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Power Couple Launches Fight Against Anti-Semitism Late-night television news is a precursor to slumber for many viewers, but one night last spring, it was more of a wake-up call for Elizabeth Comper. After a crowd of 2,500 gathered at Leah Posluns Theatre to condemn the rash of hate crimes plaguing Toronto at the time, Comper – the wife of Tony Comper, president and CEO of BMO Financial Group – watched news coverage of the rally in the privacy of her home. “I couldn’t be there that evening, and after that I had to do something,” she said. Noting that 2004 was the worst year in more than half a century for anti-Jewish activity in Canada – according to B’nai Brith Canada’s League for Human Rights, there were 857 reported incidents of harassment, violence and vandalism last year alone – Elizabeth Comper said she and her husband resolved to take action. Now in its launching stage, Fighting Anti-Semitism Together (FAST) is a coalition of non-Jewish Canadian business executives who “are encouraging other non-Jewish leaders to stand up and be counted against the oldest hatred in human history,” said Paul Deegan, head of government and public relations for BMO Financial Group. So far, about 20 chief executives have signed on to fund FAST. Many of its supporters are household names, Deegan said, including Peter Godsoe, former chairman of the Bank of Nova Scotia; Rick Waugh, president and CEO of Bank of Nova Scotia; and Dominic D’Allessandro, CEO of Manulife Financial Corp. “They believe it is time to speak out, challenge others to speak out and get more people to join the cause,” Deegan said. “We’re sending out the message that the Jewish people are not alone,” Tony Comper said. “We have a prestigious group associated with the project, and impressive roster. And we hope it will broaden over time.” To promote FAST, he will address the Empire Club of Canada on June 16. With money collected from corporate donors and in conjunction with Canadian Jewish Congress, the Compers will launch an educational project this fall targeted at public schools that aims to educate both Jewish and non – Jewish students about eradicating anti-Semitism. Elizabeth Comper said a DVD is currently being filmed and will be used in classrooms to prompt discussion and foster awareness. Canadian Idol host Ben Mulroney will introduce the four-part video series. “Something like [FAST] has never been done before in any place that we know of,” she said. “This isn’t just a Jewish issue. This is an issue of every single person living in Canada. If we can change or move one child, then it’s all worth it.” To date, the Compers have raised more than $200,000 for FAST and they plan to promote their initiative across the country. Reproduced with permission from the Canadian Jewish News |
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