The Ukrainian Collectibles Society (Toronto) hosted a philatelic, numismatic and collectibles exhibition on November 1, 2008 at Ukrainian Canadian Social Services, Toronto. The show featuring outstanding philatelic material, as well as bank notes, coins, medals and post cards.
The theme of the show was the Holodomor, Ukraine's Great Famine-Genocide of 1932-1933 during which 7 to 10 million people died by starvation.
A Canada Post Picture Postage stamp was unveiled at the show commemorating the Holodomor along with two limited edition first day covers with a special Canada Post cancellation.
Stalin orchestrated the Holodomor on the heels of his policy of collectivization. Under this policy, all privately owned land was expropriated, and farmers were forced onto collective farms. When Ukraine’s fiercely independent farmers refused to relinquish their land, Stalin vowed to starve the Ukrainian people into submission. His ultimate goal was to crush the Ukrainian national revival that had begun in the 1920s and that threatened to renew Ukrainian aspirations for an independent state.
Stalin knew that the targets for grain collection which were imposed on Ukraine were draconian and that widespread starvation would be inevitable, especially as the USSR continued to export major quantities of grain throughout the crisis. The Soviet authorities closed Ukraine's eastern border in an attempt to prevent large numbers of starving peasants from entering Russia in search of food.
On May 28, 2008 both the House of Commons and the Senate of Canada passed Bill C-459 An Act to establish a Ukrainian Famine and Genocide (”Holodomor”) Memorial Day and to recognize the Ukrainian Famine in 1932-33 as an act of genocide. The Bill received Royal Assent on May 29, 2008.
A Canada Post Picture Postage stamp was unveiled at the show commemorating the Holodomor along with two limited edition first day covers with a special Canada Post cancellation.
The Picture Postage stamp reads "HOLODMOR, Famine Genocide in Ukraine, 1932-1933, 75th Anniversary". The word Genocide appears for the first time on any postage stamp. Recognized worldwide, the image on the stamp depicts a mourning mother symbolizing Ukraine victimized by famine. On her chest is a symbolic cross: a child with their arms outstretched. The stamp and cancel images are based on the Holodomor monument designed in 1993 by the Ukrainian artist and sculptor Vasil Perevalsky and architect M.Kysly and is located on St. Michael's Square, Kyiv, Ukraine.
The colour FDC depicts the International Rememberance Flame. The cover is limited to 250 copies, numbered on back, and has the following text,
The International Remembrance Flame traveling though 33 countries, including 15 Canadian cities, helped raise awareness of the forced famine in Ukraine in 1932-33. The Flame began its journey in Australia and arrived in Canada on April 18, 2008. The launch across Canada took place prior to the opening of the exhibit Holodomor: Genocide by Famine at Toronto's City Hall. The International Torch Relay reaches Ukraine in November 2008 to be part of the official state commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the great Ukrainian Famine and Genocide.
Ukraine remembers – The World Acknowledges!
In the US, the Flame visited 23 cities.
The black/white FDC honours the victims of the Holodomor and depicts an orphaned child from 1932-33.
Stamp and covers are available for purchase. All prices are in Canadian $. Postage will be determined upon receipt of order. Send queries and orders to ucst@upns.org
Single stamp (self-adhesive) - $2.00 (limit 1 per order)
Corner block with inscription - $6.00 (limit 1 per order)
Momento sheet with Nov 1 cancel applied over the single stamp - $5.00 (limit 1 per order)
Full sheet (8 1/2" x 11") with 21 self-adhesive stamps, cancel on back - $40.00 (limit 2 per order)
Colour FDC cover with Nov 1 cancel and stamp, numbered and limited to 250 covers, back with text - $5.00 (limit 1 per order)
Black/white FDC cover with Nov 1 cancel and stamp - $4.00 (limit 1 per order)
