Students across the Horizon School Division got a glimpse of the past on Monday, as the 3rd Annual Holocaust Symposium took place.

Throughout the day, there were seven speakers on topics surrounding Judaism, Anti-Semitism, Hate and the importance of courageous conversations.

They also heard from a survivor.

Amek Adler, who now lives in Toronto, told his story to Grade 11 students from the division.

He says it is vital for survivors to get out and share their story, because their life time will soon be gone from a first person account.

"The story cannot die. We are dying. We won't be around, so hopefully the new generation can tell the next generation," he explained. "You become a first chance survivor."

"We must not forget. That's the only way we can fight for future is enlightening people and helping people learn about what happened."

Adler shared his story, beginning to end, from growing up in Poland, to spending years in labour and concentration camps.

He spoke of his time in the camps, and how eventually it all ended.

"We heard tremendous noise on the highway. We looked up and saw the Americans chasing the Germans, so we walked out," he said. "I weighed 76 pounds."

Adler was 17 when he was freed.

After being asked to stay behind and continue to fight in the war, Adler refused, citing his age and the fact that he spent five years locked up.

Having his passport verified, Adler settled in Italy for three years, before eventually heading to Sweden, where he would begin his family life.

"I met my wife, I got married in Sweden, lived there for seven and a half years, my oldest boy was born there," he noted.

Following his time in Sweden, Adler moved to the Great White North.

"In 1954, I said enough is enough, I had enough of Europe and moved to Canada."

During his testimony, Adler noted that it was his first time in Saskatchewan, checking off his list of provinces visited as the last.