Announcing the
2026 Kron Sigal Award
for Excellence in Holocaust Education
June 16, 2026
Each year, the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre presents the Meyer & Gita Kron & Ruth Kron Sigal Award for Excellence in Holocaust Education to teachers in British Columbia who have demonstrated excellence and sustained commitment to teaching students about the Holocaust. The award was established in memory of the Kron family, Lithuanian Jewish survivors of the Holocaust who re-established their lives in Vancouver. Through their lifelong involvement in education and community, the family touched the lives of thousands of students.
We received a record number of applications and nomination for this year’s award, reflecting both a renewed commitment to Holocaust education in the province and a recognition of the important role it plays in helping students understand the challenges facing democratic societies today. The applications were of exceptional quality, and we commend the dedication and skill of all those who applied.
The VHEC is pleased to announce the following recipients of the 2026 Kron Sigal Award for Excellence in Holocaust Education.
Ryan Holly
Ryan Holly, an educator at Kelowna Secondary School, enables students to understand the Holocaust not only as history, but as an event with contemporary resonances. He confronts a dearth of education about antisemitism in public school with lesson plans inviting students to analyze the continuity and change of historic antisemitism, as well as an in-depth case study of antisemitic propaganda during the Holocaust. His emphasis on evidence-based learning encourages student engagement with primary sources, particularly survivor testimony. Ryan has been actively involved in professional development activities, attending annual conferences and seeking out self-directed opportunities globally. Students and colleagues alike commend his compassion, care, and dedication as he handles this difficult subject with nuance and engagement.
Hofit Sabi
Hofit Sabi, a grade 6 educator at Vancouver Talmud Torah, is recognized for her ability to translate the complexities of Holocaust history into age-appropriate, inquiry-based learning for younger students. Her pedagogical approach is distinguished by its global scope, particularly her development of a pioneering mini-unit on the often-overlooked experiences of Jewish communities in North Africa to challenges single stories of Jewish identity and show how international political dynamics like colonialism and fascism intersected during the war. Hofit’s curriculum prioritizes evidence-based experiential learning, such as her Hana’s Suitcase artefact memorial project, where students use specific textual evidence to justify the historical and emotional significance of their original creations. By fostering empathy and critical thinking through survivors and VHEC exhibitions and workshops, she empowers her students to become informed, compassionate civic stewards.
Honourable Mention
Honourable mention goes to Diana Weld of Quw’utsun Secondary School in North Cowichan for her leadership in modernizing Holocaust education within her department and her commitment to school-wide professional development. Diana developed a comprehensive Humanities 10 unit from the ground up, utilizing a ‘gradual release of responsibility’ model to train students in the sophisticated analysis of wide-ranging primary sources. Her curriculum skillfully bridges historical context with modern media, using survivor memoir, film and literature to help students navigate complex ethical issues like indoctrination, blind loyalty, complicity and indifference.
