Why

Why you need to be there

Jew-hatred is a dangerous threat to our society.

You have a clear choice to make when it comes to antisemitism.
You can ignore its impact and walk away,

OR you can push back to fight it!

What you can expect

Antisemitism: Face It, Fight It will transform you from a passive victim to an engaged activist.

Over two days, we will

  • Connect with thought leaders and influencers, including public officeholders, to build momentum on fighting antisemitism across Canada.
  • Empower ourselves, as individuals and a collective, with the critical knowledge and skills needed to push back against Jew-hatred. We’ll learn from experts in the fields of advocacy, political engagement, law enforcement, and social media about developing effective strategies to fight anti-Jewish racism.
  • Hear the real-life stories of Canadians who, after facing antisemitism, became activists in their own right.
  • Get up-close and personal with our elected officials on Parliament Hill, our seat of government. We will ensure that our lawmakers hear our community’s concerns as a united voice.
  • Present the Honourable Irwin Cotler, one of the world’s foremost human rights advocates, a lifetime achievement award in recognition of his enduring commitment to the pursuit of justice for all people and the advancement of human rights for the world’s most vulnerable and oppressed.

We will return home better equipped to fight Jew-hate in our daily life, knowing that each of us is a vital player in the fight against antisemitism.

This is your opportunity to add your voice at this extraordinary conference of proud and engaged Jews and our allies.

Each one of us will be empowered as the change-makers that our community needs right now!  

Sign up today – for your sake, for your children, for your grandchildren.

Sign up for Canada’s future.  

Thanks to conference sponsors, subsidies are available for two-day attendance. Contact CIJA or your local Federation to learn more. Group hotel rates start at $250 CAD plus tax.

Questions? Ask us at [email protected]

Who

We will be updating this section as speakers are confirmed. Check back often!

  • Shimon Koffler Fogel
    Chief Executive Officer, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs
  • Hannah Alper
    Activist, Student, Journalist, Author and Changemaker
  • Heidi Berger
    Founder and President, The Foundation for Genocide Education
  • Yves-François Blanchet
    Chef du Bloc Québécois
  • Hannah B.
    Social Media Content Creator
  • Stephen Camp
    Retired Staff Sergeant, Edmonton Police Service – Hate Crime Unit
  • Josie Coutain-Segall
    Student
  • Shai Deluca
    Interior Designer, Media Personality, and Advocate
  • Jacqueline Edwards
    Jacqueline Edwards
  • Mike Fegelman
    Executive Director, Honest Reporting Canada
  • Joel Finkelstein
    Co-Founder and Director, The Network Contagion Research Institute
  • Akiva Geller
    Detective Constable, Ottawa Police Service
  • Kasim Hafeez
    Middle East Analyst, Christians United For Israel
  • Jason Kenney
    Premier of Alberta (2019-2022)
  • Dr. Cary Kogan
    Professor of Clinical Psychology, University of Ottawa
  • Dr. Ayelet Kuper
    Physician and Interdisciplinary Scholar
  • Lisa Levitan
    Recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence
  • Michael Levitt
    Michael Levitt
  • Alexandra Lulka Rotman
    School Board Trustee and Community Advocate
  • Lord John Mann
    Independent Adviser on Antisemitism to UK Government
  • Hen Mazzig
    Israeli Writer, Speaker, and Activist
  • Joanna Mirsky Wexler
    Community Builder, Educator, and Jewish and Interfaith Advocate
  • Profile picture for
    Iddo Moed
    Ambassador-Designate, Embassy of Israel to Canada
  • Arsen Ostrovsky
    CEO, The International Legal Forum
  • Farah Pandith
    Senior Advisor at the ADL, Author, Foreign Policy Strategist, and Former Diplomat
  • Pierre Poilievre
    Leader of His Majesty's Loyal Opposition
  • Chad Rogers
    Chad Rogers
  • Sheryl Saperia
    Chief Executive, Secure Canada
  • Emile Scheffel
    Strategic Communications and Corporate Affairs Consultant
  • Jagmeet Singh
    Leader of the New Democratic Party
  • Emily Schrader
    Digital Strategist and Senior Correspondent, Ynet News
  • Yaffa Tegegne
    Community Leader and Activist
  • Noah Tepperman
    Community Leader and Political Activist
  • Sgt. Ali Toghrol
    Sergeant, Ottawa Police Service
  • Gil Troy
    Author and Scholar
  • Justin Trudeau
    Prime Minister of Canada
  • Arif Virani
    Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
  • Katharina Von Schnurbein
    European Commission Coordinator on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life

Conference Program

We are pleased to present three pre-conference sessions at no additional cost to conference attendees. Registration required. Click here to learn more.

