70th Anniversary of forced Tatar Deportation from Crimea

We received this appeal from Rustem Irsay, Presdient of the Crimean Tatar Community of Ontario. In this time of trouble for both the Ukrainian and Tatar nations, we ask that you consider attending:

Sunday May 18th at 2PM at UNF (145 Evans Ave)
Commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of forced Tatar Deportation from Crimea.

Dear Friends,

On behalf of the Crimean Tatar Community of Ontario and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, we kindly invite you to attend the 70th anniversary commemoration of the forced deportation of Crimean Tatars from Crimea, Ukraine - our homeland.

This year commemorates the 70th anniversary of “Sürgünlik” or forced deportation of Crimean Tatars by Joseph Stalin, whose ultimate goal was to uproot the entire Tatar population.

In 1944, the entire Crimean Tatar population of 230,000 individuals - at the time, one fifth of the total population of the Crimean Peninsula - was forcefully exiled to Central Asia and Ural. More than 100,000 people died from starvation and disease on the way or shortly upon arrival to their final destinations.

The commemoration will start at 2pm on Sunday, May 18, 2014 and will include speeches from community leaders and relatives of the forced-deportation survivors, as well as tribute songs.

Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Rustem Irsay at:

Phone: 647-878-5068 or Email: rustem555@hotmail.com.

The ceremony will take place at:

Trident Hall

145 Evans Ave. # 200.

Toronto, Ontario M8Z 5X7

We look forward to seeing you at our event.

Sincerely,

Rustem Irsay, President

Crimean Tatar Community of Ontario