Holodomor Monuments in Canada

In 2013 on the 80th anniversary of the Holodomor, Prime Minister, Stephen Harper issued the following statement;

“Tomorrow Canadians and people around the world will pause to remember the millions of men, women and children who perished during the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide of 1932-1933, an atrocity perpetrated by Joseph Stalin’s communist regime.”  

– Prime Minister, Stephen Harper. Statement made on the 80th anniversary of the Holodomor in 2013.

 

From 1932 to 1933, millions of Ukrainians starved to death in a genocide known as the Holodomor. The Holodomor was perpetrated by policies enacted by the government of the Soviet Union, under the leadership of Joseph Stalin and his regime, against the population of Ukraine.

Toronto Holodomor Memorial

Bitter memory of childhood Toronto monumentToronto MemorialToronto Bitter Memory MemorialThe Toronto Holodomor Memorial was unveiled and dedicated in October of 2018 in remembrance of the 85th anniversary of the Holodomor. It is located in the Holodomor Memorial Parkette, just inside the entrance of the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) grounds. The Toronto memorial is comprised of Ukrainian sculptor Petro Drozdovsky’s iconic Bitter Memory of Childhood bronze monument, set on paving stones that suggest traditional embroidery, from which a winding pathway leads to 3 millstones in the parkette. The 3 Millstone Gardens, represent themes of Remembrance, Resilience and Renascence. These provide a narrative of the Holdomor and its legacy, with links to information and resources through scannable QR codes sited in each garden. Ornamental screens created by artists Anastasia Zaiats, Brad Emsley, and Rhonda Weppler further interpret each theme in the gardens. Seating and sheltered areas create a space to hold informative class field trips or for rest and contemplation.

Holodomor Memorial MapThe Holodomor Memorial Parkette was created to convey the value of remembrance alongside concepts relating to humanism, tolerance, democracy, civil society and the defence of human rights. The natural and spiritual ecologies are also emphasized in the Memorial – in essence, all the life-affirming responses to the evils of the Holodomor and other atrocities. While exploring the route, visitors can reflect on the full horror of the Holodomor, feel the despair and helplessness and arrive at a place of peace. It was created as a space of memory, learning and respect for the tragic periods and moments in our histories. Memorial ceremonies are held here annually on the fourth Saturday of every November; these take place simultaneously at all of the Holodomor monuments globally.

 

Edmonton

The Edmonton monument was the first Holodomor monument that was erected in Canada. It was unveiled in 1983, on the 50th anniversary of the Holodomor, the genocidal famine in Ukraine. It is located in front of Edmonton’s city hall and was sculpted by Ludmilla Temertey.

The Edmonton monument was the first Holodomor monument that was erected in Canada. It was unveiled in 1983, on the 50th anniversary of the Holodomor, the genocidal famine in Ukraine. It is located in front of Edmonton’s city hall and was sculpted by Ludmilla Temertey.
City of Edmonton Public Art Collection page

Winnipeg

"This memorial, sculptured by Roman Kowal, was a gift to the city of Winnipeg from the members and friends of the Winnipeg branch, Ukrainian Canadian Committee. It was unveiled by his worship Mayor William Norrie, June 24th, 1984" Monument erected: 24 June 1984, Winnipeg, CanadaThe Winnipeg monument was unveiled on June 24th, 1984 to similarly commemorate the deaths of millions of Ukrainian in the Genocidal-Famine of 1932-1933 and is located in front of Winnipeg’s city hall.

Windsor

Windsor Holodomor Monument with Prof. W.W. IsajiwH. M. Regenbogen, T. E. Regenbogen, I. Stebelsky, Ukrainian Canadian Congress Windsor Branch
Holodomor Monument, 2005
Granite, 305 x 120 x 30 centimetres (approximately) Etchings on both sides.
City of Windsor’s Jackson Park in the Queen Elizabeth II Gardens
The granite is etched on its west face in Ukrainian, English and French

Holodomor Monuments in Ukraine

Kyiv

This commemoration statue is called Bitter Memory of Childhood and is located in Kyiv, it's part of a larger complex and museum that commemorates the Holodomor, the Memorial in Commemoration of Famines’ Victims in Ukraine.  It was established in 2008, on the 75th anniversary of the Holodomor and sees around half a million visitors every year. This scuplture is of a young girl, standing in a dress, verry thin, with very large eyes, she holds her hands against her chest and seem's to emot a question of why on her innocent face. She stands on what would have been used to grind wheat, a heavy circular disc that would be rolled in circles to crush wheat into flour.

This commemoration statue is known as Bitter Memory of Childhood and is located in Kyiv, it’s part of a larger complex and museum that commemorates the Holodomor, the Memorial in Commemoration of Famines’ Victims in Ukraine.  It was established in 2008, on the 75th anniversary of the Holodomor and sees around half a million visitors every year.

Kyiv

This is the dedicated Museum in Kyiv, the ground level of this museum looks like a single spire that has been made to look like a tall white candle, crowned with a gold metal flame, and at its base to 3/4's of the way up, crosses link all around it, almost embrace it in a circle . The museum itself is actually underground, built into the side of a hill. This is the museum located in Kyiv Ukraine that commemorates the Holodomor, the Memorial in Commemoration of Famines’ Victims in Ukraine. It was established in 2008, on the 75th anniversary of the Holodomor and sees around half a million visitors every year.

 

Kyiv

This was part of a special commemoration held for the Holodomor's 80th anniversary in Kyiv Ukraine. The outside frame of this statue is a rectangle taller than wide, made of concert, and a foot thick, the first cut out inside the rectangle is of a soft edged cross, inside of that stands a figure or silhouette with it's arms out to the sides, filling the empty space frame of the cross. Within that silhouette is another cut out of a childs silhouette arms out like that of a cross and within that open space, at it's feet sits a red candle. Behind this monument is a light blue wall , showing the blue through the cut outs of the sculpture. In front resides small cup sized candles that have been put out for the 80th commemoration, the candles have been set up to display “32-33”, the years of the Holodomor.

This is the first monument to the Holodomor in Kyiv. The monument was part of a special commemoration held for the Holodomor’s 80th anniversary in Kyiv Ukraine.

Kherson, Southern Ukraine

These photos are of a monument that stands in commemoration of the Holodomor in Kherson, Southern Ukraine.

This is a larger installation commemoration piece, it's an installation that you can walk around and through and appreciate different aspects of it. It's constructed like a court yard. In the center of the back wall a bronze statue of a man and his body is held both within and behind bars. He looks to the sky, while his one hand clutches the bar that holds him, with his bare chest pressed up against the bars, his ribs are visible. That statue is part of the red brick wall. Projected out front of that statue is a dais, flat without anything on top. In front of that are two brass candles with wheat wrapped around them. On either side of the center statue are plaques that are inscribed.

On either side of the center statue are plaques that are inscribed, this particular plaque has a cross created out of 4 brass spoons. Below is a poem written in Ukrainian, and below that are more spoons pointing up but bent out of shape.

Odesa

These photos are of a monument that stands in commemoration of the Holodomor in Odesa (Black Sea port), Ukraine.

ffchgfhjfjvg,vnnOdessa Monument to the Holodomor

Holodomor Monuments in Ukraine: An Interactive Map

To see the Holodomor monuments, please click on the circles in each province (oblast) on the map (website created by the Ukrainian Canadian Research and Documentation Centre).

Map of Monuments in Ukraine

Other Holodomor Monuments Around the World