[00:00:00]

Shawn Buckley

Our next witness is Regina Goman. And Regina your first name could be [discussion on pronunciation of name].

So can you state your full name for the record, spelling your first and last name please?

Regina Goman

It is Regina Goman, R-E-G-I-N-A G-O-M-A-N.

Shawn Buckley

And Regina, do you promise to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth today?

Regina Goman

I do.

Shawn Buckley

Now you have a very interesting history and I think people are going to be fascinated to hear your story. I’m just going to tell a little bit about it and then I’m going to have you share it, but all I’m going to say is that you basically were involved in the Solidarity movement in Poland at the beginning, and there were great personal consequences for your activity. And my understanding is you came to Canada as a political refugee in 1986.

Regina Goman

That’s correct.

Shawn Buckley

And so can you share with us basically your involvement in the Solidarity movement and then kind of what happened to you personally because of your involvement?

Regina Goman

First, I’d like to apologize up front if I stumble words or become emotional. I’ve been still experiencing severe anxiety due to delayed post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD], which was directly caused by my employer’s actions in regards to COVID policies.

As a young woman back in the late 70s and early 80s, I was involved in freedom movement against the communists. In 1980, in August, our movement became legal and official under the Solidarity Union. I was involved in my company that I worked for. I was the president of the union, and I was also a secretary in our local union division.

Shawn Buckley

And I’ll just say that you’re referring to the Solidarity Union; so you were the president of the Solidarity Union in your company, and the solidarity group in your municipality.

Regina Goman

Yes, because at that time, during the communism, we did not really have unions. That was the whole movement, the whole freedom movement was called a union. That’s how we became a union solidarity.

Shawn Buckley

Okay, so carry on. So you were talking about August 1980. Tell us what happened in December of 1981.

Regina Goman

On December 13, our government called the Martial Law, which deprived all of us of any rights. And just like it happened here, like I can see the analogies here in Canada when we got this Emergencies Act. That suddenly, there was a beautiful protest in Ottawa, and it became illegal, and people were being persecuted. The same thing happened back in Poland when our leaders, on December 13, were pulled out of their, at night they were pulled out of their homes by our military and the police, and they were put in isolation.

From that point on, we started helping out the families of those who were being isolated. And at that time, of course, there was no freedom of speech anymore, and our society relied on the mainstream media, just like here again, where is all lies. And people don’t see the alternative news. So I got involved in editing, printing, and distribution of the literature, which included all the information: what was actually happening in the country, how people were being persecuted.

[00:05:00]

And that led to me being arrested, and that happened on Good Friday in 1982.

And I was tried by the Navy Court that was during the martial law, and I was sentenced to three and a half years in jail just for doing, every time when I go to rallies, and when I see the people who are distributing Druthers or other information, that reminds me right away, that was my crime that I was actually sentenced for.

And I spent time with criminals, and they made sure that we supposed to get re-socialized. So the only source of anything to do was just, like, you had to ask to get a book to read when you were sitting in your cell and doing nothing. You were only allowed to go for half an hour walk, but that was only if you behaved. And because at that time during the communism, there was no political prisoners. The only political prisoner in that jail that I stayed in was the lady who was in charge of the camp for the children during the Second World War.

So all of us, we were treated worse than criminals. And we had to listen, all the hours we were awake, to the communist propaganda for the government, hoping that we’ll get re-socialized.

And that’s again, I can see what happens here when the mainstream media are keep on telling us what we’re supposed to be thinking. And just like this COVID, when after the first few months, I thought yes; like, I was actually scared when I was watching those movies out of China, those videos when people were dropping dead. But it didn’t take long just because we, during the communism, we learned how to critically think. We right away, we found something is wrong here in this picture. So, of course, I started seeking some alternative information, and sharing with others when I found out what is really happening.

Shawn Buckley

And I’m just going to refocus you because I want people to understand that you were sentenced to three and a half years in prison for distributing information that was not aligned with the government information. Is that correct?

Regina Goman

That’s correct.

Shawn Buckley

So it wasn’t that it was against the law to distribute information, but not information that went against the government narrative.

