A Memorial to Victims of Totalitarian Communism

Canada, A Land of Refuge

Tribute to Liberty

Founding Partner: Open Book Group

ContentsA. Background

1. NCC

2. Proposal

B. Project Approval1. Concept

2. Title

C. Next Steps1. Fundraising

2. Political Engagement

3. Advisory Council

4. Land Allocation

5. Design Competition

6. Timeline

D. Project Proponents1. Tribute to Liberty

2. The Open Book Group

3. Honorary Chair

E. Conclusion

Background

1. NCC

2. Proposal

NCC

• The National Capital Commission (NCC) is:

The government agency that oversees the development of land in Canada’s national capital region

• Proposals for commemorations on national capital land must meet the criteria and follow the guidelines as laid out in the NCC’s

Comprehensive Commemoration Program and Policy

for Canada’s Capital

• Commemorating the victims of totalitarian communism warrants a monument on national capital land because of the subject matter’s

National Symbolic Importance

Proposal

• In January 2009 Tribute to Liberty submitted to the National Capital Commission (NCC) a proposal for:

A Permanent Memorial Commemorating the Victims of the Crimes of Communism in the National Capital Region

• The Open Book Group submitted a separate proposal to the NCC in January 2009

• Based on advice received from the NCC one proposal was resubmitted by Tribute to Liberty with Founding Partner The Open Book Group (hereinafter “project proponents”) in June 2009 for:

A Permanent Memorial in Canada’s National Capital Region Commemorating the Victims of Totalitarian Communism

Project Approval

1. Concept

2. Title

Concept

• On September 10, 2009 at a public board meeting the NCC Board of Directors made the following decision about the proposal:

“On a motion of Frieda Martselos, seconded by Richard Aubry, IT WAS AGREED that the general concept of a commemoration to the victims of

totalitarian communism be approved. The Board, however, suggested that the title be modified, in consultation with the proponents, to be more

inclusive of those who have suffered under oppressive regimes in general.”

• The proponents entered into a series of discussions with the NCC about the title of the monument, where it was made clear that the project proponents:

“Would not agree to any change that would lessen the significance of the monument as a memorial to the victims of communism.”

Title

• As a result of these discussions the NCC and project proponents came to an agreement on the title:

A Monument to Victims of Totalitarian Communism

Canada, A Land of Refuge

• On September 23, 2009 Marie Lemay, CEO of the NCC, wrote in a letter addressed to our Honorary Chair:

“I am pleased to inform you that your proposal to name the future monument – Memorial to the Victims of Totalitarian Communism;

Canada, a Land of Refuge – addresses the concerns recently identified by the NCC’s Board of Directors.”

Next Steps

1. Fundraising

2. Political Engagement

3. Advisory Council

4. Land Allocation

5. Design Competition

6. Timeline

Fundraising

• The NCC Policy Guidelines state that:

“Prior to project implementation, fundraising to cover full project costs must be completed.”

• The Memorial has been proposed as a Major Commemoration of an Order Two Site. According to the NCC Policy Guidelines:

“Order Two sites, located at key sites along corridors, intersections, bridges, vantage points and promontories along Confederation Boulevard, are reserved for commemorations to people, events and ideas. These sites

are also suitable for commemorations requiring gatherings and ceremonies. As a general rule, Order Two sites would take one to three years to develop, and would cost between one million and five million

dollars.”

Fundraising

• Our goal:

1.5 million

• Our strategy: Our approach is dual-layered, involving both a grassroots, web-based campaign for smaller donations, and a Major Gifts campaign for larger

donations.

Grassroots/Web SiteMajor Gifts

Political Engagement

• Tribute to Liberty is actively and regularly engaging with:

• Government of Canada (PMO, Minister Kenney and his staff, Minister Moore and his staff)

• Liberal Party of Canada (Irwin Cotler, former Justice Minister, Bob Rae, Foreign Affairs critic, office of the Leader of the Opposition Michael Ignatieff)

• New Democratic Party (MP Alex Atamanenko)

There is strong political support on all sides of the House of Commons for the project.

Advisory Council

• In March 2009 Tribute to Liberty set up an Advisory Council for the project. The first meeting was held on February 28, 2009.

• The purpose of the Advisory Council is:

To play an integral role in engaging Canadian communities that have been affected by totalitarian communism—in support of having a monument

built to victims of totalitarian communism in Ottawa, and of the long term objective of educating Canadians about communism.

