Minister Kenney at Montreal’s Black Ribbon Day Commemoration

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Montreal branch joined other East European communities in Montreal in a moving ecumenical ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of Black Ribbon Day on August 23, 2014.
The commemoration recalled the signing of the infamous Molotov-Ribbentrop, Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact between Hitler and Stalin and their regimes, on August 23, 1939. Attended by over 100 participants, the commemoration was held at the Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn Lithuanian Church.
Communities represented at the ecumenical ceremony were the Latvian, Lithuanian, Czech, Hungarian, Polish and Ukrainian. Each ethno-cultural community presented their prayer and national anthem in their respective language, preceded by remarks by their community’s representative about the impact of the brutal occupations on their country’s population. Many references were made to the current invasion by Russia in Eastern Ukraine.
Opening remarks were given by Silvija Staskevicius, president of the Lithuanian Canadian Community of Montreal. She stated, “The secret protocols (of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact) resulted in annexations, sovietisation, deportations, massacres and genocide on a scale never before seen in human history. We all lost family members to famine, deportations and exile.” She also mentioned, “The Day of Remembrance has been observed throughout Europe. We are joining our countrymen holding similar services in Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton and Ottawa to raise Canadians’ awareness of these crimes.”
Hon. Jason Kenney, Minister of Immigration, Citizenship and Multiculturalism was present at this year’s Black Ribbon Day commemoration. He spoke of the tens of millions that died because of communist violence and persecution and called upon honoring the memory of the brave patriots that gave their lives for the freedom of their lands. He referred to the book “The Black Deed of Communism”, which exposed the brutal crimes committed by communism. He mentioned how the crimes of Nazism are well known and documented, but as yet the crimes of communism have still avoided the depth of public recognition. “We have an obligation”, he stated, “to remember today the millions of lives lost fighting to secure freedom, against two brutal regimes.” Minister Kenney mentioned that a National Memorial to Victims of Communism is being built near Ottawa’s Parliament Hill. It will honor the victims, their families and descendants who live in Canada (see: www.tributetoliberty.ca).
Representing the Ukrainian community of Montreal was Rev. Father Roman Lahola who delivered the prayer in Ukrainian. In his remarks Rev. Lahola stated, “We gather today, representatives of Central and Eastern European communities, united by a common need to remember and to pray for all those who have been victims of tyranny under Communist and Nazi regimes …”. “With one voice we reaffirm our ongoing commitment to condemn all forms of crimes against humanity to condemn those who assault democracy and Human Rights and to oppose those who suppress national, religious and person freedoms”.
The Ukrainian National anthem was sung by Wolodomyr Mota accompanied by his bandura.
Participation of UCC-Montreal at this year’s Black Ribbon Day was organized by president Zorianna Hrycenko-Luhova, with Evhen Struminsky, Orysia Korol and Bohdanna Klecor-Hawryluk.

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