Following controversy, no names will be inscribed on Canadian monument to 'victims of communism'

"Department of heritage spokesperson Caroline Czajkowski has not responded to The Art Newspaper's inquiries, but in an email to the Ottawa Citizen last week she wrote: "The government of Canada has emphasised that all aspects of the Memorial to the Victims of Communism must align with Canadian values of democracy and human rights. The Wall of Remembrance will now solely feature thematic content that conveys the broader commemorative and educational intent of the memorial." She did not elaborate on what that thematic content might be."

"The monument was initially proposed as a private initiative in 2007; its budget has since ballooned to C$7.5m ($$5.4m), including C$6m ($4.3m) in public funds. The saga began when then Conservative party minister Jason Kenney was inspired by a visit to a monument in the Czech and Slovak enclave of Masaryktown in the Toronto suburbs dedicated to those who "died fighting communism in their homeland". The 5m-tall statue of a man crucified on a hammer and sickle was created by the Winnipeg-based Czech Canadian sculptor Josef Randa (1933-2005)."

The department of Canadian Heritage reversed its decision to inscribe individual names on the Monument to the Victims of Communism in Ottawa after a federal report linked many of the unvetted names to Nazi or fascist affiliations. Originally the memorial's Wall of Remembrance was to include 553 entries. Jewish groups and independent Canadian media raised alarms, prompting review. The memorial will now feature thematic content intended to convey broader commemorative and educational messages. The project began as a 2007 private initiative and grew into a C$7.5m endeavour with C$6m in public funds. The statue by Josef Randa depicts a man crucified on a hammer and sickle.

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