The Central and Eastern European Council in Canada invite all Canadians to learn from history
OTTAWA. 2019 marks the 80th anniversary of the infamous Hitler-Stalin Pact between Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia. Signed on August 23, 1939, this tyrannical Alliance ultimately led to World War II and the suffering of millions. Two dictatorships found common cause in committing crimes against humanity and imposing worldwide terror and destruction on so many nations.
Canada’s Parliament unanimously passed a resolution to establish August 23 as the annual Canadian Day of Remembrance for the victims of Nazi and Soviet crimes.
Today, in spite of a vigorous campaign to manipulate and disrupt democracy and rehabilitate this murderous past history, we commemorate those who died and those who lingered on in persecution for half a century.
The signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop friendship pact, between Hitler and Stalin, unleashed horrendous atrocities. Black Ribbon Day ensures that we will never forget such crimes.
Representing the interests of four million Canadians, our communities of the Central and Eastern European Council in Canada (CEEC) invite all Canadians to learn from history, to honour those brave men and women who took a stand to defend their values, faiths and beliefs.
This commemoration remembers the men, women and children in many parts of the world who continue to face violence and repression from totalitarian regimes and dehumanizing ideologies.
Commemoration in Ottawa
August 22, 2019
Wellington Building, 180 Wellington Street, Room 430
Programme begins at 7:00PM
Commemorative service and film screening, “The Soviet Story”.
