Announcement to Declare Raoul Wallenberg Day in Canada
OTTAWA, June 5, 2001 -- Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps announced today that January 17 has been declared Raoul Wallenberg Day in Canada. Minister Copps held a special reception on Parliament Hill to honour Raoul Wallenberg and his heroic acts."In honouring Raoul Wallenberg each year on January 17, we will honour the courage, character and humanity of an exceptional individual," said Minister Copps. "Raoul Wallenberg Day will ensure that this man's heroism will live on in posterity."
"I would like to thank my colleagues, Irwin Cotler, Sheila Finestone and Clifford Lincoln, Chair of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, for their initiative in seeking to Honour Raoul Wallenberg in this way," said Minister Copps.
Raoul Wallenberg was a successful Swedish businessman in 1944 when he accepted an assignment from the War Refugee Board to save Hungarian Jews persecuted by the Nazis. He was responsible for saving about 100,000 Hungarian Jews in Budapest. On January 17, 1945, he was arrested by the Soviet Government and was never seen again.
In 1985, the Government of Canada bestowed honorary citizenship on Raoul Wallenberg for his heroic acts. Wallenberg is the only person to have received honorary citizenship in Canada.
Information:
Krista Pawley
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7788
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