Canadian Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Holodomor – genocide in Ukraine 1932-33

In the early thirties, in the very heart of a region known as Europe’s breadbasket, millions of lives were suddenly eradicated by starvation, one of the most ruthless forms of torture and death.  We, Ukrainians in Canada, join the international community in commemorating this tragedy so that together we can spread the truth about the Holodomor, and ensure acknowledgement of the Holodomor as an act of genocide against the Ukrainian nation.

To commemorate and raise awareness of this tragedy, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (Congress) appeals to our spiritual leaders and the Ukrainian community in Canada to honour the memory of the victims of the Holodomor in November 2007 and proposes:

• Remembrance of the victims with a moment of silence on Saturday, November 24 at 9 a.m. (coincides with the same initiative in Ukraine);
• Tolling of the bells in our churches throughout Canada on Saturday, November 24;
• Liturgies and requiems in all Ukrainian churches throughout Canada on Sunday, November 25;
• Appealing to all religious denominations in Canada to honour the victims of the Holodomor during public worship;
• Organizing prayers and the symbolic lighting of candles in Ukrainian heritage schools, bilingual programs and during the activities of Ukrainian youth organizations.

Commemorations will continue throughout 2008 and beyond with the following initiatives by the Congress:

• Development of information kits about the Holodomor for distribution to media, government officials and the Canadian public;
• Dissemination of information on commemorations around the country;
• Coordination of efforts to ensure the recognition of the Holodomor as an act of genocide at all levels of government;
• Coordination of a national commemorative youth event;
• Coordination of one national commemorative event to unite Ukrainians and all Canadians in remembering this tragedy;
• Documentation of eyewitness accounts by survivors residing in Canada and the contribution of these materials to the International Memorial Book (Knyha Pamyati) initiated by Ukraine’s President, Viktor Yushchenko;
• Establishment of a permanent Holodomor exhibit in the proposed Canadian Museum of Human Rights in Winnipeg, Manitoba;
• Support for community projects throughout Canada including exhibits, cultural programs, memorials and so on;
• Support for projects promoting the inclusion of the Holodomor in the curricula of Canadian public schools;
• Establishment of a permanent research and education foundation whose mandate will be to continue to build public awareness and promote research of the Holodomor.

We appeal to all Canadians, in particular Ukrainian organizations and every Canadian of Ukrainian descent to participate in these joint commemorative initiatives so that we hallow the memories of the millions that were exterminated during the Holodomor – Ukrainian genocide of 1932-33.

Let us remember – thus ensuring that similar tragedies are never repeated in the history of mankind!

Ukraine remembers – the world acknowledges

UCC Media Contact
Darla Penner
Tel. (204) 942-4627
dpenner@ucc.ca
www.ucc.ca