News Release - Canada to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the famine in Ukraine

Ottawa, November 20, 2008 — Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney will travel today to Kyiv, to mark the 75th anniversary of the Holodomor, the 1932-33 famine-genocide in Ukraine in which millions died.

This year, the Government of Canada formally recognized the Ukrainian Famine of 1932-33 as an act of genocide and Parliament passed legislation to establish Ukrainian Famine Genocide Memorial Day.  November 22 will mark the first such commemorative day in Canada.

“Our government is committed to remembering the victims and heightening international awareness of genocide, and we are proud to be one of the first governments to recognize the Holodomor as a genocide,” said Minister Kenney.  “We take such actions to help ensure that similar atrocities never happen again.”

The Minister will participate in an international forum entitled “My People Will Live Forever,” and attend commemorative ceremonies and religious services in Kyiv. He will address members of the Ukrainian-Canadian business and cultural communities and hold a teleconference with Ukrainian-Canadian media.

During his visit, Minister Kenney will take the opportunity to meet with officials of the Ukrainian government and visit Bykivnia Memorial and Babyn Yar Holocaust sites. He will be accompanied by Canadian Senator Reynall Andreychuk, who was instrumental in passing legislation to formally recognize the Ukrainian Famine.

For more information on CIC programs, please visit www.cic.gc.ca.

For further information (media only), please contact:

Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada