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. From a 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 Memorial

The 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 Exhibition Place 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, Alberta

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 monumentThe Edmonton monumentThe Edmonton monument

The first public monument to the Holodomor, created by Ukrainian Canadian artist Ludmilla Temertey, was unveiled in 1983, on the 50thanniversary of the Holodomor. It is located in front of Edmonton, Alberta’s City Hall.

The opening of the Edmonton monument was attended by 8,000 people. Premier Lougheed, flanked by University of Alberta Chancellor Dr. Peter Savaryn, declared at it; “We, in Alberta, will never allow this tragic event, committed by a totalitarian regime, to ever be forgotten.”

Calgary, Alberta

Calgary’s Holodomor monument Calgary’s Holodomor monument

Calgary’s Holodomor monument, created by Ihor Novosilets, was erected in 1999 on City of Calgary parkland near Memorial Drive at Edmonton Trail, in northeast Calgary, Alberta.

The dedication reads:

“Eternal Remembrance. In memory of many millions of Ukrainians who perished in the genocidal great famine inflicted upon Ukraine by the Soviet Regime 1932-1933. Let us all stand on guard against tyranny, violence and inhumanity.”

Echoes of Ukraine video of the unveiling of this monument 

St. Paul, Alberta

The Holodomor monument in St. Paul, Alberta The Holodomor monument in St. Paul, Alberta The Holodomor monument in St. Paul, Alberta

The Holodomor monument in St. Paul, Alberta, created by local artist Stephen Yettaw, is titled Broken Wheat. It was commissioned by the Ukrainian Cultural Society of St. Paul and District and is located by St. Paul Lake.

Its inscription reads:

“To commemorate the famine Holodomor in the Ukraine 1932-1933.”

The artist’s SAYstone page

Winnipeg, Manitoba

The Winnipeg Holodomor monumentThe Edmonton monumentThe Winnipeg Holodomor monument was unveiled on 24 June 1984 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Famine-Genocide in Ukraine and is located in front of Winnipeg’s City Hall. It was conceived and erected by noted Canadian sculptor Roman Kowal. Fifteen feet high and composed entirely of black granite, except for the central image of mother and child which is cast in bronze. The materials were chosen to complement the existing City Hall buildings. Three bronze plaques in English, Ukrainian and French are located at the base of the monument

Winnipeg, Manitoba

A second Holodomor monument was unveiled in Winnipeg A second Holodomor monument was unveiled in Winnipeg A second Holodomor monument was unveiled in Winnipeg

A second Holodomor monument was unveiled in Winnipeg on 21 September 2014 on the grounds of the Manitoba Legislative Building, near the monument to Taras Shevchenko. Entitled, “Bitter Memory of Childhood” («Гіркий спогад дитинства») it is a replica sculpted by Ukrainian artist Petro Drozdovsky in Ukraine.

Ukrainian Canadian Congress-Manitoba Provincial Council page

Windsor, Ontario

Windsor Holodomor Monument with Prof. W.W. IsajiwThe Holodomor monument in Windsor, Ontario The Holodomor monument in Windsor, OntarioThe Holodomor monument in Windsor, Ontario

The Holodomor monument in Windsor, Ontario was unveiled on 13 November 2005 and sits in the City of Windsor’s Jackson Park in the Queen Elizabeth II Gardens. It is made of granite (approximately 305 x 120 x 30 centimetres), etched on both sides, and on its west face in Ukrainian, English and French. According to the city, the monument weighs more than 4,500 kg. Its dedication is in English, French and Ukrainian languages and states: “In memory of over seven million victims of the famine genocide 1932-1933 in Soviet Ukraine, a Stalinist crime against humanity.” On its base is etched: “Remembering All Victims of Genocide.”

City of Windsor page

Regina, Saskatchewan

The Holodomor monument in Regina, Saskatchewan The Holodomor monument in Regina, Saskatchewan

The Holodomor monument in Regina, Saskatchewan was unveiled in spring of 2015 at the Wascana Centre Park southeast of the Legislative Building on Lakeshore Drive, on the shore of Wascana Lake. It is a copy of the iconic life size bronze statue by Ukrainian sculptor Petro Drozdowsky. Saskatchewan was the first jurisdiction in North America to recognize the genocide with the passing of The Ukrainian Famine and Genocide (Holodomor) Memorial Day Act in 2008.

Battleford, Saskatchewan

The Holodomor monument in Regina, Saskatchewan The Holodomor monument in Regina, Saskatchewan

In North Battleford, Saskatchewan, a different Holodomor monument was unveiled and dedicated in 2014 at the Flag and Cultural Corridor, on the Riverview Walk. This monument is a replica of the Monument to the Victims of the 1932-33 Famine in St. Michael’s Square in Kyiv, Ukraine, but built in 2008 by local artist Vasyl Polishchuk with assistance from Sergii Murai and exhibited at City Hall. Polishchuk immigrated to Canada in 2007. The monument is made of steel and is approximately 3 metres by 1.5 meters (10′ x 5′).
SASK TODAY article

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