Ukraine in 20th century crises

Toronto Ukraine Exhibition Extended to January 31

Toronto – The Estonian Central Council in Canada in partnership with The Estonian Museum Canada and the Central and Eastern European Council in Canada will extend the exhibition about Ukraine’s struggle for independence in the 20th century until the end of January 2023.

The historical exhibition installed outside of Tartu College in Toronto, was researched, written and produced by one of Estonia’s most respected national historical institutions, The Estonian Institute of Historical Memory. The institute’s roots are based in the Estonian International Commission for Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity which was founded by Estonia’s first post-Cold War president, Lennart Meri and was formally established by Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, in 2008.

The exhibition was produced by Estonian academic experts to counter decades-long Kremlin information operations that have manipulated and distorted Ukrainian history, in order to legitimize and enable Russia’s Soviet era Communist colonialism and mass repression of ethnic minorities. Content published in the exhibition is based on widely recognized historical research and facts.

Russia’s Soviet era regime manipulated and fabricated historical facts, in order to discredit, marginalize and silence those who advocated for the freedom and rights of the millions of victims of Soviet repression. Today the Kremlin has recycled these narratives to justify its barbaric invasion of Ukraine and its systematic atrocities against Ukraine’s civilians and silence critics of it.

During the Cold War, those who fled Soviet terror during and after WWII were labeled by the Kremlin as fascists for escaping the illegal and violent Soviet colonization of those nations. This includes millions of refugees from Central and Eastern Europe and their families, who found refuge in Canada. Their heritage and historical experiences continue to be maligned by the Russian government and its enablers in Canada.

Canadians who knowingly – or not – amplify these Russian narratives are participating in an active Russian government information operation and are thus directly enabling the mass atrocities and war crimes being committed against Ukrainians. Historical disinformation narratives that manipulate history in efforts to promote hate towards Canadians of Central and Eastern European heritage must be rejected and denounced by all Canadians.

We call on the Canadian government and all provincial governments to help raise awareness of the historical experiences of all Canadians of Central and Eastern European heritage by including this history in all Canadian school curriculums and textbooks. Greater awareness of historical facts will produce greater long term resilience against Russian narratives that promote hate in efforts to divide Canadians and advance Vladimir Putin’s imperialist agenda.

View the exhibition outside of Tartu College, 310 Bloor St. West

Partners: Estonian Central Council in Canada, VEMU Estonian Museum Canada, Central and Eastern European Council in Canada