March 18, 2021. OTTAWA, ON. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress calls on members of the community to support the Atlantic Canada Holodomor Recognition Campaign, launched today.
The goal of the campaign is to gain official recognition of the Holodomor as an Act of Genocide and designate an annual Holodomor Memorial Day in the Provinces of Newfoundland & Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.
We encourage all Canadians living in Atlantic Canada to support the UCC’s Holodomor Recognition Campaign by sending a letter to their local MLA. A sample letter can be found here.
Earlier this week, letters co-signed by Alexandra Chyczij, National President of the UCC and community leaders in Atlantic Canada were sent to the Premiers of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. A provincial election is currently underway in Newfoundland and Labrador, and the UCC will reach out to the new provincial government once the results are announced.
“For decades, the Holodomor was covered up and denied by the Soviet authorities,” stated Ihor Michalchyshyn, UCC CEO and Executive Director, “We look forward to working with the Ukrainian Canadian community in Atlantic Canada and provincial governments to ensure that all Canadians learn about the Holodomor”.
In 2008, the Government of Canada recognized Holodomor as an act of Genocide against the Ukrainian people and established the fourth Saturday of November as the National Famine and Genocide (Holodomor) Memorial Day. Since the adoption of this Act, the legislatures of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec have adopted similar legislation, recognizing the Holodomor as an act of Genocide and designating provincial Memorial Days.
This initiative from the Ukrainian Canadian community in Atlantic Canada, supported by UCC National, comes ahead of Genocide Remembrance, Condemnation and Prevention Month, commemorated in Canada every year in April.
It is also a part of the UCC’s outreach work aimed at uniting and engaging the Ukrainian community in Atlantic Canada. You can watch the UCC Community Forum of Ukrainians in Atlantic Canada from last October here.
If you are interested in joining the campaign, have any questions or suggestions, please contact the UCC at nationaloffice@ucc.ca.
