National Victims of Communism Memorial | Completed

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

Harper was told as much back in the day when he first floated this bizarre fixation-project of his. It only took a decade for the skeptics to be proven right.

Maybe the Alberta Investment Management Corporation can kick in a few bucks to finish this off.

[OTownandDown]

Wow ok great, I don't think I've seen that photo from that angle. Looks just like the rendering almost.

Keep the plywood on the monument plaques, and just spraypaint a stencil "Communism: What Is It Good For" and call it a day. (Seinfeld Reference)

Originally Posted by SL123

its definitely see-thru

[vtecyo]

If you read down the Citizen article - the hidden lead is that they will unveil it - but without any names on it.

...Charles Thibault-Béland, a spokesman for Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge, said Tuesday that at this point there will be no names on the memorial. Department officials are still reviewing the backgrounds of the names and events to be commemorated.

“At the time of the unveiling, there will be no names on the monument’s wall,” Thibault-Béland confirmed...

It sounds like they'll sidestep the issue by just removing any troubling names.

[rocketphish]

Feds ignored calls to rename Victims of Communism memorial
A report commissioned by the Department of Canadian Heritage suggested renaming the monument, which opens on Dec. 12.

David Pugliese • Ottawa Citizen
Published Dec 10, 2024 • 4 minute read

The federal government was told it should change the name of the controversial Victims of Communism memorial to better reflect the experience of others who found refuge in Canada.

The recommendation, made last year by a historian, was to change the name to “Memorial to the Victims of Communism and other authoritarian regimes-Canada a Land of Refuge,” according to government documents obtained by the Ottawa Citizen.

Government officials, however, decided not to follow the recommendation even though they were told it was consistent with conclusions reached separately and earlier by the National Capital Commission.

The “Memorial to the Victims of Communism-Canada a Land of Refuge” will officially open Dec. 12.

The unveiling of the memorial was put on hold last year because of the controversy over parliamentarians honouring a Waffen SS soldier and potential links between the monument and Nazi collaborators, according to records obtained by the Ottawa Citizen. In addition, Jewish groups have voiced their ongoing concerns about the names of alleged Nazi collaborators and other fascists being inscribed on the memorial.

The memorial, located near the corner of Wellington and Bay streets, is supposed to honour those who suffered under communism.

But last year the Department of Canadian Heritage commissioned a report from University of Ottawa historian Roman Krakovsky to examine various issues and problems with the initiative. The initial recommendation was to change the memorial’s name.

“This recommendation is consistent with the extensive experience of Canada as a land of refuge for individuals and groups fleeing authoritarian regimes worldwide,” Krakovsky pointed out. That name change would also honour those who fled from Uganda in 1972, Kosovo in 1999, various locations in Asia, and from the military dictators who took over Chile in 1973.

“As a monument of national historical significance, the experience the Memorial commemorates must go beyond the experience of a special group of individuals, in this case, those who fled Communism,” Krakovsky noted.

But in the final report accepted by Canada Heritage the name change was removed.

Department official Patryk Polec wrote to Krakovsky that his recommendation was “not required.”

Krakovsky said in an interview on Dec. 10 that changing the name of the monument would have “been more generous and allowed for experiences of all refugees, all groups who found a home in Canada” and escaped from totalitarian regimes.

“Why they (Canadian Heritage) refused, I don’t know,” he added.

The records were obtained by the Ottawa Citizen using the Access to Information Act.

The Memorial to the Victims of Communism has already been the focus of multiple controversies over its exact purpose, location, size and cost over the last 15 years. The price tag for the project has ballooned to an estimated $7.5 million — including $6 million in public funds — from an original budget of $1.5 million. The memorial, originally started by the Conservative government of then-prime minister Stephen Harper, was supposed to be funded entirely through private donations. But taxpayers are now footing most of the bill as that private fundraising initiative fell far short when significant public financial support did not materialize.

In addition, a Holocaust education organization has warned that a large number of names that were to be inscribed on the memorial had links to the Nazis.

The Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center has pointed to a report prepared for the Department of Canadian Heritage which recommended more than half of the 550 names planned to go on the memorial be removed.

“What we want is a clear commitment from the minister that the names of those who helped the Nazis or were involved in the Holocaust not be honoured on this memorial,” Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center official Jaime Kirzner-Roberts said in a Dec. 3 interview. “We feel this is a very reasonable request and it is concerning we cannot get a simple answer.”

The department had already determined that 50 to 60 of the names or organizations that were to go on the memorial were likely directly linked to the Nazis, according to the documents. A number of the entries should be removed because they had no direct link to Canada, the report also noted. As originally planned, there were to be 553 entries on the memorial’s Wall of Remembrance.

Charles Thibault-Béland, a spokesperson for Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge, said Dec. 3 that at this point there will be no names on the memorial. Department officials are still reviewing the backgrounds of the names and events to be commemorated.

Yvan Baker, the Liberal MP for Etobicoke Centre, will inaugurate the memorial, Canadian Heritage announced Dec. 10.

Federal officials in other departments have also continued to warn Canadian Heritage that the inclusion of Nazi collaborators on the memorial will cause international embarrassment.

“It is important to note that many anti-communist and anti-Soviet advocates and fighters were also active Nazi collaborators, who committed documented massacres,” Global Affairs Canada officials warned their counterparts at Canadian Heritage in 2021.

Private donations had already been made to the monument in the names of Nazi collaborators, CBC News reported in July 2021. Those included Roman Shukhevych, a Ukrainian nationalist whose troops murdered Jews and Poles, and Ante Pavelić who ran a Nazi puppet regime in Croatia and is considered a chief perpetrator of the Holocaust in the Balkans, the CBC reported.

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/rename-victims-of-communism-memorial

[SL123]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

[B]Feds ignored calls to rename Victims of Communism memorial
A report commissioned by the Department of Canadian Heritage suggested renaming the monument, which opens on Dec. 12.
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/rename-victims-of-communism-memorial

To think this embarrassment of a monument almost ended up right in front of the Supreme Court of Canada when the conservative where in power.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by SL123

To think this embarrassment of a monument almost ended up right in front of the Supreme Court of Canada when the conservative where in power.

The conservatives plan put it in front of the heating building.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by acottawa

The conservatives plan put it in front of the heating building.

And the reason for that plan was to eliminate the long-contemplated "judicial" building between the Supreme Court and the National Archives, which kept Harper awake nights, worried that a future Liberal government would (a) build it, and (b) name it after Pierre Trudeau.

[eltodesukane]

Meanwhile we happily enjoy our Russian embassy.
-
Russia expansion is very well explained here:
On YouTube, search "NATO Expansion is a LIE" by Jake Broe

[rocketphish]

Memorial to Victims of Communism finally unveiled, but controversy lingers
Plaques remain blank as officials continue to vet names

Joseph Tunney · CBC News
Posted: Dec 12, 2024 5:58 PM EST | Last Updated: 38 minutes ago



Canada's Memorial to the Victims of Communism was finally unveiled in Ottawa on Thursday, but the controversy that has followed the project over the past decade continues.

Etobicoke Centre MP Yvan Baker was expected to speak at the memorial's public unveiling at the Garden of the Provinces and Territories on Wellington Street, but no one from the Liberal government attended the ceremony.

"We are very disappointed that the prime minister cannot be here, or chose not to be here," said Robert Tmej, a member of the board of directors of Tribute to Liberty, the registered charity behind the project.

"It's unfortunate that this memorial project, which was started many years ago under a different administration, is not wholeheartedly supported by this government. It's a shame. This is a national memorial."

<more>

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/me...veiled-but-controversy-lingers-1.7408988

[rocketphish]

Names to be added to controversial Victims of Communism memorial next year, says organizer
The monument in downtown Ottawa opened on Dec. 12 without any names inscribed.

David Pugliese • Ottawa Citizen
Published Dec 12, 2024 • Last updated 1 hour ago • 4 minute read

The controversial Victims of Communism memorial opened Dec. 12 with organizers promising that the names of those to be honoured will be added to the site by next year.

