Introducing the 'Bitter Childhood Memories' Holodomor Memorial
Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island has become home to Atlantic Canada's inaugural memorial dedicated to the 1932–1933 Holodomor. Named 'Bitter Childhood Memories,' this monument honors the millions of Ukrainians who perished under Stalin’s Soviet regime. The initiative was led by Elina Laliuk and the Prince Edward Island chapter of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.
The dedication ceremony drew notable dignitaries, including Prince Edward Island’s Lieutenant Governor, Antoinette Perry, Legislative Assembly Speaker Brad Trivers, and Charlottetown Mayor Philip Brown. Ukrainian Ambassador to Canada, Andriy Plakhotniuk, highlighted the memorial’s role in preserving historical awareness. He emphasized that
“this memorial stands for more than just remembrance—it is a tribute to the innocent lives lost to a man-made famine and a stark warning against the dangers of totalitarian regimes seeking to erase a nation and its identity.”
Ambassador Plakhotniuk further remarked,
“The Holodomor was intended to silence the Ukrainian people. Today, their memory takes root in the heart of Charlottetown—thousands of kilometers from Ukraine, yet among those committed to never forgetting.”The 'Bitter Childhood Memories' memorial symbolizes the tragic loss of millions during the 1932–1933 famine, a catastrophe caused by Stalin’s policies of forced collectivization, repression of peasants, and widespread rural terror.
Commemorating the Victims of the Holodomors
The Holodomor Remembrance Day in Ukraine is observed annually on the fourth Saturday of November, falling on November 22 in 2025. Ukrainians endured three devastating famines in the 20th century:
- 1921–1923
- 1932–1933
- 1946–1947
In Kyiv, the National Museum of the Holodomor-Genocide serves as a central institution for education and remembrance. It offers virtual tours tailored to Ukrainian diaspora schools worldwide. Viktor Yushchenko, Ukraine’s third president, chairs the museum’s Supervisory Board, which focuses on completing the museum’s expansion, developing permanent exhibits, and securing funding.
The unveiling of the 'Bitter Childhood Memories' memorial in Charlottetown reinforces the global commitment to remembering the Holodomor and its impact on Ukrainians. This monument not only honors those who died but also serves as a vital reminder of the importance of historical memory and vigilance against attempts to erase painful chapters of the past. Efforts like this within diaspora communities play a crucial role in nurturing collective consciousness and raising awareness about events that shaped millions of lives.