Holodomor Remembrance Flame in Canada

 The International Holodomor Remembrance Flame arrived in Toronto on April 18 beginning its journey across Canada. Following the opening of the exhibit Holodomor: Genocide by Famine at Toronto City Hall, the Flame departed for Western Canada.

 The Flame was met in every community with a warm reception from the Ukrainian population, but it also generated a tremendous amount of both political and media interest.

 In Winnipeg on April 20, youth escorted Holodomor survivor Stefan Horlatsch to City Hall where a ceremony took place in front of the Famine monument honouring Holodomor victims. The commemoration’s focal point was the active participation of children and grandchildren of Holodomor survivors.

 The Saskatchewan tour from April 28-30 included a ceremony in Regina at which Premier Brad Wall spoke: “We in Saskatchewan as much as anywhere on the planet understand the amazing gift that the world was deprived of because of this famine and genocide, for we have been such significant benefactors of that gift, the gift of Ukrainian value and tradition and contribution” [and] “Those values are poured into the DNA of this province,” added Wall.

On May 7, Saskatchewan became the first Canadian province to recognize the victims of the Ukrainian Famine and Genocide (Holodomor) of 1932-33. The legislation passed unanimously with back to back Second and Third Readings. The bill was introduced only one day earlier by Saskatchewan’s Education Minister, Ken Krawetz.

The Flame travelled through Alberta, April 30 to May 3. A large component of the Alberta program involved taking the Flame to schools in Vegreville, Red Deer and Edmonton. Students had the opportunity to learn about the Holodomor and honour its victims while by meeting with survivors.

In Edmonton on May 3, Premier Ed Stelmach participated in a ceremony at the Alberta Legislature.

The Remembrance Flame concluded its Western tour on May 5 with a commemoration in Vernon, BC at City Hall.

The International Remembrance Flame crossed from Canada in to the United States on May 4, and was received in Seattle, WA on May 4 in the presence of Ukraine’s Ambassadors to Canada and the US, Dr. Ihor Ostash and Oleh Shamshur, respectively. UCC National President Paul Grod, spoke of the success of the Flame in Canada as a flame of truth with the message “we must have a world without genocide.” In every province which welcomed the Flame, legislators have adopted or pledged to enact legislation recognizing the Holodomor as genocide and declaring annually the 4th Saturday of November as Holodomor Memorial Day. We hope that the Remembrance Flame can have a similar impact as it travels the United States of America,” concluded Grod.

The Flame returns to Canada on May 22 to continue its Southern Ontario journey through Niagara, Hamilton, Toronto, Windsor, London, then onto Montreal, Quebec and reaches Ottawa on May 26 with Ukraine’s President Yushchenko State Visit to the Nation’s Capital. For details on these events and a photo gallery visit www.ucc.ca.

Ukraine Remembers! The World Acknowledges!

Irka Mycak is Chair of the UCC National Holodomor Commemoration Committee