National Holodomor Awareness Week and Education Week     

November 23 - 29, 2009

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress is launching the second National Holodomor Awareness Week, November 23-29, in commemoration of the 76th Anniversary of the Famine Genocide in Ukraine 1932-33. The goal is to unite the Ukrainian community and all Canadians in remembering the victims and raising awareness of this tragedy.

As designated by the President of Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko, International Holodomor Memorial Day in 2009 is Saturday, November 28.

Holodomor - one of the most heinous crimes in the history of Mankind was the result of a deliberate political strategy masterminded by Stalin and his totalitarian communist regime. By sheer magnitude, losses during the Holodomor surpassed those of the Ukrainian nation during the Second World War. Ukrainians continue to suffer the consequences of this merciless act.

A worldwide awareness campaign continues. In Canada, we are nearing completion of the documentation of survivors’ testimonies ensuring that their stories are preserved for future generations. Excerpts of the testimonies can be heard by visiting the newly created web site www.holodomorsurvivors.ca. We continue working with our provincial ministries of education and local school boards to ensure that our students in Canada learn about the Holodomor. We are working with Canadian provinces that have yet to recognize the Holodomor and with the United Nations to recognize this crime as an act of genocide.

Let us remember together -

•     On Saturday, November 28, in solidarity with Ukraine, honour the memory of the victims with a moment of silence at 9:00 a.m. and light a candle of remembrance in your home.

•     On Sunday, November 29 participate in memorial services which will take place in your local churches.

•     Participate in events organized by your local community.

This is the bare minimum which we, as Ukrainians should do, not only for the millions of victims, but more importantly, for our descendants who must always remember the Holodomor and heighten the international community’s sensitivity to the reoccurrence of similar tragedies.

The UCC has appealled to the Ukrainian Canadian community to organize Holodomor Awareness Week events. In response, the League of Ukrainian Canadians (LUC), women’s league (LUCW) and youth (UYA) will hold the 2^nd Annual Holodomor Education Week in Toronto, featuring the newest films on the Holodomor; meetings with survivors; exhibits of Holodomor art, new publications, postal stamps and posters; lectures, memoirs, prose and poetry readings on the Holodomor; and the Canadian-made exhibit – Holodomor: Genocide by Famine. Holodomor Education Week officially opens Monday, Nov. 23 at 7 pm and runs until Nov. 28, 2009 at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre, 85 Christie Street, Toronto. It is open to the public from 10 am to 9:30 pm. and free of charge.  For a detailed schedule of events, visit www.lucorg.com

Let’s reveal the truth about the Holodomor to the World!

Ukraine Remembers - the World Acknowledges!