, eight marble walls were added. The north walls, beginning to the entrance to the site, are as follows: The Herman and Marya Grad Wall of Remembrance, Goldgrub Family Wall of Hope, and Turk and Laren Families Wall of Commitment, all containing names of victims of the Holocaust. The Renee Bleeman and Ron Berenbaum Wall of Living Legacy is a tribute to donors who made establishment of the site possible.

The south walls begin at the entrance to the site with The Ted Libfeld Remembrance Wall, which contains names of survivors. The Ed and Fran Sonshine Children’s Memorial Wall is dedicated to the 1.5 million children who perished in the Holocaust and displays a representative name of one child victim born on each day of the year. The Drimmer Family Wall is devoted to the Righteous Among Nations, non-Jewish individuals who risked their lives and those of their families to save Jews. The Ganz Wall of Honour contains names of survivors and victims of the Holocaust and has limited room for the addition of names on one of its panels.

 

MORE FEATURES

Another feature of the site is the historical narrative of the Holocaust engraved on the reverse side of the eight walls. This is an important element of the site that educates visitors about the Holocaust. These walls also contain story plaques containing names of families who made contributions to support the site.

In the summer of 2013, a revitalization of the Site was undertaken with a campaign called REMEMBER. REFLECT. RECOMMIT. These efforts animated the site with landscaping and additional commemorative elements that included:

  • Landscaping the gardens and improving the sidewalks and pathways

  • Adding entrance pillars, garden pillars, and plaques

  • Establishing The Spirit of Bravery Square in Memory of David Smuschowitz and erecting the Sylvia and Henry Waks Yad Vashem Menorah

Many generous donors commemorated their loved ones and contributed to this successful effort.