Legislative Assembly observes Holodomor Memorial Day

Government of Alberta news release

Child victim of Holodomor
(public domain photo)

On Monday, November 28 from noon to 12:30 p.m. Speaker Kowalski will host a ceremony in the Legislature rotunda to commemorate the third anniversary of Ukrainian Famine and Genocide (Holodomor) Memorial Day in Alberta.

“It is by gathering together to hear their accounts of the Holodomor that we are provided the opportunity to honour the contributions the Ukrainian community has made and continues to make in Alberta. The innocent victims of the Holodomor speak to us through their descendants.” said Hon. Ken Kowalski, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.


The ceremony will include remarks by the host, Speaker Kowalski; the Hon. Alison Redford, Premier; Dr. Raj Sherman, Leader of the Official Opposition; Mr. Paul Hinman, Deputy Leader of the Wildrose opposition; Mr. Brian Mason, Leader of the New Democrat opposition; Gene Zwozdesky, MLA for Edmonton-Mill Creek and Co-chair of the Advisory Council on Alberta-Ukraine Relations.

On November 4, 2008, Bill 37, Ukrainian Famine and Genocide (Holodomor) Memorial Day Act, came into force, proclaiming every fourth Saturday in November a day of remembrance in Alberta. Bill 37 received the unanimous support of the Legislative Assembly.

Holodomor was a famine in the Ukrainian SSR from 1932 to 1933, during which time millions of inhabitants died of starvation.

Editor's note: For more information about Holodomor from a Canadian perspective, visit www.holodomorsurvivors.ca