But shortly after that official statement was made, the office of Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge claimed that no specific timeline had been agreed to by the federal government.

...

The Memorial to the Victims of Communism has already been the focus of multiple controversies over its exact purpose, location, size and cost over the last 15 years. The price tag for the project has ballooned to an estimated $7.5 million — including $6 million in public funds — from an original budget of $1.5 million.

<more>

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/...-victims-of-communism-memorial-next-year

[rocketphish]

How could this possibly have cost $7.5M, let alone the original estimated $1.5M ? How many pockets were lined along the way?

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

How could this possibly have cost $7.5M, let alone the original estimated $1.5M ? How many pockets were lined along the way?

This is a town where the NCC spent 8 million on a shed. All the consultants, redesigns, surveys, studies, gender based analyses, etc. don’t come cheap.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by acottawa

This is a town where the NCC spent 8 million on a shed. All the consultants, redesigns, surveys, studies, gender based analyses, etc. don’t come cheap.

Yeah well we all know women suffered the most under the great purges. Having lost their husbands, their fathers, their sons. A few were even killed themselves.

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by acottawa

This is a town where the NCC spent 8 million on a shed. All the consultants, redesigns, surveys, studies, gender based analyses, etc. don’t come cheap.

A shed it was not. But it was an overly expensive 2-level, heated vehicle storage garage and maintenance facility.

https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/head-of-ncc-grilled-by-mps-over-8-million-rideau-hall-barn-1.6654817

[zzptichka]

Anybody know how this sun calendar work? On the other hand, the sun is blocked here 90% of the time anyway.

[J.OT13]

At noon is shines on the right date?

The whole controversy and ridiculous cost aside, if I didn't know what the monument was about, I'd say it's a pretty cool piece of public art.

[OTownandDown]

Is it supposed to shine through the tube at lower centre??

[zzptichka]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

At noon is shines on the right date?

The whole controversy and ridiculous cost aside, if I didn't know what the monument was about, I'd say it's a pretty cool piece of public art.

Yes, I guess it should be perfectly aligned. Hopefully the buildings on Sparks don't block the light most days of the year.

[rocketphish]

Nazi collaborator's name initially engraved on the Victims of Communism memorial
The nameplate, along with other nameplates for the memorial, “are being stored at a National Capital Commission facility."

By David Pugliese • Ottawa Citizen
Published May 16, 2025 | Last updated 5 hours ago



The name of a Nazi collaborator was initially engraved on Canada’s newest national monument despite warnings to the Department of Canadian Heritage in 2021 that the man participated in the executions of Jews during the Holocaust.

The nameplate commemorating Janis Niedra was installed on the memorial in downtown Ottawa in 2023, according to government records released under the Access to Information Act. It was later removed and there were no names inscribed on the memorial when it opened in late 2024.

Canadian Heritage has not explained why it allowed the commemorative nameplate for Niedra to be installed on the monument despite warnings by the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies.

Research data was provided to the department in 2021 by the organization showing that Niedra led a group of 40 men to help the Nazis round up and execute around 350 Latvian Jews. Those killed were women, children and senior citizens.

Niedra, who would later go on to serve the Nazis in various positions in Latvia, came to Canada after the war. He died in 1969.

The existence of the nameplate honouring Niedra was first reported by Ricochet Media, an investigative online news outlet.

Canadian Heritage spokesperson Caroline Czajkowski said in an email that Niedra’s name was removed from the memorial before its public inauguration. It was flagged in 2023 after a Canadian Heritage employee raised concerns about Niedra’s Nazi connections. The documents show the main concern in the department was that the public or news media might see the name engraved on the memorial.

The nameplate, along with other nameplates for the memorial, “are being stored at a National Capital Commission facility,” according to the department.

<more>

https://ottawacitizen.com/public-service/defence-watch/nazi-name-victims-of-communism-memorial

[rocketphish]

Maintenance cost for Victims of Communism memorial jumps to $1 million
The lifetime maintenance budget was supposed to be around $250,000, but that is now $1 million, National Capital Commission documents show.

