News and Announcements

EDMONTON – Speaker Cooper will host a public ceremony on Wednesday, August 31, 2022, at 3 p.m. in the Legislature rotunda to recognize Black Ribbon Day.

“Each year countries and organizations around the world commemorate Black Ribbon Day to remember the victims of Stalinism and Nazism and to reaffirm the commitment to upholding democracy and protecting human rights,” said Nathan Cooper, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. “We also recognize this day as a way to honour survivors and their families, many of whom found refuge, opportunity and a bright new future here in Alberta.”

In-person remarks will be delivered by the following officials:

• Her Honour, the Honourable Salma Lakhani, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta AOE B.Sc., LLD (hon)
• Honourable Nathan Cooper, MLA for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
• Honourable Ron Orr, ECA, MLA for Lacombe-Ponoka, Minister of Culture and Status of Women
• Honourable Deron Bilous, ECA, MLA for Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview, on behalf of the Official Opposition
• John Szumlas, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland – North
• Oleksandr Danyleiko, Consul General of Ukraine
• Rabbi Ari Drelich, Chabad of Edmonton
• Andrzej Makarewicz, First Vice President, Canadian Polish Congress Alberta Society
• Orysia Boychuk President, Ukrainian Canadian Congress Alberta Provincial Council
• Zsolt Szekely President, Western Canadian Szekely (Szekler) Society
• Erwin Kilotat, Canadian Lithuanian Society – Edmonton

The commemoration will include an invocation by Reverend Father Thomas Kobak, Pastor, St. Basil Ukrainian Catholic Parish and a performance by violinist Tatiana Warszynski.

The event is open to in-person attendance and also will be livestreamed on assembly.ab.ca as well as on the Legislative Assembly’s Twitter, Facebook and YouTube channels.

On August 23,1939, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, which led to the occupation of numerous eastern and central European nations and the victimization of millions of people. This pact was the precursor to the Second World War.

Please note that public parking is not available on the Legislature Grounds. There are two pay lots north of 99th Avenue and another on the corner of 106th Street and 97th Avenue. See assembly.ab.ca for details.

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Shannon Parke, Communications Consultant
laocommunications@assembly.ab.ca
780.996.6533