French Studies professor Alain Goldschläger was recently awarded the Ordre des Palmes Académiques (Order of Academic Palms) for his work with the International Task Force for Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research.
The Ordre des Palmes Académiques is an Order of Chivalry of France for academics and cultural and educational figures. Originally, it was a decoration founded by Emperor Napoléon to honour eminent members of the University of Paris. In 1866, the scope of the award was widened to include major contributions to French national education and culture made by anyone, including foreigners.
Goldschläger is the director of the Holocaust Literature Research Institute (HLRI), an institute he founded at Western in 1992. The institute holds the third-largest collection of Holocaust survivor published testimonials and witness accounts outside of Israel and is actively involved in Holocaust research, scholarships and public education.
“It is very satisfying to have received the order for my involvement in creating and animating a francophone group of five countries within the International Task Force on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research,” Goldschläger said. “I felt the francophone voice was absent from this important group, but now, through the strong leadership of Canada, francophones are a recognized and lively presence.
“It is quite an honour to have helped defend French culture and perception of the world.”
Between 2009-12, Goldschläger was chair of The National Task Force on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research, a group which aims to raise public awareness, promote discussion and examine the many complex themes that flow from Canada’s restrictive immigration policy during the Second World War until today’s immigration policies. He is the Canadian Academic Delegate at the International Task force, and was recently elected chair of the Academic Working Group that gathers 62 scholars from 31 countries working on Holocaust research.