Regina Goman

Exactly, because there was the government narrative that the people who stood up were the outcasts, who were just causing the beautiful communist country to prosper.

Shawn Buckley

Okay, and so basically it was a crime to do what we’re doing here: is sharing information that goes against the government narrative.

Regina Goman

Yes, exactly. And that’s why I’m pleading to you all. Please take advantage of the time that we have left because the time is coming, with that Bill C-11 is just the beginning. But what you’re seeing now when they call, for example, the other day I was listening about, I think, Thailand where they’re talking about the misinformation, how to stop it. And here in Canada, what to do to stop the misinformation, which means the truth.

We are to, we should be speaking when we still got that time. We shouldn’t be actually looking for what others think because these are the precious moments. This will pass, and with all this propaganda happening right now, which scares me so much because, of course, first it’s COVID. The Big Pharma, and even Trudeau, they’re investing big money, so there will be lots more of this, this vaccines, this mandatory vaccines.

But then again, just like the previous witness said, the biggest is actually this climate change. That’s what I’m worried about. What happened when I came a few years back, it was just when Greta Thunberg came to Edmonton, I took time to go downtown in Edmonton and just watch it. And it scared me totally because, just like you said Shawn, about the Nazi times, those times, like, of course, I lived through the communists. But we were witnessing people who survived the Holocaust, and those people were telling us what was happening.

[00:10:00]

Actually, my diploma, I based on writing the interviews with people who survived. And I’ve seen those Hitler Jugend organizations, how the young generations was being brainwashed, and indoctrinated. And this is what’s happening now in Canada. We are worried, of course, very much about this sexuality being taught in schools, and those poor children being indoctrinated.

But what I saw in Edmonton when Greta Thunberg came, it scared me so much. And I need to talk about it to warn you about. Because that day I went downtown and I saw those buses, and those were coaches coming from all over Alberta bringing those young kids. And they walk through Jasper Avenue towards the legislature in Edmonton. And when I saw this anger and hate in those little kids; how they were being programmed and indoctrinated: yelling, screaming, right away, I thought this is just like Hitler Jugend operated. This is what our little kids are being programmed to, and they hated.

Since I was there, I, of course, counter-protested and stood by the one father. He took time off work, and he came with his two little children to counter-protest. There’s this whole show of Greta and those kids. And we’ve been watching those big coaches, it was cold, I think it was spring, if I recall, and those are all diesel fuelled. They lined up those big coaches along 109 Street in Edmonton next to the legislature and burning that fossil fuels. Those kids were yelling they hate it, they say leave the planet for us. This is being, and sometimes when I’m watching, flipping through the channels, and seeing that advertisement –

Shawn Buckley

Regina, I don’t want to stop you, and yet on the one hand, I want to focus you. I’m going to give you a lot of time to talk because you have some experience that we need to hear from.

I’m just wanting to refocus you more on the COVID issue and your experience, and then I will let you talk further. Because you have an experience that no one else in this room has, and for the people that will be watching your testimony online, both live and afterwards, you have some wisdom to give us. But I just want to kind of focus on the COVID stuff first.

So your sentence for three and a half years, my understanding is this is after a year, you were granted an amnesty and were released.

Regina Goman

Yes, that was about thirteen months.

Shawn Buckley

Okay, but after you were released, the Interior Ministry was going after people like you, so you came to Canada as a political refugee.

Regina Goman

Yes, because we still continue to believe in the cause, so I still was fighting. And at that time, we could see the corruption again, like even in all these organizations, just like it’s happening here. The organizations that were supposed to be protecting us, of course, like they failed, and even churches failed. At that time, we had one priest who actually was murdered by our intelligence services, who actually had to admit to that.

The situation was getting worse, and some of my friends who decided to move on because we felt betrayed, and they started seeking asylum in other countries. At the point when even my family was indirectly, of course, persecuted, I listened to the advice of one of my colleagues who actually came first to Canada. He encouraged me to go to Canadian Embassy to get them promissory of the visa so I could be protected by the Canadian government before I leave.

