Poland in Canada

Ambassador of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Kurnicki welcomed all the distinguished guests - I would like to emphasize that we are grateful to Canada for playing an extraordinary role in our nation’s history. It was 101 years ago when the Canadian authorities organized a training camp in Niagara-on-the-Lake for over 20 000 volunteers who wanted to fight for free Poland during the I World War.

He recalled that during the World War II Canada stood by Polish side again, fighting shoulder to shoulder at Monte Cassino, in France, and jointly liberating Belgium and the Netherlands. – We are proud that Poland and Canada are once again allies who join forces within a NATO combat group in Latvia and our soldiers train regularly together – ambassador A. Kurnicki added.

 

– Polish-Canadian partnership was not only forged on battlefields, but through political channels and important diplomatic initiatives. Canada’s support for Poland’s accession to NATO is a prime example. Poles do not forget that Canada was the first country to accept Poland as a full member of the Alliance. International security remains the cornerstone of our bilateral relations - said the Ambassador.

Ann Flanagan Whalen, Director for Europe Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Canada followed. She pointed to good relations between Poland and Canada and mentioned the visit of the Governor General Julie Payette to Poland, where she attended an official ceremony in Warsaw marking 80 years since the beginning of the Second World War in the country.

Former Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrew Leslie was a special guest of the ceremony. - The ties binding our countries together are strong, powerful and deep.

All the gathered guests had also the opportunity to listen to the piano concert of the Polish-Canadian pianist - Katarzyna Musiał from Montreal.

Program of the event and the information about the artist.