The city today named Raoul Wallenberg an honorary Montrealer, for his efforts in saving thousands of Jews from certain death during the Holocaust.

"Raoul Wallenberg was a person who stood up to evil, who stood up to terror, exemplified the best in humanity, and he saved lives," said city councillor Marvin Rotrand. "The Talmud has said if you save one life, you save a universe. Raoul Wallenberg's courage was more than that."

The city was also marking the 100th anniversary of Wallenberg's birth, on Aug. 4, 1912.

While working as a Swedish special envoy in Hungary in late 1944, Wallenberg issued protective passports and sheltered Jews in buildings designated as Swedish territory.

He was captured by the Soviets in 1945, and was never heard from again.

Photo: via Wikipedia