Alberta's Polish community mourns

Alberta's Polish community is reeling after news the country's president, along with his wife andother senior government officials, were killed in a plane crash.

President Lech Kaczynski and his entourage were flying from Warsaw to the Russian city of Smolensk for a memorial service when their plane crashed Saturday in western Russia. There were no survivors among the 96 people aboard the presidential aircraft.

Zygmunt Potocki, Poland's honourary consul for Calgary, said he like everyone else in the Polish community was shocked by the news.

"When I hear story about the crash I was absolutely devastated. I couldn't even speak," he said.

"I'm just working hard with the Polish community to make sure we stay together, work together, and think about the future together."

Andy Bukovski, vice-president of the southern Alberta branch of the Polish Canadian Congress, said it's difficult to express the shock and grief Calgary's Polish community is experiencing.

"It is shock. It is unbelievable. It is unthinkable," he said. "It is the biggest tragedy in the history of Poland and I believe it's the biggest tragedy in international history of any government, any nation."

Georgina Lukwinski, president of the Polish Canadian Association in Calgary, said people have been glued to the television, trying to piece together what happened.

"My members and myself are very saddened. Our prayers that's all we can do right now our prayers are for those families who lost their loved ones and for all people in the country of Poland," she said.

Premier Ed Stelmach offered his condolences to the nation of Poland and Albertans of Polish descent.

In astatement released Saturday, he called the deaths "an extremely tragic event" for Poland andfor the 170,000 Albertans who are of Polish descent.

Minister of Employment and Immigration Thomas Lukaszuk, who was born in Poland, noted in the release that Poland and Alberta have strong business ties. He also said Poles and Canadians are serving side by side in Afghanistan.

"Consequently this terrible accident touches Albertans and all Canadians on a number of levels," he said.

"Throughout his adult life, President Kaczynski played a significant role in the transformation of Poland to a democratic state. Starting with his involvement in the Solidarity movement 30 years ago to his role as president since 2005, President Kaczynski has been an integral figure in Poland's democracy and his leadership will be missed."