Dr Dorothy McClellan

VICTIMS OF COMMUNISM MEMORIAL DAY

On May 9, 2022 in Washington, D.C. Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida signed the Victims of Communism Memorial Day bill (HB 395) into law. This bill designates November 7th as “Victims of Communism Memorial Day” to honor the more than 100 million people who have died under communist regimes and the 1.5 billion people who still live and labor under communism today.

“Commemorating this day not only honors those who have suffered, but it also helps educate American youth to have an understanding of communism and an appreciation for democracy,” said Amb. Andrew Bremberg, President and CEO of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. “I applaud Gov. DeSantis and Florida lawmakers for making this important designation.”

In addition to naming a day of remembrance, Florida HB 395 will require all high school students enrolled in a US Government course to learn about the history of communism and the dangers of communist dictators beginning in the 2023-2024 school year.

Just last year, Florida became the first state to pass legislation that requires all K-12 schools to include in their curriculum a comparative discussion on the dangers of communism as part of their civics education.

Each year on November 7, the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation marks National Day for the Victims of Communism to remember those who have suffered and died at the hands of communist regimes in the past, and to stand for those who are fighting for freedom today.

Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation is an educational, research, and human rights nonprofit devoted to commemorating the more than 100 million victims of communism around the world and to pursuing the freedom of those still living under totalitarian regimes.

Memorial to the Victims of Communism — Canada, a Land of Refuge

The Memorial to the Victims of Communism – Canada, a Land of Refuge will recognize Canada’s international role as a place of refuge for people fleeing injustice and persecution and honor the millions who suffered under communist regimes.

Canadian Heritage is facilitating the development of the monument in partnership with Tribute to Liberty. The National Capital Commission will take responsibility for the construction of the Memorial.

Important note: The official inauguration of the Memorial to the Victims of Communism – Canada, a Land of Refuge will take place on December 12, 2024, in partnership with the project’s main promoter, Tribute to Liberty. This ceremony will unveil “Arc of Memory”, a sculptural array of over 4,000 bronze rods intended to express the vastness of communist oppression and invite visitors to reflect on Canada as a free and welcoming country. 

The Government of Canada will continue its due diligence to ensure all aspects of the Memorial remain compatible with Canadian values on democracy and human rights.

The site

The Memorial will be built just west of the terraces of the Garden of the Provinces and Territories in Ottawa. This intimate site borders Confederation Boulevard and the Parliamentary and Judicial Precincts and is situated near key federal institutions, including Library and Archives Canada.

The design

The winning design chosen for the Memorial to the Victims of Communism – Canada, a Land of Refuge is “Arc of Memory.” This concept was submitted by Team Raff, a group of architects and landscape architects based in Toronto. Rendering of design concept for the Arc of Memoryo that includes Paul Raff (artist and architect), Michael A. Ormston-Holloway (designer and certified arborist), Brett Hoornaert (landscape architectural intern) and Luke Kairys (landscape architect). “Arc of Memory” is a sculptural array of over 4,000 bronze rods intended to express the vastness of communist oppression and invite visitors to reflect on Canada as a free and welcoming country.

In fall 2016, teams of professional artists, landscape architects, architects, and other urban design professionals were invited to provide their credentials and examples of prior work.

A distinguished jury of design professionals and content specialists was assembled to evaluate the concepts for this competition. The jury was composed of five members: Alexandra Badzak (Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Ottawa Art Gallery); Larry Beasley, C.M. (retired Director of Planning for the City of Vancouver); Ruth Derksen, Ph.D. (Professor Emeritus at the University of British Columbia); Ludwik Klimkowski, (Board Chair of Tribute to Liberty); Ted Merrick (Director of the design studio at Ferris + Associates).

A public viewing of the finalists’ design concepts was held on March 2, 2017, where attendees could view the presentations, meet the design teams, and share their thoughts. Canadians from across the country were also invited to comment on the designs through an online survey that ran from March 2–10, 2017. Thesurvey resultsare available here.

The jury considered this feedback along with the comments from the National Capital Commission’s Advisory Committee on Planning, Design and Realty and experts in conservation, landscape, engineering and costing. Based on the jury’s recommendation, the Government of Canada announced that the design presented by Team Raff has been selected for the future Memorial.