Dear Reader
When Dear Canada came calling for the third time, it was with the request to write a book about The Holocaust. I have written many books on this subject before, books like Daniel's Story for the United States Holocaust Museum, and In My Enemy's House. But this one would be different because all books in the Dear Canada series are set in Canada. The Holocaust happened in Europe, though, so how could I tell a story that was both about Canada and about a terrible tragedy that unfolded far away?
I knew that after the war Canada decided to loosen its restrictive immigration policy — a story I told in Turned Away — and let in some Jewish refugees. About a thousand of these were orphans under the age of eighteen. I also remembered that one of my idols growing up in Winnipeg was one of those orphans — John Hirsch, head of the Manitoba Theatre Centre. He, like so many others who settled in cities across the country, made an incredible contribution to Canada.
So I decided to write a book which would tell the story of a young Jewish girl arriving in Canada after the war, but also tell the story of what happened to her during the war, when she was much younger. That made for an interesting structure, with diary entries alternating with Rose's memories.
We must never forget that the world allowed 6 million Jewish people to be murdered, simply because they were Jewish. I hope those who read this book will realize that racism and prejudice of any kind are dangerous and destructive, and work to create a world where everyone is respected no matter their race, religion or colour.
- Carol Matas
