The word Holodomor means “extermination by hunger” in Ukrainian and describes the man-made famine engineered by the Soviet government in 1932-33.

Millions died as authorities seized crops and imposed travel restrictions. Saskatchewan become the first jurisdiction in North America to formally recognize the genocide in 2018.

A replica of the statue Bitter Memories of Childhood, created by sculptor Preto Drozdowsky, was unveiled in the Wascana Center in 2015. The bronze figure depicts a young, starving peasant girl clutching a sheaf of wheat. The original statue is located in Kiev, Ukraine.

Earlier this year, the Provincial Capital Commission announced $50,000 in funding towards restoration of the Holodomor monument site. The restoration included a new sidewalk and retaining wall to ensure that patrons can safely view the monument.

International Holodomor Day is recognized on the fourth Saturday of November and, this year, falls on the 22nd.