John Yaremko Honoured by Hungarian-Canadians

The Honourable John Yaremko, Q.C was honoured by the Hungarian-Canadian community at an event called Thank You Canada marking the occasion of the 50^th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution.

A former Member of Provincial Parliament in Ontario (1951-1976), Yaremko was the guest of honour at a reception held at the Ontario Legislative Assembly on October 23 and a dinner at the Hungarian Cultural Centre in Toronto on October 29.

At the event, the Hungarian Ambassador, Denes Tomaj, decorated Yaremko with The Officers Cross of the Order of Hungary, the highest award that a non-Hungarian can receive from the Republic of Hungary.  Yaremko was also awarded commemorative medallions by the Hungarian-Canadian Forum representing Hungarian-Canadians for his extraordinary work and help in supporting Hungarian refuges.

In 1956, Yaremko along with the Honourable Jack Pickersgill, the Canadian Minister of Immigration at the time, travelled to Austria on behalf of the Government of Ontario to assist with the admission of Hungarian refugees to Canada. 

In his acceptance speech, Yaremko recalled the tumultuous days in 1956 and expressed his deep gratitude to the Hungarian community and to the state of Hungary for both the special evening and the honours awarded to him.