National Independence Day and the 102nd anniversary of Poland regaining independence
20.11.2020
Ambassador of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Kurnicki welcomed all the guests gathered to watch the celebration online via Embassys facebook account - I would like to emphasize that we are grateful to Canada for playing an extraordinary role in our nation’s history. It was 102 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.
We could watch also video-greetings from Arif Virani, Member of Parliament, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Tom Kmiec, Member of Parliament and Robert Fry, Director General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Canada
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The virtual event took place on Friday, November 20, at 6:00 p.m.
PROGRAMME:
1. Instrumental Medley of Songs Pertaining to Poland's 2020 Anniversaries
"We Are the First Brigade" - 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Warsaw
"Red Poppies on Monte Cassino" - 75th Anniversary of the end of World War 2
"Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore" - 100th Anniversary of Birth of Pope John Paul II
"Walls" - 40th Anniversary of the Solidarity movement
2. Fryderyk Chopin - Polonaise in A flat Major, Op.53 "Heroic"
3. Ignacy Jan Paderewski - Violin Sonata in A minor, Op. 13
I. Allegro con fantasia
4. Henryk Wieniawski - Fantasia on Themes from Gounod's Faust, Op. 20
