On Thursday, May 28, 2009, Tribute to Liberty's Spring Party took place in Toronto.

In attendance were about 40 supporters and representatives from a wide range of communities. Among official representatives were: Mr. Olexandr Danyleiko, Consul General of Ukraine in Toronto; Ms. Alina Opyd, Vice-Consul of the Republic of Poland (Toronto); Mr. Laas Leivat (and his wife Ellen Leivat), Estonian Honorary Consul General (Ontario); Mr. Wladyslaw Lizon, President, Polish Canadian Congress; Mr. Walter Friesen, Treasurer, International Mennonite Memorial Committee for the Former Soviet Union (IMMC-FSU); Mr. Joseph Cermak, President, SOKOL Canada & Member of Open Book Group; Mr. Kyung Bok Lee, President, The Council for Human Rights in North Korea; Mr. Ismael Sambra, President, Cuban Canadian Foundation, Mr. David Levy, Human Rights Affairs Director, Cuban Canadian Foundation; Mr. Frank Jecmen, Masaryk Memorial Institute; and Mrs. Alice Huynh, Falun Dafa Association of Canada.

Tribute to Liberty Board Member Ms. Reet Marten-Sehr read greetings from Hon. Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration & Multiculturalism, and Hon. Peter Kent, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas), and a regret from Mr. Charles Coffey.

Tribute to Liberty Board Chair, Mrs. Alide Forstmanis, announced that Tribute to Liberty and Open Book Group have agreed to submit a single proposal to the National Capital Commission (NCC) under the name of Tribute to Liberty with a formal relationship with Open Book Group and the integration of key players in Open Book Group into Tribute to Liberty. Our objective is to work with the NCC to resolve as quickly as possible any questions they might have regarding the proposal, so that land for the monument can be allocated, and a ground breaking can take place November 2009.

The reason for wanting the ground breaking ceremony this November is to make it possible for older victims of crimes of communism to experience recognition. Also, it will come on the 20th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall.

Once land has been allocated a design competition will take place. When we get to this stage details of the competition will be announced.

Further, Tribute to Liberty will now concentrate on serious fundraising—approximately $1.5 million is needed, according to NCC guidelines, for a major monument in Ottawa.

Tribute to Liberty welcomes ideas and suggestions from all communities. For more information please contact: Carolyn Foster, Project Coordinator,

Tribute to Liberty, at .

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