May 14, 2015 – Ottawa – Veterans Affairs Canada
The Honourable Erin O’Toole, Minister of Veterans Affairs, attended an event today at the Canadian War Museum hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Poland to honour the National Day of Poland and to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe. The event featured a piano concert by renowned Polish pianist Marek Tomaszewski.
In his remarks, Minister O’Toole spoke about the terrible toll the Second World War had on the Polish people and highlighted the bravery of Polish service members who fought alongside Canadians and other Allies on all fronts to liberate Europe and defeat Nazi Germany. In recognition of their sacrifices, in 2009, our Government was proud to restore benefits to Polish and other Allied Veterans who had settled in Canada following the war.
In recent years, Canada and Poland have enjoyed a very close relationship, including growth in trade and investments, increasing military co-operation and educational exchanges.
Polish people helped to found and form Canada, with settlements dating back more than 150 years. More than 100,000 Polish immigrants came to call Canada home by the time the First World War began, and today Canada’s ‘Polonia’ numbers nearly one million.
Martin Magnan
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Veterans of Affairs
613-996-4649
Media Relations
Veterans Affairs Canada
613-992-7468
