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Vancouver Community Marks Srebrenica Genocide Remembrance Day with Message of Truth, Memory and Unity
7-25-2026
Approximately 100 people gather at John Hendry Park to honour victims of the 1995 genocide and reaffirm commitment to preserving historical truth
VANCOUVER, B.C. — With messages of remembrance, justice and solidarity, members of the Bosnian community and supporters from across Metro Vancouver gathered at John Hendry Park on Sunday, July 5, to commemorate the victims of the Srebrenica genocide and reaffirm the importance of preserving historical truth.
Organized by the Islamic Association of Bosniaks of British Columbia (IABBC), the commemoration brought together approximately 100 members of the Bosnian community, friends of Bosnia and Herzegovina, civic representatives and community supporters for a program dedicated to honouring those killed during one of the darkest chapters in modern European history.
The gathering included a commemorative walk symbolizing the more than 100-kilometre journey through forests attempted by thousands of Bosniak men and boys following the fall of Srebrenica in July 1995. Many of those who attempted to escape were captured and murdered by Bosnian Serb forces.
International courts, including the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the International Court of Justice, have recognized the killings in Srebrenica as genocide.
More than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were murdered, while thousands of women, children and elderly civilians were forcibly expelled from their homes. The massacre remains the worst atrocity in Europe since the Second World War.
The Vancouver commemoration was moderated by Samir Nezirevic, secretary of the IABBC congregation. Speakers included Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley, Amna Shah, British Columbia's Parliamentary Secretary for Anti-Racism Initiatives, Addiction and Mental Health, and Imam Abdulah Polovina, Head Imam of the first administrative region of the Islamic Community of Bosniaks of North America (IZBSA).
Addressing participants, Imam Polovina emphasized that remembering Srebrenica is a responsibility carried across generations.
“Srebrenica is not only a painful chapter of our history. Srebrenica is a trust. It is our obligation to carry the truth forward with dignity, to preserve the memory of the innocent victims, and to raise generations who will build a society based on justice, truth and mutual respect.”
Mayor Hurley and other speakers highlighted the importance of standing against hatred, discrimination and attempts to deny historical crimes.
The commemoration came at a time when Canada and the international community continue to recognize the importance of remembering the genocide. In a statement marking the anniversary, Global Affairs Canada said Canada remembers the victims of Srebrenica and recognizes the "profound and lasting impact" the genocide has had on survivors and their families.
Canada was among the countries that co-sponsored the United Nations General Assembly resolution adopted in May 2024, establishing July 11 as the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica.
"Canada continues to work with the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina and international partners toward the full implementation of the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement," the statement said, emphasizing the importance of justice, reconciliation and lasting peace.
Canadian parliamentarian Rob Oliphant also reflected on the anniversary, recalling his visit to the Srebrenica Genocide Memorial in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
"Today we reflect, mourn, and stand in solidarity with the Bosnian community in Canada and around the world," Oliphant wrote. "Remembrance is the key to lasting peace."
For members of the Bosnian community in Vancouver, the annual commemoration represents more than remembering the past. It is also a commitment to educating future generations and ensuring that denial and hatred do not erase historical truth.
The Bosnian and Herzegovinian Cultural Center Vancouver emphasized this responsibility in its remembrance message, stating:
“It is our duty to remember, speak the truth and pass on the memory to future generations, so that such a crime would never and anywhere else repeat.”
Following the formal program, participants completed the commemorative walk through John Hendry Park, carrying messages of peace, justice and remembrance.
As communities around the world continue to honour the victims of Srebrenica, the Vancouver gathering served as a reminder that preserving memory is an essential part of preventing future atrocities.
Never Forget Srebrenica.
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