The year 2004 was the worst year in more than half a century for antisemitic activity in Canada, with 857 reported incidents. Tony Comper, former CEO and President of BMO Financial Group, and his wife Elizabeth, a former teacher, decided to act. They believed that the crisis was one for non-Jews in the community to solve, and that education was the solution.
Established in 2005, with a coalition of non-Jewish business leaders, FAST launched its first education program, Choose Your Voice, geared towards middle school children. Developed with the help of educators and the Canadian Jewish Congress, the program was designed to meet the curriculum requirements of each province.
Ten years later, FAST launched a second education resource, Voices into Action, to teach high school students about the dangers of racism and discrimination. This program was designed by experts at the University of Toronto. Over 5 million students used these FAST programs between 2005 and 2020.
In 2020, Tony Comper approached CISA's Director, Dr. Catherine Chatterley, about running FAST in partnership with CISA. In 2021, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, FAST merged into CISA and its programs are now part of Canada's Human Rights Program.
Established in 2005, with a coalition of non-Jewish business leaders, FAST launched its first education program, Choose Your Voice, geared towards middle school children. Developed with the help of educators and the Canadian Jewish Congress, the program was designed to meet the curriculum requirements of each province.
Ten years later, FAST launched a second education resource, Voices into Action, to teach high school students about the dangers of racism and discrimination. This program was designed by experts at the University of Toronto. Over 5 million students used these FAST programs between 2005 and 2020.
In 2020, Tony Comper approached CISA's Director, Dr. Catherine Chatterley, about running FAST in partnership with CISA. In 2021, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, FAST merged into CISA and its programs are now part of Canada's Human Rights Program.