Lithuanians gathered to commemorate Black Ribbon Day across Canada
Events to commemorate Black Ribbon Day and 32nd anniversary of Baltic Way were held in various cities across Canada on August 22-23.
Black Ribbon Day is a day to remember and honour victims of Stalinism and Nazism in Europe and since 2009 it is commemorated in Canada on August 23rd. This date is related to August 23rd, 1939 when Molotov and Ribbentrop signed the treaty between Nazi Germany and Soviet Union. Its secret protocols led to occupation and destruction of European nations. On August 23rd, 1989 2 million people of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania gathered to human chain – Baltic way – and expressed their wish for freedom to the world.
This year, on August 23rd, Central & Eastern European Council in Canada, CEEC, together with Embassies of Baltic states in Canada organized commemoration of Black Ribbon Day in Ottawa. Presidents of the Baltic communities in Canada, diplomats from 9 countries (Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Ukraine), representatives of Central and Eastern Europe communities, Polish, Belorussian and Jewish organizations attended the event at the Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Participants of this event invited society not to forget the tragic consequences of Molotov-Ribbentrop pact and support civil societies who are seeking freedom and democracy in Eastern Europe.
On Baltic Way commemoration day, communities of Baltic states in British Columbia traditionally gathered at Jericho beach, Vancouver on August 22nd. Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania to Canada, Darius Skusevičius welcomed and invited participants to join the initiative together with CEEC and Baltic states federation in Canada to commemorate Molotov-Ribbentrop pact. Members of Polish, Slovak and Ukrainian communities in British Columbia joined the event. Community members of Hong Kong in Canada came to express solidarity and share their challenges in fight for freedom.
Black Ribbon Day and Baltic Way commemoration events were also held in Toronto, Wassaga Beach, Hamilton and Edmonton.
A statement by Bob Rae, permanent representative of Canada at the United Nations, for the commemoration of of Black Ribbon Day.
