Premier John Horgan and Bruce Ralston, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, have issued the following statement marking Holodomor Memorial Day:

“On the fourth Saturday in November, we join Ukrainian communities around the world in remembering the victims of Holodomor and honouring the strength of survivors.

“Between 1932 and 1933, Joseph Stalin’s totalitarian Soviet regime inflicted mass starvation and genocide on the people of Ukraine. Known to history as the Holodomor, or 'killing by starvation', between three million and four million Ukrainian children, women and men died. Lands were stolen and crops grown by the people were seized.

“The Soviet Union’s systematic and mass starvation of the Ukrainian people was a heinous attempt to quell the nation’s culture and dream of independence. Almost 60 years later, that dream of independence was realized. 

“Two years ago, Ukrainian Famine and Genocide (Holodomor) Memorial Day was officially designated as a day of remembrance in British Columbia. On this solemn day, we come together to remember the victims and recognize the injustice of their suffering. This can never be allowed to happen again.

“Our government will continue to stand up for equality and justice, as we build a better province and a better world.”

For a French translation, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/Holodomor_French.pdf

For a Ukrainian translation, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/Holodomor_Ukrainian.pdf)