State Visit to Poland - Day 3

Those buried here died while prisoners of war during the German occupation, most of the graves coming from the cemetery at the large camp at Lamsdorf, Stalag VIIIB (after 1943 known as Stalag 344), where there was a hospital of 450 beds used only for Commonwealth prisoners. Other graves brought into the cemetery were those of airmen, including Canadians, who lost their lives during the Warsaw supply drop and the bombing of factories, railways and other strategic objectives.

He spoke about energy R&D co-operation and related potential opportunities for the AGH, Canadian universities and innovative companies, particularly those in the energy sector, where Canada can play an important role in Poland’s energy security.

AGH University of Science and Technology is a leading Polish university in modern technologies, and belongs to a group of prestigious international educational centres. It conducts teaching, fundamental and applied research and serves as an innovation incubator in such areas as energy, oil and gas, coal and environmental technologies.

The Governor General delivered brief opening remarks at this round-table discussion.

Their Excellencies and Canadian delegates visited Wawel Castle, the historic seat of Polish kings whose collection of tapestries and other treasuries was evacuated from Poland in September 1939, and kept in Canada for safekeeping throughout WWII.

Their Excellencies are pictured with some of the Canadian delegates.

At the end of their visit, Their Excellencies laid a wreath of flowers on the tomb of the former President Lech Kaczynski, in Wawel Cathedral.

Wawel Cathedral holds a special place in the history of the Polish State due to the fact that it was the church of Polish kings for 400 years. Known as the cathedral of Pope John Paul II, most of his mementoes are on display at the Cathedral Museum, of which he was the initiator and patron.

The Wawel Royal Castle and Wawel Hill constitute the most historically and culturally important site in Poland. For centuries the residence of the kings of Poland and the symbol of Polish statehood, the Castle is now one of the country’s premier art museums.

Her Excellency visited Life Farm, a centre of accommodation, work, therapy and rehabilitation for adults with autism from Kraków and its surrounding neighbourhoods.

At the end of the Second World War, the graves service of the British Army of the Rhine gathered together Commonwealth graves from all over Poland into three cemeteries, the Kraków Rakowicki Cemetery being the largest.

The ceremony honoured fallen soldiers of WWII, including Canadian soldiers and pilots.

Their Excellencies and Canadian delegates took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Kraków Rakowicki Cemetery.

The discussion took place at Jagiellonian University.

They also discussed potential opportunities for increased partnership and collaboration between Canadian and Polish institutions, and learned about the key areas of interest being pursued in the field of Canadian studies in Poland.

The Governor General took part in a discussion with the members of the Polish Association of Canadian Studies’ programs in Poland to exchange views on the challenges and strategic orientations of Canadian and Polish universities.

As part of this long-term project, residents and other adults with autism will be able to engage in vocational training to prepare them for the open job market, as well as participate in trade and handcraft workshops and work on an organic farm. Some of the clients also benefit from professional training and apprenticeships conducted outside the centre.

The Life Farm was developed by the Community of Hope Foundation, a non-governmental organization acting on behalf of people with autism since 1998.

A round-table discussion on energy took place at AGH University of Science and Technology.