National Black Ribbon Day Commemorations

Toronto – The Central and Eastern European Council of Canada, representing nearly 4 million Canadians of European heritage, commemorated National Black Ribbon Day on August 23^rd, 2011 in cities across Canada. National Black Ribbon Day is supported by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.  In each city, all communities were invited to a central place of worship for reflection and to pray together.

Evening ecumenical services were held in: Montreal – Our Lady Gate of Dawn Lithuanian Church; Mississauga – St. Maximilian Kolbe Polish Church; Winnipeg – St. Vladimir and Olga Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral; Edmonton City Hall, and Vancouver - St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church.

In November 2009, a resolution declaring Black Ribbon Day, August 23, an annual day of remembrance for the victims of Communism and Nazism in Europe was unanimously passed by Canada’s Parliament.