The Vancouver Holocaust Centre Society was founded in 1983 by survivors of the Holocaust. The founder's goal, realized in 1994, was to leave a permanent legacy in the form of the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre devoted to Holocaust based anti-racism education. 

The VHEC, an acclaimed teaching museum has been devoted to Holocaust based anti-racism education. The VHEC's mission is to promote human rights, social justice and genocide awareness through education and remembrance of the Holocaust. The VHEC, a leader in Holocaust education, engages 25,000 students and teachers annually. The VHEC produces thematic exhibits, school programs, teaching materials, online exhibits and has a museum collection and archives, survivor testimony project, library and resource centre. The VHEC presents numerous public cultural and commemorative events and publishes a newsletter, Zachor, three times a year.