EDMONTON – An iconic statue of Anne Frank, a powerful symbol of Holocaust remembrance and resilience for Edmonton’s Jewish community, sustained serious damage this week after an attempted theft in Light Horse Park. The life-sized bronze sculpture, created using the same cast as the original statue in Utrecht, Netherlands, was removed for repairs after perpetrators sawed through its ankles in an apparent bid to steal it, but ultimately abandoned their efforts before completing the act.
The statue, unveiled in 2021 and gifted by Alberta’s Dutch-Canadian community to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Holland, stands as Canada’s only public monument to Anne Frank and a testament to the enduring lessons of the Holocaust. The vandalism has shocked Edmonton’s Jewish leaders and residents, many of whom had gathered at Light Horse Park in recent years to promote remembrance, vigilance against antisemitism, and harmony across communities.
Local police are investigating the incident as a criminal act. Community organizations emphasize the broader context, noting an alarming rise in hate crimes and targeted vandalism against Jewish heritage sites across North America. “Desecrating a monument to Anne Frank is more than just theft or property crime; it is an attack on the memory of a young girl murdered for being Jewish and a reminder of the ongoing need to fight antisemitism in every form,” said Gillian Horwitz, Holocaust programming director for the Jewish Federation of Edmonton.
The Edmonton Jewish community and allies swiftly condemned the senseless destruction, urging authorities to pursue all possible leads and pledging to restore the statue. Steven Shafir, president of the Jewish Federation of Edmonton, remarked, “Anne Frank’s legacy is a beacon for our city and our country. Her story must not be silenced or defaced by mindless hatred. We will ensure her memory endures and that our community stands resilient in the face of such acts”.
The damage dealt to the Anne Frank statue follows a disturbing trend of attacks on Holocaust memorials in recent years, which experts say are fueled both by rising global antisemitism and generalized disregard for Jewish history and suffering. National Jewish advocacy groups have renewed calls for provincial and federal governments to improve security around Jewish sites and introduce harsher penalties for hate-motivated crimes.
The restoration is underway, funded by donations from both Jewish and non-Jewish groups, reflecting the widespread support for combating hatred and remembering the lessons of the past. The community has pledged to re-dedicate the restored statue in a ceremony affirming Edmonton’s solidarity with Jewish Canadians and commitment to fighting antisemitism.
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This article is based on verified information from CBC, Yahoo Canada, The Canadian Jewish News, and official community statements.
Hi Ron,
I’ll try to make it short, I don’t want people to believe he “just abandoned” it. I was the one who removed him from the park and prevented him from returning that long night. I appreciate you covering this event, and I’m sorry I wasn’t able to do more and that she’s still out for repair.
Anyway, I hadn’t read any news about it before now, I didn’t remove him in the softest way and didn’t want any trouble due to it, so I’ve avoided this whole topic, but it’s been long enough to talk about now!
So that’s all I wanted to say, is please let our communities know this wasn’t just someone “giving up”. They were stood up to, and stopped. I want people to not be fearful that when the statue returns it will happen again. Because of how I removed him, I’m confident in saying that specific man won’t be back to try it again, and god forbid if anyone else tries I’ll be able to respond faster than the first time.
I’ve personally struggled with the aftermath, in the moment I thought I had done something good for my community but when I look towards the park and see she’s still gone, I’m not sure if I accomplished anything? I don’t believe the perpetrator was a thief of the material so much as to ideals if you know what I mean? I find it unfair I can’t feel good about stopping him. Even though I removed him, the statue is still gone. Even though he didn’t take the statue with him, the statue is still gone. I don’t think it was ever about taking it with him, only doing enough damage to take it down. Regardless, I appreciate your work Ron. I hope you can appreciate there are people in this community who will stand up to this kind of behavior, even if I’ve only seen myself speak out so far.