Editorial: 'Peace' Activists Target Jewish Summer Camps in Canada
It requires a particularly distorted perspective to inject the complexities of the Middle East conflict and the Gaza war into the tranquil environment of Canadian children's summer camps. Yet this is precisely what the organization Justice Peace Advocates has undertaken through a recent campaign that has drawn widespread condemnation.
Campaign Against Jewish-Affiliated Camps
On February 4, Justice Peace Advocates launched a letter-writing initiative targeting camping associations in Ontario, Alberta, Nova Scotia, Quebec, and Prince Edward Island. The group is demanding the decertification of seventeen Jewish-affiliated camps across these provinces. Additionally, they seek to have all federal funding withdrawn from these institutions and to have their federal charitable status revoked.
On its official website, Justice Peace Advocates describes itself as a "Canadian-based independent human rights organization promoting Just Peace/Paix Juste through the rule of law and respect for human rights in Canada and around the world for the Palestinian people and those that stand in solidarity for the human rights of the Palestinian people."
Underlying Motives and Accusations
Despite these noble-sounding declarations, critics argue the campaign represents yet another malicious effort targeting Canada's Jewish community, with children becoming the primary focus. The organization specifically objects to camps that employ former members of the Israeli military and those that celebrate Zionist principles.
This initiative appears to be another attempt to pressure and intimidate Canada's Jewish population into compliance. Celebrating one's cultural heritage, faith, and traditions does not constitute Zionism in any problematic sense. However, suggesting that Jewish parents should not be permitted to raise their children according to their own values and beliefs crosses into dangerous territory that many consider fundamentally antisemitic.
Pattern of Targeting Jewish Institutions
This campaign emerges against a troubling backdrop of increasing attacks on Jewish institutions across Canada. Jewish schools and synagogues have experienced shootings, while Jewish-owned businesses have faced systematic harassment and vandalism. Now, the targeting has extended to summer camps—traditionally safe havens where children escape urban environments to learn canoeing, swimming, and appreciation for nature while developing social skills.
An organization claiming to advocate for "peace" is now bullying Jewish families and Canadian citizens simply because they maintain connections to a nation that was forced into conflict following the horrific Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023.
Supporting Organizations and Broader Implications
The campaign receives backing from several groups including the Ontario Palestinian Rights Organization, the Canadian BDS Organization, and Palestinian and Jewish Unity. This coordinated effort represents what many view as a disgraceful assault on children, families, and core Canadian values.
This situation should outrage anyone who cherishes the fundamental rights of all Canadians—particularly children—to live peacefully without fear of persecution based on their religious beliefs. The attempt to politicize spaces dedicated to childhood development represents a dangerous escalation in the targeting of Canada's Jewish community.
