Posted by Sudbury Northern Life 
The Polish Combatant's Association and Miners for Cancer are co-hosting hosting a miners tribute April 25 starting at 4 p.m.
The event will take place at the Polish Combatants' Hall located at 291 Albinson St.
Guest speakers will include Mike MacFarlane, Vale Inco vice president of mines, John Fera, president of United Steelworkers Local 6500, MPP Rick Bartolucci, Gerry Lougheed Jr., and Andrzej Krezel, Consul of the Republic of Poland. 
The event is being held in the spirit of Barbórka (St. Barbara's Day), a nationally celebrated day in Poland, dedicated to Polish coal miners. Coal mining has historically been a dangerous, but important industry. In Poland, the annual festival is traditionally celebrated Dec. 4.
"The coal mining profession in Poland has traditionally been held up as one of great prestige," said Wayne Tonelli, president and co-founder of Miners for Cancer Research. "It is also an industry known for being very dangerous. This event is meant to honour coal miners past and present for their work."
Miners dress in special uniforms for the festival, for which they are given the day off work. A black suit and hat with a coloured feather signifying the rank of the miner is the traditional outfit, which is also worn at weddings, funerals and other important events.
Tonelli said that this event, which is the first ever to be held in Sudbury, is intended to become an annual tradition.
Miners for Cancer Research was co-founded by Tonelli and Mr. Allan Epps in 1993, as a response to previously poor safety standards in the coal mining industry. Various fundraisers since then have raised over $500,000 toward cancer research, said Tonelli.