By David Pugliese • Ottawa Citizen
Published Aug 13, 2025 | Last updated 1 hour ago

The National Capital Commission is warning that the cost of long-term maintenance of the Victims of Communism memorial has increased four-fold to at least $1 million, according to internal commission records.

The lifetime maintenance budget of the memorial was supposed to be around $250,000, but that has jumped to $1 million, according to documents obtained by researcher Ken Rubin. The NCC documents, released under the Access to Information law, noted that cracks were already appearing in the monument and needed to be repaired.

“(NCC officials) will look into the maintenance budget that was promised (around $1 million, old MOU states around $250K for the maintenance),” a Dec. 4, 2024, commission document pointed out.

The NCC is working on a long-term maintenance plan for the Memorial to the Victims of Communism which is located near the corner of Wellington and Bay streets. That plan will cover 25 years, according to the documents.

NCC officials have already dealt with some cracks in the memorial, which cost around $17,000 to repair. Other changes for the memorial requested by the Department of Canadian Heritage included a lighting package and installation at a cost of $268,000, the records show.

The monument has been the focus of multiple controversies over its exact purpose, location, size and cost over the past 15 years. The price tag for the project ballooned to an estimated $7.5 million — including $6 million in public funds — from an original budget of $1.5 million.

The cost of the memorial was supposed to be funded entirely through private donations from Tribute to Liberty, the organization behind the monument, but those fundraising efforts fell far short and taxpayers had to foot most of the cost.

NCC spokesperson Maryam El-Akhrass noted in an email to the Ottawa Citizen that $240,000 had been set aside for the maintenance of the memorial over its life. “The initial lump sum of $240,000 is provided to the NCC by Canadian Heritage as part of the MOU for the annual maintenance and lifecycle,” she explained. “Any cumulative costs which exceed the initial investment are absorbed within the NCC’s annual operating budget.”

The annual costs for maintaining the memorial are projected to be less than $10,000, she stated, but El-Akhrass also noted that, “We are still evaluating the overall costs for the non-routine lifecycle interventions.”

The NCC spends around $43,000 annually for maintenance for the National Peacekeeping Monument and almost $112,000 annually for its maintenance of the National War Memorial, according to the documents. The NCC maintains the Canadian Firefighters Memorial at a cost of around $40,000 annually and the National Holocaust Monument at around $43,000 a year.

The Victims of Communism memorial is supposed to honour those who suffered under communism. But concerns have been raised over the years by Jewish organizations and historians that names of eastern Europeans who collaborated with the Nazis in the Holocaust have been put forward in an attempt to whitewash their past.

In 2021, the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center revealed that Roman Shukhevych, a Ukrainian nationalist who collaborated with the Nazis and was linked to the massacres of Jews and Poles, was one of those being commemorated. Only after the group repeatedly raised the matter with the department was Shukhevych’s name removed.

But in a Dec. 14, 2024, post on the social-media platform X, Ludwik Klimkowski of Tribute to Liberty responded to concerns the monument was honouring Nazi collaborators. “Let’s stop the nonsense of the Nazi commemoration nonsense perpetrated by Canadian Marxists and the agents of the Kremlin’s regime,” Klimkowski wrote.

Holocaust scholars and Jewish groups have continued to denounce claims that their efforts to expose Nazi war criminals and collaborators are part of some Russian plot or disinformation scheme. The fact that some eastern Europeans played key roles in the Holocaust and supporting the Nazi regime is well documented in history, they add.

In addition, on Oct. 7, 2024, the Ottawa Citizen revealed that a report prepared for Canadian Heritage recommended more than half of the 550 names planned to go on the memorial should be removed. That was because of potential links to the Nazis, questions about affiliations with fascist groups or a lack of information about what the individuals did during the Second World War. As originally planned, there were to be 553 entries on the memorial’s Wall of Remembrance.

The department had already determined that between 50 and 60 of the names or organizations were likely directly linked to the Nazis, according to the documents.

https://ottawacitizen.com/public-service/defence-watch/maintenance-cost-communism-memorial