Shawn Buckley

Can I just back you up though because somebody just has indicated to me that C-11 passed today. But I just want to ask because it’s with some irony, I think, your answer. But why did you choose to come to Canada

[00:15:00]

because you could have gone as a political refugee, you could have gone to pretty well any country because of treaty obligations. Why did you choose to come to Canada?

Regina Goman

Yes, and I actually would be much better to stay in any of Western European countries because I was close to home. And here in Canada, I have no ties, no relatives. But a friend of mine who actually immigrated to Ontario, he encouraged me to come to Canada because he says, “Here we’re going to have freedom of rights and our religion.”

And again, ironically, this is the same friend who now, he practically sold everything he had in Canada and moved out to the Third World country in pursuing the freedom. Because we know there is no more freedom in Canada. And we all know it.

Shawn Buckley

So can you share with us, because you lost your job over this, the vaccine mandate. Can you just share with us what happened about that? And I will ask actually to do that briefly because I want us to get back to kind of you explaining some lessons to us.

Regina Goman

Yes, so from the very beginning, I knew that we’re being lied to, and all this COVID is about stripping us of our rights and freedoms and replacing that with privileges.

And also, I’ve been Christian, and I’ve never in my life, adult life, I cannot say when I was just born in a hospital, but in my conscious life, I’ve never have taken a vaccine. And I believe that God never failed me because I’ve been working up north, walking through the office in minus 40, 50 degrees, and I’ve never, in all of my years with my employer, I’ve never taken a sick day. That’s how my God protects me, and which is why I would never allow for any injection to be put into my body, and especially something that could corrupt my DNA, which I believe is God’s signature on my body.

And that was my argument back to my company when I was saying there’s all this billions of people in this world, and there’s no two people with the same DNA. What does it say? When God creates you, he breathes his life into you, and gives you that gift, which I’m going to cherish, regardless of what’s going to happen to me. I will never allow any treatment, regardless, if it’s something that has been established, just like, for example, tetanus.

I’ve been a passionate gardener. I would never do that.

Shawn Buckley

I’m just going to focus again. Sorry. Now, you applied for a religious exemption, and I think you didn’t want me to name your company, but the company you worked for is quite a large company. And my understanding is that a large group of people applied for a religious exemption, but not a single one was granted in the company. Is that right?

Regina Goman

That, I cannot say. From the group of people that I’m in touch with, which is about 70 of us, we all received the rejection, and that was exactly the same rejection letter. And it was sent on exactly the same date on November 23rd, regardless of when we submitted our requests. I submitted my request on September 30th, and I had to wait almost two months for the response, which, of course, caused me a lot of trauma. Because I loved my job. I loved what I was doing, and I was appreciated by my supervisors. And I was hoping to work there until I retire.

Shawn Buckley

So can I just point something out? So you apply for a religious exemption on September 30th, 2021. You have a performance review the following month in October 2021, where basically you were highly praised by the management for the excellent work,

[00:20:00]

and you were recognized for your achievements in your performance review. Am I right?

Regina Goman

That is correct.

Shawn Buckley

And then the following month, you basically learned that your application for religious exemption had been denied. And so basically you were forced out on, you were going to lose your job but something else happened. You went and you ended up on medical leave. Can you tell us about that?

Regina Goman

Yes. I felt that my rights were being abused by my employer. It started all back in 2020 December, when I knew things are not going to get any better. I wanted to go for visit with my family in Poland, and that was during my vacation.

At the time there was no government restriction to travel overseas; however, there came a memo from my senior management that any travel has to be approved by our vice president. I went and checked with my supervision to make sure that this is only for work related travel. However, my supervisor checked with the management and was told that no, it includes all travel, including personal. At that point because I truly always cherished my freedom, at that time, I felt like my rights are being infringed on since I did not see any reasonable explanation for trying to take away my right to freely travel. And that was during my vacation, and at that time we have already as non-essential employees, we’ve been working remotely from home, and so even if I did come back with COVID, I wouldn’t pose any danger to my co-workers because you cannot get infected through your computer.