• The Advisory Council’s membership consists of:

One or more representatives from each of the Canadian communities that trace their origins to a country that was affected by totalitarian

communism.

Advisory Council

• We encourage all communities to participate in the Advisory Council by working with Tribute to Liberty to invite the appropriate individual to represent your community on the Council:

The Advisory Council is the vehicle for communities to participate in the process of building the monument to victims of totalitarian communism,

and of the task of educating the public about the communism.

Land Allocation

• Tribute to Liberty will now work with the NCC to secure a site for the memorial. The NCC Policy Guidelines on site allocation are:

“The NCC will identify appropriate sites based on Canada’s Capital Commemorations Potential Site Inventory, in consultation with the

proponent.”

“Once a potential commemoration site is identified, the earmarked site will be set aside for a predetermined period of time, not to exceed three years, to allow the proponent to develop the project and carry out fundraising.”

Design Competition

• Major Commemorations require national design competitions. The NCC Policy Guidelines state:

“A national design competition would normally be required in the case of large-scale commemorations to ensure quality and excellence of design in

keeping with the significance of the Capital. A design competition also provides unique opportunities for the Canadian artistic community to

participate in the development of national commemorations.”

“The proponent initiates a national design competition for major commemorative projects, which will be organized and conducted by

experts in the field, in collaboration with the NCC.”

Timeline

• The NCC has recommended the following timeline for the project:

Site Selection Process Fall 2009/Winter 2010

Public Announcement November 9, 2009

Development of Project Approach Fall 2009/Winter 2010

Fundraising Campaign Ongoing

National Design Competition Spring/Summer 2010

Design Development/Fabrication of Monument Fall 2010/Winter 2011

Construction/Landscaping on Site Summer/Fall 2011

Unveiling November 2011

Project Proponents

1. Tribute to Liberty

2. Open Book Group

3. Honorary Chair

Tribute to Liberty

• Tribute to Liberty is a Canadian organization intended to serve lovers of freedom across Canada and around the world. Tribute to Liberty’s

mission is:

to establish a memorial to the victims of totalitarian communism in Canada’s National Capital Region, and to educate the public about

communism’s crimes.

• Tribute to Liberty is overseen by a three-member Board of Directors:

Alide Forstmanis, Chair & TreasurerReet Marten Sehr, Secretary

Gerry Kokodyniak

Open Book Group

• Tribute to Liberty’s Founding Partner, The Open Book Group, is:

a grassroots outreach, non-partisan initiative. It is comprised of a partnership of three groups: Hearts Open Toronto, Sokol Canada, and

Dare Theatre.

• In May of 2009 representatives of Tribute to Liberty and The Open Book Group met to discuss how to engage in order to move the project ahead.

It was decided at this meeting that Tribute to Liberty would be the vehicle for moving the project forward, and that the proposal to the NCC

would be resubmitted under the name Tribute to Liberty, with Founding Partner The Open Book Group.

Honorary Chair

• Tribute to Liberty’s Honorary Chair is Charles Coffey, O.C.

Mr. Coffey’s commitment to serve as Honorary Board Chair demonstrates the national profile of this project and its significance to all Canadians.

Mr. Coffey’s involvement in private, public and not-for-profit sectors has resulted in special honours such as the Order of Canada, the Award of

Distinction from the Public Affairs Association of Canada, and the Humanitarian Award for Community Service from Yorktown Family Services. He has served for 3 years as Chair of the National Advisory

Council for the Museum of Human Rights. Currently he sits on the Board of the Aga Khan Foundation, and serves as Chair of the Canadian Centre

for Diversity, among other worthy causes.

• Tribute to Liberty would like to thank all the communities who offered their support over the past year as we fought to seek approval from the NCC for the memorial to be built in Ottawa on federal land. We look forward to working with you on the next steps of this important project.

Albanian Canadian League

Belarusian Canadian Alliance

Canadian Hungarian Heritage Association

Canadian Polish Congress

Council for Human Rights In North Korea

Cuban Canadian Foundation

Estonian Central Council in Canada

Falun Dafa Human Rights Association (Toronto)

Latvian National Federation in Canada

League of Ukrainian Canadians

League of Ukrainian Canadian Women

Masaryk Memorial Institute

Pagini Romanesti

Ukrainian Canadian Congress

Vietnamese Canadian Federation

Vietnamese Human Rights Association (ON)

Conclusion