News and Announcements

Edmonton – “Holodomor was the horrific man-made famine in the Soviet Ukraine, and it is remembered as one of the darkest periods in human history,” said Honourable Nathan Cooper, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. “Through the Ukrainian Famine and Genocide (Holodomor) Memorial Day Act we join the people of Ukraine and the Ukrainian diaspora around the world in remembering the victims of this terrible tragedy, and our commemoration gives voices to their stories.”

Speaker Cooper will host a ceremony in the Legislature rotunda on Tuesday, November 19, 2019, beginning at 12:15 p.m. to mark the 11th anniversary of the Ukrainian Famine and Genocide (Holodomor) Memorial Day Act.

Remarks will be delivered by:

• Honourable Tyler Shandro, MLA for Calgary-Acadia, on behalf of the Premier of Alberta
• Mr. Deron Bilous, MLA for Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview, on behalf of the Leader of the Official Opposition
• Orysia Boychuk, President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Alberta Provincial Council

There will be a guest speaker, Mr. Mr. Volodymyr Vyatrovych, choir performances by students from St. Martin’s Catholic school and St. Matthew Catholic school, followed by a candle lighting and prayer.

The Holodomor was a government-imposed famine in the Ukrainian SSR, where 10 million people died of starvation from 1932 to 1933. This year marks the 11th anniversary of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta’s Bill 37, Ukrainian Famine and Genocide (Holodomor) Memorial Day Act. The Act proclaims the fourth Saturday in November of each year as a day of Holodomor remembrance in Alberta, which is home to over 345,000 persons of Ukrainian ancestry.

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Media inquiries: Jeanette Dotimas
Legislative Assembly of Alberta
Mobile: 780.862.6362
Jeanette.Dotimas@assembly.ab.ca