So I knew that my employer was actually going over the rights and taking away my freedoms. And that situation, because I kept on following up, the time was running out, and I wanted to go for my vacation. Of course, flights were being booked. And it came to a point where I kept on pushing my management to intervene with the senior management to obtain this approval. And that caused quite the tension that I should, I done something wrong because I wanted to use my right to freely travel.

Shawn Buckley

Yeah. Now a couple of things were going on, as I understand. So your employer, and I know we’ve skipped over some stuff like I mean, they were pressuring you guys to get vaccinated, and they were treating you unfairly with this travel. And my understanding is, in February, you ended up seeing a psychologist who diagnosed you with delayed post-traumatic stress disorder.

Regina Goman

Yes, because the main reason I took it really hard was when after waiting almost two months to receive the response to my request, and I was very sure because I did comply with all the requirements. So I was sure that I would get the religious exemption because at that time, I was already a member of the church where Pastor supported my views on keeping my body clean as the temple of the Holy Spirit, and I would not tamper. And I thought I will receive that approval. However, that letter, it was implied; there was not really a specific reason given at that time. It’s only when we filed a statement of claim with the Court when, [inaudible], my employer actually responded and said that they believe that the letter from the spiritual leader has been taken off internet.

That hit me so hard because in this beautiful country, I’ve never been accused of any lies. I’ve never compromised my, I’ve never done anything to, to be told that I lied.

[00:25:00]

And so I responded to Human Resources, and I said that I can provide any supporting documentation including a statement from my pastor, again, that that letter was genuine, and I had fulfilled all the required conditions to receive this religious exemption.

Shawn Buckley

And they wouldn’t let you basically provide that.

Regina Goman

No, they refused. They say that decision is final, it’s not up to appeal.

Shawn Buckley

But that actually reminded you of your trial in Poland, didn’t it, where you really weren’t able to defend yourself.

Regina Goman

Yes.

Shawn Buckley

And your psychologist basically has found that your post-traumatic stress disorder is a combination of what you experienced with your persecution in Poland, and now you’re experiencing the exact same thing in Canada, and that’s creating this reaction.

Now, you came to Canada believing that this country would give you freedom, and you came after you had actually been imprisoned in Poland for standing up against communism.

My understanding is that in February of 2022, you were invited by the Polish government to a ceremony where you were to receive the Cross of Freedom and Solidarity for the contribution you had made to, really, what was a revolution in Poland. But ironically, in February of 2022, because of the Government of Canada travel mandates: here after coming to Canada to be free, you could not go back to Poland to receive the Cross of Freedom and Solidarity because you were of a class of citizens that was not allowed to fly in Canada. Is that right?

Regina Goman

Yes, that’s correct. I was just told, well the lady volunteer, when she did the interview with me, she asked a question, “Where is my cross?” And I followed up with the Polish Consulate in Vancouver and was told it is being kept safe in the Consulate.

Shawn Buckley

Well, I can also tell those watching, if you go to the Canada Gazette, which is basically the federal government’s newspaper where they publish regulations and things like that, and you do a search under Regina’s name, you will find that it’s recorded in the Canada Gazette that the Polish government awarded her this Cross of Freedom and Solidarity. So now, I told you that I was going to give you the opportunity to basically share your thoughts on what we should do.

And so you’ve lived through a police state, and you come from experience that none of us in this room have, and so I’m asking you now: What is your advice for us? What should we do?

Regina Goman

Actually, just like the Bible states, you have to be either hot or cold. You cannot be lukewarm. This is the time now. This is the time to speak up. And I know because I come across my friends and when I ask them, “Please come to the rally, please support this when you still can. Because the day will come that anything, that it will be called misinformation, that’s what we’re going to go to jail to. And this is the time now. The time is precious. And we cannot come up with excuses.” Because sometimes my friends say, “Well, I’m going to be with you in my spirit.” I say, “No, your flesh is needed.” And just like we were told by the previous witnesses, we have to get involved. We have to get involved in every level of politics.

