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TORONTO, March 3, 2010—In today’s Speech from the Throne the Government of Canada stated its support for the memorial to victims of Communism to be built on federal land in Ottawa.
In her delivery of the speech, Governor General Michaelle Jean said the Government “supports the establishment of a National Monument to the Victims of Communism.”
Prime Minister Stephen Harper expressed his support for the memorial at a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall in Ottawa last November. During his speech the Prime Minister congratulated Tribute to Liberty on spearheading the initiative, and said the memorial “shall stand as a reminder that all political systems are not the same, that our democracy and our freedoms are to be cherished, exercised and protected.”
Alide Forstmanis, Tribute to Liberty board chair says she is grateful for the Government’s support of the project. Forstmanis says the memorial “will commemorate the losses and hardships of all those who suffered under Communism, and will pay tribute to Canada, this great country, which was and is a land of refuge for those who seek liberty.”
On September 10, 2009 the National Capital Commission (NCC) approved Tribute to Liberty’s proposal to build the memorial on national capital region land. The name of the memorial is: “A Memorial to Victims of Totalitarian Communism, Canada, a Land of Refuge.”
Tribute to Liberty is working with the NCC on land allocation, and will be announcing a national design competition in 2010. Unveiling of the memorial is planned for fall 2011.
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CONTACT:
Carolyn Foster
Project Coordinator
Tribute to Liberty
416.535.2815 ext.234
www.tributetoliberty.ca
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SUPPORT FOR MEMORIAL TO VICTIMS OF COMMUNISM IN TODAY’S THRONE SPEECH
