An International Remembrance Flame to raise awareness of the 75th anniversary of the Ukrainian genocide known as Holodomor, or extermination by famine, and to gain formal Canadian and international recognition of this atrocity begins its journey across Canada in Toronto on Friday April 18.
The Flame tour honors the estimated 10 million Ukrainian men, women and children who were subjected to starvation and death in 1932 -33 by the communist regime of Joseph Stalin as part of his effort to eradicate Ukraine as a country.
Toronto resident, 87-year old Stefan Horlatsch, a survivor of the genocide, will participate in the Flame handover event at Toronto City Hall which is part of the opening of the Holodomor exhibit “Genocide by Famine” which will be on display until April 26. Mr. Horlatsch will escort the Flame on its 14 city tour of Canada which officially begins in Winnipeg on April 20 and ends in Ottawa on May 26.
The Flame started its journey in Australia and will travel to 33 countries before arriving in Ukraine in November.
Canadian events under the theme “Keep the Flame Alive” are being organized by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress in cooperation with the Embassy of Ukraine. They are designed to remember victims of the Holodomor, help ensure the story of the tragedy is transferred from generation to generation and create awareness to prevent the recurrence of another atrocity of this nature.
The Canadian tour and events also launch a campaign urging the Canadian government to recognize the Holodomor as an act of genocide and support Ukraine’s motion for such recognition by the United Nations.
The Flame tour honors the estimated 10 million Ukrainian men, women and children who were subjected to starvation and death in 1932 -33 by the communist regime of Joseph Stalin as part of his effort to eradicate Ukraine as a country
The Flame, visiting 33 countries, arrived in Canada from Australia on April 18.
The Canadian journey of the Flame entitled Keep the Flame Alive is being organized by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress in cooperation with the Embassy of Ukraine. Events will honour the victims of this horrific tragedy while ensuring that the story of the Holodomor is passed along from generation to generation.
Keep the Flame Alive will also launch a national campaign urging the Canadian government to recognize the Holodomor as an act of genocide.
The Flame will be escorted throughout Canada by Holodomor survivor and Toronto resident, 87-year-old Stefan Horlatsch.
Stefan Horlatsch — is a survivor of the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide, the Holodomor. He will escort the International Holodomor Remembrance Flame across Canada marking the 75th anniversary of the Holodomor. In cooperation with the
Ukrainian World Congress, Ukrainian Canadian Congress and Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this torch will travel from Canada to 32 other countries, ending its journey in Ukraine.
April 18- arrival of the flame in Toronto, Ontario.
April 20 - Winnipeg, Manitoba.
April 28 - Yorkton, Saskatchewan.
April 29 - Regina, Saskatchewan.
April 29 - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
April 30 - North Battleford, Saskatchewan.
April 30 - Vegreville, Alberta.
May 1 - Edmonton, Alberta.
May 2 - Calgary, Alberta.
May 22 - Niagara, Ontario.
May 23 - Toronto, Ontario.
May 24 - Hamilton, Ontario.
May 24 - Montreal, Quebec.
May 26 - Ottawa, Ontario.
