Northern Ontario teacher who taught anti-Semitic conspiracy theories loses teaching licence
A Timmins-area teacher who taught his classes a number of anti-Jewish conspiracy theories, including some about the 9/11 terror attacks, has lost his teaching licence.
The Ontario College of Teachers held a disciplinary hearing late in 2021 to deal with allegations involving Joseph Biagio DiMarco.
An investigation into DiMarco's teaching practices began in 2019 when a parent complained to the board.
"At least one student reported to her mother that the member was teaching Holocaust denial," the College said in its decision.
The focus of the investigation was on comments he made during the 2018-2019 school year.
He taught his class that the Israeli government was really behind the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, and emailed a colleague that if the world knew the truth, "anti-Semitism would return with a ferocity seldom seen."
Events surrounding 9/11 seemed a particular obsession with DiMarco, who spent a lot of class time on the topic, even though it wasn't part of the teaching plan and they were behind in other subjects.
He also showed students rock videos starring himself -- on YouTube – performing songs with titles such as '911 IS A LIE,' with lyrics that talk about killing U.S. officials who were part of the 9/11 Commission investigating the attacks.
When discussing the Holocaust, he relied on non-approved sources of information such as the TV shows Phil Donahue and Montel Williams where Holocaust deniers were interviewed.
DiMarco also told students the Israeli government is a force of evil and exaggerates the Holocaust to make itself appear as a "victim."
To make his point, he had students watch slide shows over a number of days, none of which were part of the curriculum. Much of the information was from YouTube and later removed for violating the company's hate speech policies.
A class trip in 2019 to Second World War sites – including a Nazi death camp – prompted a warning from DiMarco that students were being manipulated and being exposed to propaganda.
In addition to behavioural issues – at one point DiMarco told a student that looking at his face "made him feel hate" – the disgraced former teacher repeatedly told his students the extent of the Holocaust was greatly exaggerated.
A parent finally complained in March 2019, and DiMarco was fired in May of that year.
On Tuesday, officials with the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center For Holocaust Studies welcomed the decision to pull DiMarco's licence.
"The disturbing actions by this former teacher demand nothing less than his inability to set foot in a classroom ever again," FSWC president and CEO Michael Levitt said in a statement.
"Instead of using the opportunity to teach about the Holocaust and 9/11 and their lessons, he decided to spread Holocaust denial and antisemitism, doing an extreme disservice to his students."
"Educators have a duty to not only provide students with factual information, but to also inspire them to be upstanding citizens who stand against hate and intolerance," Levitt added.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Live updates as Stormy Daniels testifies at Trump hush money trial
Adult film star Stormy Daniels will take the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
NEW From yearning for a change to cost of living, why some Canadians have left or may leave the country
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Defence attacks Stormy Daniels' credibility as she returns to the stand in Trump's hush money trial
Stormy Daniels will return to the witness stand Thursday in Donald Trump's hush money trial as the defence tries to undermine the credibility of the porn actor's salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter and the money she was paid to keep quiet.
With contactless screening tech, this Toronto startup hopes to catch breast cancer early — and save lives
Amid evidence of rising breast cancer rates among young women in Canada, one Toronto startup is offering a contactless and radiation-free device that can help doctors identify suspicious changes in breast tissue. The company, Linda Lifetech, says this can lead to earlier detection of breast cancer.
Tornadoes tear through southeastern U.S. as storms leave 3 dead
Forecasters warned a wave of dangerous storms in the U.S. could wash over parts of the South early Thursday, a day after severe weather with damaging tornadoes and large hail killed at least three people in the region.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.