Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join this House in solemnly remembering the Ukrainian Holodomor of 85 years ago. The systematic starvation of a region, then considered Europe's breadbasket, by Stalin's Communist regime, cost the lives of millions of Ukrainians.
As communities across Canada gather to honour these victims, my own community of Oshawa will do the same. Oshawa has a vibrant Ukrainian presence that began with Julian Kalynko in 1907, the first documented Ukrainian to arrive in Oshawa. More Ukrainians began arriving during the First World War and following the Holodomor, and by 1941 the number of people of Ukrainian origin only trailed those of English, Irish and Scottish origin.
As their numbers grew, they built churches, such as St. George the Great Martyr and St. John the Baptist, as well as community halls like Dnipro, LVIV and Odessa. They are all places where members of our community celebrate and experience Ukrainian culture and dance, and enjoy Ukrainian food.
However, this Sunday, November 25, we will gather at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian church to remember the lives that were lost during the Holodomor. We will not forget.