  • Using the Legal System to Combat Antisemitism
  • Engaging our Congregations and Communities in the Fight Against Antisemitism
  • Antisemitism on Campus

 

Monday Schedule

Time Session
13:00 Welcome
13:15 United Against Antisemitism: Confronting the Challenge…Together
14:30 Online Hate: Breaking out and Breaking down the Echo Chambers
15:30 Countering Antisemitism: Hate Vs. the Law
16:30 Turning Sideline Passion to Frontline Action: Finding your Voice in the Political World
18:30

Dinner Program

  • The history of the the National Holocaust Monument with Tim Uppal, MP
  • Facing Reality: Making a Difference and Being the Difference

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The conference is Monday, October 16, starting at 1 p.m. It wraps up Tuesday evening, October 17, at about 9 p.m. ET.

  • The Conference will take place at the Shaw Centre, in downtown Ottawa.

  • For both days, the cost is $475 CAD plus tax. For Tuesday only, the cost is $300 CAD plus tax. Registration includes refreshments during breaks, kosher lunch and dinner on Monday, and breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Tuesday, as well as all conference materials. It does not include transportation to and from Ottawa or accommodations. 

  • There will be a two-hour session Monday morning prior to the conference organized for university students. Students will benefit from participation in conference discussions regarding best practices that can be leveraged on campus, opportunities to meet and listen to advocacy professionals and communications specialists in social media from across Canada and around the world, and from attending networking events that will include politicians and advocacy experts. The conference will provide students with techniques to plan and execute effective advocacy campaigns on campus and elsewhere.
  • Yes. For eligible, full-time, post-secondary students, travel and attendance subsidies are available. Fill out this form and we will be in touch to verify eligibility.

  • No. We have done our best to keep the cost as low as possible for all attendees. However, travel subsidies are available for eligible participants. Please see below.

  • You can choose to attend sessions on both days (Monday and Tuesday) of the conference or attend Tuesday only. But we strongly encourage attending both days. There is no separate pricing for Monday only.

  • Speakers and the agenda are now posted on the "Program" tab above.
  • Yes, kosher dietary laws will be observed throughout the conference.

  • Jewish leadership, professional advocacy experts, Jewish community members interested in fighting antisemitism, campus advocates, security experts, other ethno- and faith-group leadership and agency representatives, federal parliamentarians, and government staff.

  • Yes, as part of your registration fee, kosher meals and snacks are provided on both days of the Conference.
  • Although hotel rooms reserved for CIJA's Antisemitism - Face It, Fight It conference are now sold out, we understand availability remains at:

  • Yes! Generous conference sponsors do not want financial considerations to be barriers to participate. Please let us ([email protected]) or your local Federation know that you have registered to find out more. Subsidies are available only for two-day attendance. 

  • For those attending Antisemitism: Face It, Fight It leaving from Montreal, complimentary busing will be provided by Federation CJA.

    For those attending both days, buses will depart from 5151 Cote Ste. Catherine on Monday morning and return Tuesday night.

    For those attending Tuesday only, a bus will depart 5151 Cote Ste. Catherine Tuesday morning and return Tuesday night.

    If you indicate an interest in taking the bus, additional details regarding bus transportation from and back to Montreal will be provided upon registration

    UJA Federation of Greater Toronto is organizing a round-trip bus between Toronto and Ottawa. The bus info and booking can be found here: https://www.jewishtoronto.com/face-it-fight-it-bus-registration.Travel discounts are available from both Air Canada and WestJet for which a travel discount code will be provided to you after registration is confirmed. Check with your local Federation in other communities for more information.

  • No refunds will be issued for cancellation after September 1, 2023.

  • Please contact us at [email protected] to find out.

  • No. Registration is done individually.

  • Yes. As part of their partnership with Antisemitism: Face It, Fight It, the National Post has offered conference attendees a free one-month subscription to the National Post online. This trial includes access to all National Post content, including the ePaper, as well as unlimited online access to 15 news sites. Sign up now to read their coverage of the conference and to stay up to date on politics, commentary, and national and world news. Register here.

Conference Co-Chairs

Jonathan R. Goodman, David W. Goodman, Karen James, Steven Kroft, David Posluns, & Ian Sherman

Presenting Sponsors

Sponsors

Official Media Partner

National Post

National Post logo

Special Offer from the National Post

As part of their partnership with Antisemitism: Face It, Fight It, the National Post has offered conference attendees a free one-month subscription to the National Post online. This trial includes access to all National Post content, including the ePaper, as well as unlimited online access to 15 news sites. Sign up now to read their coverage of the conference and to stay up to date on politics, commentary, and national and world news.

Register here