By Danielle Dolgoy and Roxanne Droppo

Executive Directors, Jewish Family Services Edmonton and Calgary

Over the past several weeks our communities have witnessed hateful demonstrations designed to threaten and unsettle newcomers. As Executive Directors of Jewish Family Services in Alberta's major cities, we are shaken by these events and feel compelled to speak up. We call upon all Albertans to bear witness because we cannot look away. We cannot allow this to happen in our communities. The people waving hateful banners and spewing xenophobic rhetoric are not abstract figures from another place and time—they are here, in our streets, targeting our clients, our colleagues, and our neighbors. And they are your neighbors too.

This is not just about offensive words or misguided beliefs. It has escalated into terrorizing behavior. We have seen small but vocal groups gather in Alberta’s towns and cities, brandishing anti-immigrant slogans and even performing Nazi salutes. In St. Albert, these individuals disrupted a peaceful community with a display of hate so brazen that even longtime residents were stunned (St. Albert Gazette). In Red Deer, racist and xenophobic symbols were left outside community agencies, an unambiguous attempt to intimidate and silence (rdnewsnow.com).

We cannot ignore these acts, nor can we dismiss them as isolated incidents. The resurgence of such hate in our province echoes the warning signs of history. Throughout the 20th century, antisemitism and xenophobia were wielded as tools by authoritarian movements to justify oppression. The Holocaust did not begin with concentration camps—it began with rhetoric, with whispers that became shouts, with quiet tolerance of hate that escalated into organized violence.

Alberta has seen this before. The Orange Order once promoted division and discrimination, just as the Yellow Vests movement in Canada more recently harbored extremist, anti-immigrant views (CTV news). Hate crimes in our province have surged in recent years, disproportionately targeting racialized communities (preventviolence.ca). The pattern is clear.

As Canadians, our collective decency compels us to name this rhetoric for what it is: antisocial, dangerous, and unacceptable. Hate does not remain stagnant—it grows when left unchecked. If we allow it to fester, it will not stop at one community or one group.

This is not just about immigrants, nor just about Jewish communities. It is about all of us. Hate that is tolerated in one corner of society will eventually find its way into others. It erodes the very fabric of our democracy, our safety, and our humanity. We must be clear: the fight against hate is not only a moral imperative, it is also a matter of social responsibility. It requires us all—governments, institutions, organizations, and individuals—to take a stand. This is not an issue for any single community to face alone. The antidote to hatred is not just tolerance, but active and unwavering support for one another. It is through standing together that we show the strength of our values and the depth of our commitment to building a society where all can thrive

We must not ignore this. Ignoring it will not make it go away. In the name of compassion and our collective future, we cannot let this hateful conduct take hold. It is time for all of us to speak out, to stand against this rising tide of intolerance, and to affirm the values that make our communities strong—diversity, inclusion, and unwavering solidarity against hate. The time for complacency is over. We must collectively reject the rhetoric of fear, division, and hatred that seeks to fragment our communities. Let us be united in our resolve to create a more just and inclusive Alberta, where the voices of hate have no place to be heard. In the end, it is not only our communities that will be affected by the rise of hate—it is the very soul of our province, and our country. Let us stand firm, with courage and conviction, in defense of our shared values. Together, we can ensure that the Alberta we are proud to live in is a place where diversity is celebrated, and hate has no power.

Danielle Dolgoy is the Executive Director of Jewish Family Services Edmonton. She is a lifelong Edmontonian who’s connection to this place echoes so many others in the community – her grandparents and great grandparents fled racial violence in Europe at the turn of the 20th century and found safety and each other on the cold Canadian prairie. Through her agency, she is committed to uplifting marginalized voices and providing care and support to all who are in need.

Roxanne Droppo is the Executive Director of Jewish Family Service Calgary, with over 30 years of experience in human services, driven by a deep commitment to the fundamental values of dignity, respect, and opportunity for all. She believes the fight against intolerance is not just a moral imperative but a social responsibility that requires us to stand together, fostering empathy, education, and understanding to dismantle the systems that perpetuate hate. Roxanne stands firm in her resolve to build a more compassionate and just Alberta, where diversity is celebrated, and hate has no place. Her life and work reflect a commitment to the shared values that define our province and our nation.

Hate is a harmful action against a person or property that is based on an unreasonable opinion about the other person's identity. Hate often relates to race, colour, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender expression, and other personal characteristics.

Alberta Human Rights Commission