A long effort by the Ukrainian community in the Battlefords to commemorate the memory of those who perished in the Holodomor genocide of 1932-33 in Ukraine came to fruition Saturday.
The day marked the unveiling of the Holodomor monument at the Flag and Cultural Corridor, located in the walkway behind the Allen Sapp Gallery. It coincided with International Holodomor Memorial Day, Nov. 22.
The monument was unveiled by mayors Ian Hamilton of North Battleford and Derek Mahon of Battleford, and a wreath was laid by Minister of Finance Ken Krawetz.
Following the dedication at the site, the ceremonies moved to the Slawa Centre for more speeches and musical presentations, as well as a moment of silence.
Posted on the wall were photos from the Holodomor, a stark reminder of the famine.
The Battlefords is not the first community in the province to erect a Holodomor monument; the other, entitled Bitter Memories of Childhood was unveiled by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress in Wascana Centre near the legislature in Regina Wednesday.
The dedication recalls the man-made famine forced upon the Ukrainian people by the Stalin regime in the Soviet Union, one in which up to 10 million Ukrainian citizens died.
The monument in North Battleford is an exact replica of the monument to the victims of Holodomor in Kiev.
It was made locally by Vasyl Polishchuk and Segii Murai and was displayed at City Hall in 2008 when the torch relay commemorating the Holodomor made a stop in North Battleford.
Afterwards, the display went into storage, but the Battlefords Ukrainian Canadian Cultural Council actively started looking for a place to display the monument permanently and in public.
They approached City Hall about possibly locating the monument in Central Park.
However, approval was pushed back while the city developed a monument and cairns policy for such dedications around the community.
The Holodomor monument became the first monument approved under the new policy earlier in 2014. The monument's location in the flag corridor was also determined through that process, and it was put up earlier this fall.
Paul Kardynal of the Battlefords Ukrainian Canadian Cultural Council expressed the hope that "attention to history represented by the Holodomor monument will actually lead to peace and harmony in the world."
In his remarks on behalf of the province, Krawetz noted the monument looks "exactly like the one" in Kiev that he has viewed in person.
"While the recognition of Holodomor cannot undo the horrors that have been done, this statue and the events like today teach us about the past," said Krawetz.
"Learning about this tragedy reminds us that we need to remain vigilant in defence of civil liberties and human rights."
Mayor Ian Hamilton reiterated that sentiment, noting that atrocities continue to happen around the world. "I'm struck by the fact that we don't learn from our past," said Hamilton.
"We must never forget that millions of people have given their lives."
