“Black Ribbon Day pays tribute to millions who lost their lives at the hands of tyranny,” said Robert E. Wanner, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. “It also reminds us that we all share the responsibility of protecting those who cannot protect themselves.”
Black Ribbon Day is recognized each year on August 23 in commemoration of the 1939 signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union that led to the occupation of numerous eastern and central European nations and contributed to the victimization of millions of people.
The Black Ribbon Day ceremony will take place in the Legislature Building rotunda on Tuesday, August 23, 2016, at 7 p.m. Ms. Debbie Jabbour, Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees, will host the ceremony on behalf of Speaker Wanner.
Remarks will be delivered by Members of the Legislative Assembly and community representatives John Szumlas, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland; Mr. John Tomczak, Canadian Polish Congress Alberta Society; Ms. Olesia Luciw-Andryjowycz, president, Ukrainian Canadian Congress Alberta Provincial Council; Dr. Adam Chrobak, Hungarian visiting research co-ordinator, Wirth Institute for Austrian and Central European Studies, University of Alberta.
The ceremony will include an invocation from Father Majek, Oblates of Mary Immaculate, and performances by violinist Maya Budzinski.