The bust of the poet was executed by Romanian sculptor Aurel Contras who also carved the sculpture of Veronica Micle, Eminescu's life-long love and inspiration, in Bistrita-Nasaud, Romania.

The work was offered by Mr. & Mrs. Victorov "as a gift to the Romanian community of Windsor, with the express hope that Romanians living here will continue to cherish and preserve the spiritual traditions of their native people, the Poets' face on Canadian soil being a vivid symbol of these values."

A consecration sermon was performed by Archbishop Dr. Nicolaie Condrea and Father Gheorghe Sandulescu. The coordinator and MC of the event, Mihaela Ignat, made a beautiful background presentation of the project and the generous initiative by Mrs. & Mrs. Victorov.

A touching moment following the unveiling of the statue was provided by a group of children from the Romanian community. Dressed in traditional folk costumes, they recited with visible emotion fragments from well known poems by Eminescu.

Also present for the occasion were poet George Filip and writer Alexandru Cetateanu. George Filip read a moving poem dedicated to Eminescu, which is transcribed below in full, in Romanian - (well, translations are not... automatic!).

When all was said and done, A. G. Sahlean could hardly hide his pride for the honor bestowed on him!

Vrem sa ne vezi cu lumânari în mâna
Când clopotele râd spre sarbatori,
Cum nastem, ne nuntim, botezam pruncii
Si chiar când ne murim - adese ori.

Mihai, noi ne-am zidit un colt de tara
Pe plaiu-acesta-ntins si prea manos
Si-aici suntem crestini, cu demnitate,
Supusi de-a pururi bunului Hristos

...Precum în cer si pre pamânt - salutul
E mult înaltator - e crestinesc.
Pe uliti ne vorbim în limba noastra
Si ne nuntim în ritul românesc

Iar când tristetea trece pe la poarta
Ne închinam la candeli - fara glas
Si Dumnezeu ne vede din credinta
Ca doar credinta-n inimi ne-a ramas.

Departe ne e Tara cu Carpatii
Si n-avem Voronet si nici Ceahlau.
Mihai, adu-ne Nistrul, Marea Neagra;
Sfinteasca-se în veci numele tau!

Eminescu with followers

Mihai Eminescu
1850-1889