Yuri Shymko Awarded Solidarity Medal of Gratitude

The Consul General of the Republic of Poland, the Hon. Marek Ciesielczuk, awarded former Canadian M.P. and Ontario M.P.P. Yuri Shymko with the Medal of Gratitude established by the European Solidarity Center to commemorate the 30^th anniversary of the birth of Solidarity.

Yuri Shymko was among a select group of international recipients who, during the 1980s, supported Solidarność and the democratic opposition in Poland in its struggle for freedom and democracy.

The Certificate of Honour accompanying the Medal of Gratitude states that “Yuri Shymko contributed through his great sacrifices and support to the rebuilding of a liberated Poland and the unification of Europe”.

Shymko expressed his deep gratitude for the honour that was bestowed upon him during the special ceremony held at the Hall of the Polish Combatants Association held on May 7, 2012 in Toronto. It was attended by a large gathering of the Polish community on the occasion of the celebration of Constitution Day, Polonia Day, as well as Polish Flag Day.

In his remarks, Yuri Shymko stressed that it was his responsibility as a Canadian of Ukrainian origin to assist the Polish community together with other East European Canadians in a unified effort to lobby the Canadian government to support Solidarity and the Polish nation, especially during the grim period of martial law. “We all shared a common political goal and were fighting a common enemy, namely the Communist oppression of our respective peoples”, said Shymko.

Shymko, who was also the recipient of the Medal of Merit from the Polish Government-in-exile based in London, stressed the importance of continued cooperation between East European communities. He underscored the necessity for continued vigilance in this “Post Soviet era”, in light of the resurgence of autocracy in the former Soviet republics, further endangered by the resurgence of political and economic dominance by Putin’s Russia over neighbouring states, particularly Ukraine.

Christopher Nowicki

PHOTO

(L. to R.): Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Toronto, Hon. Marek Ciesielczuk, and Yuri Shymko