FSWC Urges Edmonton and London to rename streets honouring Nazis

(August 6, 2025) – Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) is calling on the mayors of Edmonton and London, Ont. to take immediate action to rename streets in their cities that currently honour individuals affiliated with the Hitler-led Nazi regime.

In letters sent late last week to London Mayor Josh Morgan and Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi, FSWC expressed deep concern over the continued presence of Nazi-linked names in public spaces and urged both municipalities to act swiftly and decisively to rectify this disturbing situation.

In Edmonton, Savaryn Drive is named after Peter Savaryn, who served during the Second World War in the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, a Nazi military unit implicated in Holocaust atrocities, including the massacre of approximately 1,000 civilians in the then Polish village of Huta Pieniacka, which is now located in modern-day Ukraine. This is the same Nazi military unit in which Yaroslav Hunka served – whose recognition in the House of Commons in September 2023 sparked widespread outrage in Canada and internationally, ultimately leading to the resignation of the Speaker of the House.

In 2023, Canada’s Governor General issued a formal apology for awarding Savaryn the Order of Canada, recognizing the profound harm caused by honouring an individual tied to the mass murder of innocent civilians.

In London, Max Brose Drive honours Max Brose, a German industrialist who was an official member of the Nazi Party and a major supporter of the Nazi war effort. Brose’s company produced gasoline canisters and armaments for the German military and profited from the use of slave labour.

“The continued existence of these street names causes pain to Holocaust survivors, the Jewish community and all Canadians who cherish human rights and historical truth. Such a disgrace also dishonours the 45,000 Canadian soldiers who gave their lives fighting Nazism,” said Jaime Kirzner-Roberts, FSWC’s Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy. “Canada’s history includes the disturbing reality that many Nazis and collaborators were able to find refuge in this country, never having to face justice for their horrific, murderous acts. Memorializing individuals who enabled or participated in Nazi crimes is fundamentally incompatible with Canadian values and a stain on Canada’s good name. Acknowledging and rectifying these wrongs, including the symbols that persist in our communities, is essential to upholding the principles of remembrance, accountability and justice.”