It took place 85 years ago. It
is the Stalin regime's forcible confiscation of all grain and food stores, including seeds, in Ukraine. Itcaused the death of millions of Ukrainians. It
is a genocide that is loosely translated as death by starvation. It
is the Holodomor.
On September 24, students at Bishop Filevich Ukrainian Bilingual School joined millions of people to commemorate the 85th anniversary of the Holodomor by lighting a candle of remembrance.
The Ukrainian World Congress and other partners lit a remembrance flame in Kyiv, Ukraine, on September 1, typically the first day of school in Ukraine. The flame will make an 85-day journey across five continents to raise awareness and remember the millions of lives lost. Bishop Filevich was one stop during a three-day tour in Saskatoon. During the commemoration, the names of 85 children who died in the Holodomor were read to remember those who did not return to school in 1933.
"For our school community, this is much more than learning about world history or being good global citizens or even basic curriculum," said Shelly Lord, principal at the province's only Ukrainian bilingual school. "This is deeply personal for our students, our staff and our parents. Many people in our community came from Ukraine, and their families have been directly affected by the tragedy of the Holodomor."
The 85-day commemoration will conclude on November 24 in conjunction with the Ukrainian national commemoration of the 85th anniversary of the Holodomor in Kyiv.
Follow the international journey of the flame, and learn more about the Holodomor and the global initiative, on the website: www.holodomor85.com