OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 03/11/13 -- Canadian post-secondary students in Graphics, Art and Design are invited to participate in an International Poster Competition to commemorate the Holocaust, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today.

"For the first time ever, Canadian students will participate in a poster competition along with students from the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic and Israel for the privilege of having their design displayed at over 90 locations around the world, including the headquarters of the United Nations in New York City and the European Commission in Brussels," said Minister Kenney.

The theme is "Keeping the Memory Alive - Journeys through the Holocaust."

Canada will select up to 20 posters to advance to an international judging panel. The international panel, comprised of experts in both design and in Holocaust education, will award up to EUR500 in cash prizes to the top three designers. The 12 best designs will be exhibited around the world to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day in January 2014 and will be made available as an educational resource.

Posters will be evaluated based on the originality of the design and how they convey the message of this year's theme.

This joint initiative of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) and Yad Vashem in Israel seeks to bring substance, meaning and educational value to Holocaust commemoration.

"Our government believes it is critically important to be engaged in efforts to commemorate and teach the lessons of the Holocaust to help prevent future acts of genocide," said Minister Kenney.

On March 5, 2013, Canada became the Chair of the IHRA, an intergovernmental body made up of government officials and experts from 31 countries. It is devoted to fostering and promoting Holocaust education, remembrance and research around the world. Canada will Chair the Alliance until March 2014.

Final designs must be submitted by April 30, 2013, to holocaust-poster@cic.gc.ca.

Full details about the eligibility requirements and how to apply to the International Poster Competition are available at http://www.cic.gc.ca/holocaust-poster .

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