I promised myself when I came to Canada, the Polish organization approached me and they asked me, “Do you still going to join us in the fight?” And I said, “If I was to fight, I would have stayed back in Poland.” And I stayed out of the politics for over 30 years, building my life and providing for the family.

But now is the time. We cannot just pull back and say, “Well, I don’t want to be involved in politics.” Because the politics are going to shape what is going to happen to you tomorrow. And tomorrow it will be too late. Because our children, grandchildren, they’re being indoctrinated.

[00:30:00]

Just like when I saw that group following Greta Thunberg, those kids, they were full of rage. And I was shocked. I was scared. These beautiful Canadian kids who never experienced any hardships in their life, where that rage comes from is indoctrination. That’s what’s happening in the schools. That’s where they are being told that we are destroying their future.

Now is the time. It’s the time to speak and teach them. And regardless, I became an outcast even within my own family. Because I was told that I shouldn’t be speaking politics, I shouldn’t be speaking religion, or COVID. I still do speak. Because just like when I accepted Jesus, and I knew I have to share that good news with people, I lost my friends. But this is something the same, we need to speak, regardless how they take it.

And if they don’t want to accept, at least we’ll know, we’ll have a clean conscience. We’ve done what we possibly could have done. And we lived, we stood up till the very end. And we did not allow the evil to destroy us, to destroy our children. And this is the time. That time, just like we’ve heard that Bill C-11 that got passed, this is going to affect all of us.

And that kind of gathering, it will become illegal, and it can happen overnight. And we were told about that, and we saw it here in Canada, when this Emergencies Act was called. And that’s exactly what happened back in Poland in 1981. It happened overnight.

So this is what I’m pleading with you. Don’t push, don’t feel like, well, I shouldn’t do, I shouldn’t, I should be gentle. Maybe they will listen to me, no. We need to speak truth, and we speak, have to speak very with power, and not pull back. And regardless of the cost. That’s what I’m telling my friends. “Today you’re telling me you’re not going to come to the rally because you have extra, some work at home to do.” Pretty soon, you will not have your work, saying, “Oh, well, I have to take my kid to the hockey game.” Pretty soon, you will not be allowed to have a hockey game. And we have experienced that already, right? And the sad part is, the history repeats itself. Every single time, when you look at the pattern, when you look at the Hitler era, when you look at what Goebbels did, when you look what the communists did, and when you’re seeing what the mainstream media are doing now.

The people who are apathetic, who are just sitting and saying, “Well, I’m not going to vote, I’m not, I’m not, I don’t want to be involved.” We know, we have to, we have to speak up, and we have to go to every single level. We have to go to the school boards. We have to. We have to go to all the political rallies, we have to. Because otherwise, one day, we’re going to stand, and those kids are going to tell, “Where were you when those decisions were being made? Now it’s too late.” And your own children will hate you because they will be fed. That’s what kids in schools during the communists, were fed with. That’s why my neighbours, in my neighbourhood, they were laughing at me. They were saying, “What is she doing?” Because there was a handful of us. And suddenly, now, what the history says, “Well, yes, you’ve been a hero. You have been awarded the cross for what you stood up then.” And the same thing is happening now.

We need to stand up. And regardless, again, regardless of the cost because pretty soon nothing will matter. They’re going to implement this digital ID, and they’re going to take all our rights. And then you will be at their mercy, begging them for the privilege to travel, for the privilege to go to a game, or to a restaurant. And I was being yelled at in stores because I refused to wear a mask. And even I went to the doctor to get that mask exemption, just so I have it. I’ve never shown to nobody. But I was still denied. My employer would not actually recognize my mask exemption when they called us for a couple of weeks because that was one of their trying to pressure us to take the vaccine.

You know, when we were getting those letters, and they were telling us, “You’re not going to earn your yearly bonus.” Many people went and got vaccinated. I got this outstanding review. And what happened? I never got my bonus. Do I care about it? No, because I know we have much higher principles than just money. And at some point, that money will mean nothing again anyways.

[00:35:00]

So this is the time.

Shawn Buckley

Regina, I’m going to let the commissioners, I’m going to ask them if they have any questions for you. And there are questions.

