OTTAWA – 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 85th anniversary of the Holodomor, the genocide of the Ukrainian people.
In 1932-1933, the totalitarian Soviet Communist 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, and their desire to speak their language and maintain their culture and traditions.
The UCC was honored to welcome Holodomor survivors Dr. Julia Woychyshyn and Halyna Zelem, who lit the ceremonial candle at the beginning of the ceremony on Parliament Hill.
The master of ceremonies of the commemoration was Member of Parliament Borys Wrzesnewskyj, chair of the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group. The Rev. Andrew Onuferko led the opening prayer.
Minister of National Defense Harjit Sajjan delivered remarks on behalf of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, followed by Sen. Raynell Andreychuk, who spoke on behalf of the Leader of Opposition, Andrew Scheer, and MP Guy Caron, appearing on behalf of the leader of the NDP, Jagmeet Singh.
Ukraine’s Ambassador to Canada Andriy Shevchenko delivered moving remarks on behalf of the government of Ukraine, and Ihor Michalchyshyn, UCC CEO, spoke on behalf of the Ukrainian community in Canada.
Members of Ottawa-based Ukrainian choirs gathered to lead the singing of “Vichnaya Pamiat” (Eternal Memory) and the Rev. Onuferko led the assembled guests in the closing prayer.
Earlier in the day, Members of Parliament and guests to Parliament Hill had the opportunity to visit the Holodomor National Awareness Tour Mobile Classroom.
The mobile classroom, a 40-foot RV, has been travelling across Canada to provide students with an innovative learning experience about social justice, human rights and democratic values in relation to the genocide by famine that killed millions of Ukrainians. The Government of Canada, through InterAction, Canada’s multiculturalism grants and contributions program, has provided a three-year grant valued at $1.5 million to support this project.