84th Anniversary of the Holodomor, November 2017
Statements from National Parties
Statement from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Leader of Opposition, the Honourable Andrew Scheer
Statement from the Green Party of Canada
Parliament Hill Commemorative Ceremony
On November 20, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group and the Embassy of Ukraine in Canada held a well-attended, solemn commemoration in Canada’s Parliament to mark the 84th anniversary of the Holodomor Famine-Genocide.
In 1932-33, the totalitarian Soviet regime of dictator Joseph Stalin sentenced the Ukrainian nation to death by starvation. Millions of children, women and men were condemned to death because of the Ukrainian peoples’ aspiration for independence, their desire to speak their language and maintain their culture and traditions.
The UCC was honoured to welcome Holodomor Survivors Dr. Julia Woychyshyn and Mrs. Halyna Zelem, who lit the ceremonial candle.
The Master of Ceremonies of the commemoration was Borys Wrzesnewskyj, MP, Chair of the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group. Reverend Father Andrew Onuferko led the Opening Prayer.
The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence, the Honourable Andrew Scheer, Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition, and Guy Caron, MP, Parliamentary Leader of the New Democratic Party, each delivered remarks.
Gallery of photos available here.
Community Partners
Statement from Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA)
Statement from Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC)
Provincial Governments
British Columbia – Proclamation
Alberta – Commemoration at Edmonton City Hall
Saskatchewan – Special Service at the Legislature
Ontario – Statement, Yvan Baker