On the evening of Friday May 30, 2014 several members of SUSK’s National Executive attended a fundraiser for Tribute to Liberty, a non-profit organization whose mission is to build a Canadian memorial to the victims of communism. Given that in Canada, over 8 million people trace their roots to countries that suffered under communist regimes, the memorial will highlight the suffering of victims of communism to countless Canadians while also serving as a beacon of remembrance. For many of the victims, and for their descendants, Canada represents a country of peace, order, democracy, opportunity, and above all, liberty.
The event was attended by members of various communities who remain victims or descendants of victims of communism, political dignitaries and representatives, as well as donors and supporters of the project. The event was hosted by Mr. Robert Herjavec, Croatian-born Canadian businessman, investor, and media personality, known for his key role in Dragon’s Den. Throughout the evening, Robert shared touching stories of his family’s experience under communism and of their emigration to Canada.
The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, delivered the keynote address for the evening. He spoke of the terrible legacy communist regimes have left worldwide: "The result was catastrophic. More than 100 million souls were lost — an almost incomprehensible number." Harper emphasized the importance of recognizing the criminality of communist regimes as some of the most destructive dictatorships in history, stating that “evil comes in many forms and seems to reinvent itself time and again. But whatever it calls itself — Nazism, Marxist-Leninism, today, terrorism — they all have one thing in common: the destruction, the end of human liberty."
Mr. Harper’s speech also addressed contemporary political events, particularly Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He criticized Vladimir Putin’s expansionist and aggressive policies towards Ukraine, labeling him as a threat to global security, and committed continued support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The keynote address and dinner was followed by a video outlining the memorial project and commemorating the victims of communism.
SUSK commends the Prime Minister for his continued support of Tribute to Liberty, and looks forward to the completion of the memorial. SUSK would also like to extend its sincere appreciation to Mr. Ian Ihnatowycz and Ms. Marta Witer for their generosity in enabling SUSK to be part of such an important initiative.
For more information about Tribute to Liberty, please visit: http://www.tributetoliberty.ca/
