Dr. István Simicskó’s Visit to Canada
Szöveg: László Szűcs | 2011. október 28. 16:56MoD Parliamentary State Secretary Dr. István Simicskó drew attention to the importance of commemoration and talked about the lessons and message of the 1956 Revolution in his speech delivered at the City Hall of Toronto on October 23. The State Secretary paid a visit to the North American country between October 21 and 25 at the invitation of the Canadian Hungarian Cultural Council.
The Hungarian politician hoisted the Hungarian tricolors in Toronto, Canada on October 21 at a ceremony held at the City Hall on the 55th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1956 Revolution and Freedom Fight. In his speech, István Simicskó pointed to the importance of commemoration, stressing that back in those days people all around the world greeted Hungarians with awe and admiration upon learning their nationality. The Hungarian people’s heroism and Hungary’s thirst for freedom were recognized worldwide. “Hungary fought the most heroic fight of the 20th century, a century which saw repeatedly other people pillaging the Hungarian nation and wreaking havoc on it", he said, adding that Hungary was the first to part company with the Soviet sphere of interest, telling the world that enough is enough.
Answering our question, the MoD State Secretary said in a phone conversation that 315,000 people in Canada claimed to be Hungarian during the latest census. Most of the Hungarian population lives in Ontario province, 53,000 of them in Toronto. “Canada was the first country to open its gates to the freedom fighters and revolutionaries in 1956, so more than 30,000 Hungarians arrived and settled here. We must be grateful to Canada, as this country offered the Hungarians the chance of a new life. And they stood their ground indeed, since many of them learnt a profession, and several of them became professors. As far as I can see they maintain their Hungarian identity and love of freedom. Many of them teach Hungarian to their children or grandchildren or let them learn the language", István Simicskó said.
The MoD State Secretary also met with the leaders of the Canadian Hungarian Cultural Council and other local Hungarian organizations. During these meetings they discussed the current issues and problems of the Hungarian population in Canada and the ways of solving them.
At the end of his official visit to Canada, István Simicskó laid a wreath by the 1956 memorial in Toronto.
