Hate is a very strong word

Author of a National Bestseller ‘Unlocking the Doors: A Woman’s Struggle Against Intolerance’ brought her inspiring message of tolerance to students of the Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board Wednesday.

Holocaust survivor Dr. Eva Olsson was a young impressionable girl when she was taken from her Hungarian village and interned at a Nazi concentration camp. It was there where she was exposed to slave labour, uncontrolled diseases, and the death of millions, including most of her family.

It took almost 50 years for Eva Olsson to speak out about what she endured and to ensure people understand that every person has a role to play in changing racial intolerance.

In 2006 at the age of 71, after talking to her grandson’s class, Olsson began unlocking the doors to her memory and speaking publicly about her Holocaust experience. Since 2006 she has toured over 1500 schools, churches, colleges and universities with a hope that people who hear her story will believe it is possible to overcome all obstacles with a strong faith in God and in oneself.

“I have to for those who have no voice,” she states.

She says that it is important in light of Rwanda and 9-11 that people understand that without a strong commitment it could all happen again.

“I’m not going to be a bystander and I am not going to allow this to happen,” is the commitment Olsson wants each person to make.

“Don’t take you freedom for granted.”


Her message was not lost on the students as they listened intently and then peppered her with questions following the formal portion of the presentation.

“It was sad and very well done and she definitely got the message across to us,” states Meghan Clout.

“I learned that hate is a very strong word.”

“And I learned that you should never be judgemental and that it is important to get to know a person.”

“It is so sad that someone could hate that much that they kill people.”

Olsson recently released a documentary film called Stronger than Fire: The Eva Olsson Story and will be screening it at the Jewish Federation in Ottawa on Remembrance Day.

“I cannot live in the past, but I must live with it. Perhaps writing my story will weaken the hold the past has had on me.” - E. Olsson