You are at the entrance of the National Holocaust Monument. The Holocaust (1933-1945) was one of the darkest periods in history during which Nazi Germany and its collaborators murdered over 6 million European Jews.

Laura Grossman, a student at the University of Ottawa, questioned why Ottawa was the only Allied capital without a memorial dedicated to the Holocaust. Laura became instrumental in passing the bill which established that a national Holocaust monument would be erected to honour the memory of the victims. The Monument was officially inaugurated on September 27, 2017.

Before you enter the Monument, notice its architectural design and surrounding environment. Then, enter via the ramp and notice you are on a downward slope. Based on your observations, why do you think it was designed this way?