Commissioner Kaikkonen

Thank you for your testimony. When you speak of the indoctrination of our children and that we’re told we’re destroying our children’s future, and that is what they’re hearing in school, I can attest to that as a school trustee in my area that that’s what they’re doing.

But I know also there’s a body of research that you may be able to speak to and you may not. It’s called the coloured shirt movement, when some of us might remember the Brown Shirt movement in Nazi Germany. There’s a Pink Shirt movement, how it’s tied specifically to tyranny. You can go find that research. It’s online. It’s pretty available. And it talks about all of the different shirt movements that our youth do, and how it links with tyranny and the research is very solid. I’m just wondering if you could speak to that.

Did you see any youth that had colored shirt movements that were working through the school system that would lead to some of us to be informed about where tyranny would be the next step for those youth, those young people?

Regina Goman

For what I’ve been seeing was how those children were being indoctrinated and they’ve been rewarded. And to belong to a specific colour, you had to earn to that level.

When I was doing my research and writing based on those experiences from people who actually experienced that, and the ones who stood up to this propaganda, they were being beaten by those groups of youngsters because there was so much hate being planted in their minds, that they could not act in a human way. It was all about this propaganda machine.

And that’s what I’m seeing here where the children are being, because we taught them that about the authority, “Your teacher is an authority. And whatever the teacher is teaching you, you bring home.” And actually, I’ve heard from my niece’s little son came home from school and telling his dad that fossil fuels, that’s evil, that we need to stop it. And the little children, like 10 years old, those are the kind of topics they’re being taught in schools.

Commissioner Kaikkonen

Thank you.

Shawn Buckley

Regina, there being no further questions on behalf of the National Citizens Inquiry, we sincerely thank you for setting an example for us and coming and sharing your experiences with us at the National Citizens Inquiry.

Regina Goman

Actually, I thank you for the opportunity and for this great initiative when we can still record all the damage that had been done to this society. Because when I came here almost 40 years ago, that was a beautiful country and built on Christian values. And what happened to this country when we are looking for possibly just leaving it and going somewhere else in search of freedom. Thank you.

[00:38:56]

Final Review and Approval:  Anna Cairns, August 30, 2023.   

The evidence offered in this transcript is a true and faithful record of witness testimony given during the National Citizens Inquiry (NCI) hearings. The transcript was prepared by members of a team of volunteers using an “intelligent verbatim” transcription method.

For further information on the transcription process, method, and team, see the NCI website: https://nationalcitizensinquiry.ca/about-these-transcripts/

Summary

A very emotional Regina Goman, currently suffering from PTSD because of the way her employer treated her during COVID, tells of her experiences in her native Poland in the 1980’s fighting the government for freedom. During that time in Poland, Regina was head of the local union for the Solidarity movement. She was arrested for doing simple things like distributing freedom literature detailing people who had been persecuted.

When Regina saw Greta Thunberg come to Edmonton and encourage the young people to march in support of her climate views, it scared her. “I saw those buses, and those were coaches coming from all over Alberta bringing those young kids. And they walk through Jasper Avenue towards the legislature in Edmonton. And when I saw this anger and hate in those little kids; how they were being programmed and indoctrinated: yelling, screaming, right away, I thought this is just like Hitler Jugend operated. This is what our little kids are being programmed to, and they hated,” Regina said.

Regina applied for a religious exemption as she did not want to get a shot. Human resources at her workplace implied that she was being untruthful about her Christian beliefs. Offering to back up her claim with verification from her pastor, Regina was again refused and told it was final and not to try again.

In February of 2022, the government of Poland invited Regina to a ceremony to receive the Cross of Freedom and Solidarity for the contribution she had made to the freedom movement in the 80’s. Due to the travel restrictions in Canada at the time, Regina was not able to attend the ceremony.

Regina has a warning and a request for the people of Canada, “now is the time. We cannot just pull back and say, “Well, I don’t want to be involved in politics.” Because the politics are going to shape what is going to happen to you tomorrow. And tomorrow it will be too late. Because our children, grandchildren, they’re being indoctrinated.”