HOLODOMOR STATUE ON LEGISLATURE GROUNDS

The statue, entitled “Bitter Memories of Childhood”, stands on the grounds of the Saskatchewan Legislative Building on the banks of Wascana Lake. This haunting statue is of a young girl holding a handful of wheat stalks. It is dedicated to the most vulnerable victims of starvation – children. This Regina replica is cast from the same mold as the original located at Ukraine’s National Holodomor Memorial in Kyiv. The statue is the work of Ukrainian sculptor Petro Drozdovskyi.

The project was initiated by the late Edward Lysyk of Regina. He envisioned the statue as a centrepiece in Regina’s Wascana Park and felt it would assist others to learn about the Holodomor Ukrainian Famine-genocide. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress - Regina Branch worked with the Government of Saskatchewan to make this important project happen. It was dedicated on May 12, 2015.

During the dedication ceremony, those in attendance were moved by the words of Gregory Akulov, son of parents who survived the Holodomor, who recounted the experiences of his parents about what it was like to live during those dark times.

The Ukrainian community of Saskatchewan is very appreciative of the support of the Saskatchewan government to make this initiative become a reality in an important location on the Legislative grounds. The Wascana Centre Authority is also acknowledged for their assistance in getting the statue in place.