Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology and MLA for Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston commemorated the victims of the famine and genocide in Ukraine in 1932-33 at a ceremony today in Surrey.

The Province of B.C. has officially proclaimed Nov. 25, 2017, as Holodomor Memorial Day in British Columbia to honour those who died during Holodomor, a Ukrainian word that translates to “extermination by means of starvation”.

“For generations, British Columbians of Ukrainian descent have helped to build this province culturally, economically and politically,” said Ralston. “Their families have lived with the horrors of Holodomor and will never forget them. I ask every British Columbian to join me in commemorating the victims of this tragic event so we can ensure nothing like it ever happens again.”

Ralston presented the proclamation to members of B.C.’s Ukrainian community.

The term Holodomor is used to describe the famine and genocide inflicted on the Ukrainian people by the Soviet Union. This tragedy was deliberately carried out by the Soviet regime of Josef Stalin to destroy the Ukrainian people’s dreams of an independent Ukraine.

As many as 10 million people, about one-third of whom were children, died as a result of Holodomor. This widespread starvation was caused by the Soviets’ seizure of the Ukrainian people’s lands and crops. Grain quotas were set, and when those quotas were unable to be met, what was left was confiscated.

Holodomor Memorial Day is commemorated each November, and provides all British Columbians an opportunity to reflect on the enduring lessons of Holodomor and other crimes against humanity.

Learn More:

For more information on Holodomor, visit: http://holodomor.ca/holodomor-basic-facts/

For more information on the Ukrainian Canadian Congress BC Council, visit: http://www.ucc.ca/members/provincial-councils/british-columbia/