UPDATE: The cancellation of movies at the Capitol Theatre includes a special presentation that was planned to commemorate the Holodomor with an A-list Hollywood movie based on the life of Gareth Jones, a journalist who tried to tell the truth about what was happening in Ukraine in 1932-1933. The Battlefords Ukrainian Cultural Council collaborated with the Capitol Annex theatre to bring the movie Mr. Jones to the Battlefords for showings on the 27th and 28th. Organizer Rhea Good says, “Hopefully we can have the movie event next November.”Submitted
BACKGROUND: Canada’s National Day of Holodomor Commemoration falls on the fourth Saturday of November - this year, Saturday, Nov. 28. Provincial Holodomor Awareness and Education Committees across Canada plan for school-based activities to take place during the week previous, this year Nov, 23-27.
The Battlefords Ukrainian Cultural Council (BUCC) has collaborated with the Capitol Annex theatre to bring the movie Mr. Jones to the Battlefords. This is an A-list Hollywood movie based on the life of Gareth Jones, a journalist who tried to tell the truth about what was happening in Ukraine in 1932-1933.
Mr. Jones will play on Friday, Nov. 27, at 9 p.m. and again on Saturday, Nov. 28 at 4 p.m. Thanks to the BUCC sponsorship, the movie is free for all. Reserved seating will be available starting Nov. 23. Theatre seating will observe COVID guidelines, which means that family groups are seated together, with social distancing between groups.
The North Battleford Public Library will host a book launch event on Facebook on Tuesday, Nov. 24 at 4 p.m. The featured book is called “Bottle of Grain: A Holodomor Story.” Zoom attendees will be able to hear the book read aloud and then participate in a Q & A with the local author, Rhea Good.
In years past, there have been guest speakers making presentations in elementary schools and high schools as well as a public event. This year, some schools will continue their Holodomor Awareness traditions internally.
