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The governments of two countries in the former Soviet Union are donating money to help fund Ottawa’s controversial Memorial to the Victims of Communism, citing enthusiasm for the project among their diaspora.
Last week, the government of the Czech Republic quietly decided it would give 400,000 Czech crowns — a little more than $20,000 — to Tribute to Liberty, the charity seeking to have the monument built. Earlier this year, the government of Latvia donated €10,000, or roughly $14,000, to the charity.
While Latvia donated the money during a January ceremony on Parliament Hill, which was attended by members of parliament, the Czech Republic has yet to publicly announce its intent to help fund the memorial.
The reason, said Robert Tripes, minister consular with the Czech embassy in Ottawa, has nothing to do with the politics that’ve dogged the memorial in recent months. It was more a matter of logistics, he explained.
“We are still working about the technicality, where and how we will transfer … there is nothing political.”
Tripes said many in the Czech diaspora — he estimated there are roughly 100,000 people of Czech or Slovak descent in Canada — have raised “a considerable amount” of money and supported the project, which would see a memorial built near the Supreme Court of Canada.
“It is also a reflection of the generosity of our compatriots … it was just logical that the Czech government act accordingly,” he said.
The Latvian embassy in Ottawa said its diaspora was “one of the first” to donate to the memorial.
“This also encouraged the Latvian government to donate,” explained an emailed response from Juris Audarins, the ambassador of Latvia to Canada. “It is hard to find any one family of Latvian descent who has not been affected by the ensuing totalitarianism.”
“The Embassy of Latvia believes that Tribute to Liberty’s idea for the commemorative monument is worthy of support,” Audarins added.
All total, roughly eight million Canadians are from former, or current, communist countries.
Ludwik Klimkowski, the chair of Tribute to Liberty, declined to comment on the donations or whether or not the charity had approached foreign governments in order to help pay for the proposed $5.5-million monument.
“We usually don’t comment on fundraising activities … and what kind of donations or what kind of things we’re using to receive donations,” Klimkowski said.
He also declined to give an update on the total donations solicited so far.
However, Tripes said the group did not contact the Czech government to fundraise. He said the calls came from within the community.
As well, he said another partial reason the Czech government decided to support the memorial was because of the role Canada played in accepting refugees from Czechoslovakia during the Cold War.
“It is a small, symbolic tribute to the generosity of Canada.”
As for the Latvian government, their embassy in Ottawa said Tribute to Liberty kept them informed about developments in the project over the last few years, but the decision to fund the memorial was ultimately made by Latvia’s government.
“The communist ideology has brought many victims to the world,” Audarins said.
Locally, the memorial has generated significant controversy, from its location to its architecture and style. The Latvian embassy said the final decision-making rests with Canadian authorities. Tripes said the Czech government was aware of the friction the monument has caused.
“We know the discussion, and I have to say, we understand it and we respect it,” Tripes said. “But, the tribute of the Czech government is a tribute — and I underline it — to the idea. (It’s) a sign of respect to the fallen, even to people who are living this reality today.”
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Last week, the government of the Czech Republic quietly decided it would give 400,000 Czech crowns — a little more than $20,000 — to Tribute to Liberty, the charity seeking to have the monument built. Earlier this year, the government of Latvia donated €10,000, or roughly $14,000, to the charity.
While Latvia donated the money during a January ceremony on Parliament Hill, which was attended by members of parliament, the Czech Republic has yet to publicly announce its intent to help fund the memorial.
The reason, said Robert Tripes, minister consular with the Czech embassy in Ottawa, has nothing to do with the politics that’ve dogged the memorial in recent months. It was more a matter of logistics, he explained.
“We are still working about the technicality, where and how we will transfer … there is nothing political.”
Tripes said many in the Czech diaspora — he estimated there are roughly 100,000 people of Czech or Slovak descent in Canada — have raised “a considerable amount” of money and supported the project, which would see a memorial built near the Supreme Court of Canada.
“It is also a reflection of the generosity of our compatriots … it was just logical that the Czech government act accordingly,” he said.
The Latvian embassy in Ottawa said its diaspora was “one of the first” to donate to the memorial.
“This also encouraged the Latvian government to donate,” explained an emailed response from Juris Audarins, the ambassador of Latvia to Canada. “It is hard to find any one family of Latvian descent who has not been affected by the ensuing totalitarianism.”
“The Embassy of Latvia believes that Tribute to Liberty’s idea for the commemorative monument is worthy of support,” Audarins added.
All total, roughly eight million Canadians are from former, or current, communist countries.
Ludwik Klimkowski, the chair of Tribute to Liberty, declined to comment on the donations or whether or not the charity had approached foreign governments in order to help pay for the proposed $5.5-million monument.
“We usually don’t comment on fundraising activities … and what kind of donations or what kind of things we’re using to receive donations,” Klimkowski said.
He also declined to give an update on the total donations solicited so far.
However, Tripes said the group did not contact the Czech government to fundraise. He said the calls came from within the community.
As well, he said another partial reason the Czech government decided to support the memorial was because of the role Canada played in accepting refugees from Czechoslovakia during the Cold War.
“It is a small, symbolic tribute to the generosity of Canada.”
As for the Latvian government, their embassy in Ottawa said Tribute to Liberty kept them informed about developments in the project over the last few years, but the decision to fund the memorial was ultimately made by Latvia’s government.
“The communist ideology has brought many victims to the world,” Audarins said.
Locally, the memorial has generated significant controversy, from its location to its architecture and style. The Latvian embassy said the final decision-making rests with Canadian authorities. Tripes said the Czech government was aware of the friction the monument has caused.
“We know the discussion, and I have to say, we understand it and we respect it,” Tripes said. “But, the tribute of the Czech government is a tribute — and I underline it — to the idea. (It’s) a sign of respect to the fallen, even to people who are living this reality today.”
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