Saskatchewan as a province remembered those who perished during the Ukraine famine in 1932-1933 on November 24. Holodomor Memorial Day is recognized nationally in Canada every fourth Saturday of November – this year, the memorial date falls on November 28.
“It is important to recognized historical tragedies like Holodomor, to honour those who have suffered and those who were lost,” said Saskatchewan-Ukraine Relations Liaison, Nadine Wilson. “By remembering the history of Ukrainians and shining light on their stories, we grieve the mistakes of the past and move forward, embracing the Saskatchewan value on inclusion.”
This year, a private memorial service took place outside of the Saskatchewan Provincial Legislature. Ms. Wilson laid flowers in honour of the victims of Holodomor at the foot of the memorial statue in Wascana Park.
The statue is a copy of Petro Drozdowsky’s “Bitter memories of Childhood” and was erected in Wascana Park in 2015.
The Soviet Union imposed a famine in 1932-1933, when crops were seized during a record harvest. People were prohibited from leaving their communities at this time to search for food.
Holodomor is translated from Ukrainian to English as ‘extermination by hunger’.
