Anita Helfgott Ekstein was born on July 18, 1934, in Lwów, Poland. After the war, Anita and her aunt immigrated to Paris, arriving in Toronto in 1948. Anita married Frank Ekstein in 1955, and they raised three children. A dedicated Holocaust educator, Anita founded a group for child survivors and hidden children in Toronto, participated in the March of the Living eighteen times and has spoken to thousands of students. Anita lives in Toronto.