As part of the commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the Holodomor of 1932-1933, Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada Yuliya Kovaliv visited Lesya Ukrainka Ukrainian School of Ottawa, where she joined teachers, students and parents in honoring the memory of the victims of this terrible tragedy.

The solemn lineup began with the performance of the National Anthem of Ukraine, which is an unchanging tradition of Ukrainian schools and a symbol of unity between students and teachers. 

During the event, the Ambassador talked to the 6th-grade students about the Holodomor and the importance of knowing the history and heard personal stories of their families related to this tragedy.

“We need to talk about the darkest pages of Ukraine's history and their lessons not only with politicians or adults but also to teach our children to remember their roots and know the history of their country,” said Yuliya Kovaliv.

Together with the children, the Ambassador decorated the map of Ukraine with fragile blue and yellow forget-me-nots, a symbol of the Holodomor victims' memory. These flowers remind everyone: “Don't forget, don't forget the millions of lives that were killed by the terrible famine of 1932-1933 in Ukraine.” 

This symbol was first used in 1986 by teachers at St. Sophia School in Mississauga, Canada.

The Ambassador also expressed her gratitude to parents who continue to send their children to Ukrainian schools in Canada. 

Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale aggression, the Ukrainian School of Ottawa has opened its doors to a significant number of newly arrived Ukrainians. While in previous years, the school was attended by 60 students, today it is attended by 270 children, which is a clear indication of the growth of the Ukrainian community and its desire to preserve its language, culture and history.

This event was an important reminder of the need for collective memory and unity among Ukrainians in preserving their historical heritage.