Holodomor Research and Education Consortium

The Holodomor Research and Education Consortium (HREC) is a scholarly and educational organization based at the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies (CIUS) at the University of Alberta. It was established in 2013 with the support of the Temerty Foundation, a Toronto-based philanthropic organization, and began operations in January 2013. HREC's mission is to promote the research, study, and understanding of the Holodomor — the famine in Ukraine of 1932–33 — so that this tragedy is more widely recognized in Canadian society and included in school curricula on history and genocide. HREC operates through two main divisions: a Research component and an Education component. The Research division conducts and promotes research on the Holodomor and related topics, engaging scholars and institutions across disciplines through conferences, grant competitions, fellowships, translation and publication programs, and other outreach activities. The Education division furthers the research, study, and teaching of the Holodomor through six streams: resource development, educator training workshops, presentations, outreach, promotion, and consulting. It develops instructional materials and trains educators across Canada, the United States, and Ukraine in best practices for teaching the Holodomor, and works with ministries of education, school boards, administrators, and curriculum leaders. The consortium's mandate is carried out by staff in a Toronto office, CIUS staff in Edmonton, and researchers in Ukraine. HREC collaborates closely with the Ukrainian Center for Holodomor Studies in Kyiv. Its leadership includes an executive director, a director of research, a director of education, and a chair of the executive committee, supported by research associates and administrative staff. An advisory committee has included prominent scholars such as Paul Magocsi, Alexander Motyl, Norman Naimark, and Serhii Plokhii. Since its founding, HREC has organized numerous conferences, lectures, workshops, and grant competitions, and has published educational materials for teachers in English, Ukrainian, and French. It launched a free online course on the Holodomor through the Coursera platform and continues to host public events, including the Toronto Annual Ukrainian Famine Lecture. HREC remains active in promoting Holodomor studies and education internationally.

The Holodomor Research and Education Consortium (HREC) was established in January 2013 with a generous gift of 1,062,000 CAD from the Temerty Foundation of Toronto. It was created as a project of the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies (CIUS) at the University of Alberta, with its office initially located in Toronto at the Ukrainian-Canadian Research and Documentation Centre. The consortium's founding was driven by the need to promote research, study, publication, and dissemination of truthful information about the Holodomor — the famine in Ukraine of 1932–33 — so that the tragedy would be more widely recognized in Canadian society and included in school curricula on history and genocide. From the outset, HREC was organized into two main components: a Research division and an Education division. The Research component engages scholars, universities, working groups, organizations, and libraries in the West and in Ukraine, publishes scholarly articles, translations of documents into English, a guide to Holodomor sources, and a 'Questions and Answers' series for teachers, students, and the general public. As of 2018, it was led by Bohdan Klid and Andriy Makych. The Education component focuses on developing and distributing authoritative and accessible resources about the Holodomor for students, educators, schools, ministries, and other institutions, and on advocating for the inclusion of Holodomor-related topics in curricula. It develops programs and methodologies for educational institutions that foster critical thinking and research skills. As of 2018, it was led by Valentina Kuryliw. HREC's activities are carried out in close cooperation with its sister organization, the Ukrainian Center for Holodomor Studies, based in Kyiv. The consortium's governance includes an executive committee with representatives from various Ukrainian studies programs, and an advisory committee of prominent scholars such as Paul Magocsi (University of Toronto), Alexander Motyl (Rutgers University), Norman Naimark (Stanford University), and Serhii Plokhii (Harvard University). Lyudmyla Hrynevych (Institute of History of Ukraine, Kyiv) serves as HREC's representative in Ukraine. In spring 2013, HREC published a Holodomor guide for teachers in Canadian schools, with materials developed in English, Ukrainian, and French according to age and subject. On 10–12 May 2013, an educational conference for educators was held in Toronto. On 27–28 November 2013, a scholarly conference was held in Toronto to mark the 80th anniversary of the Holodomor. On 27 November 2015, a lecture by Minnesota researcher and writer Ron Vossler titled 'Deathbed Cry: Letters of Ethnic Germans to Their Relatives in Dakota from Soviet Ukraine, 1932–33' was funded by the consortium. In May and June 2016, the Holodomor was highlighted at two academic conferences in Calgary and Lviv. On 26 October 2016, a conference on 'Empire, Colonialism and Famine in Comparative Historical Perspective' was organized at the University of Toronto. In autumn 2016, a series of lectures and round tables on the Holodomor were held in Toronto. On 5–7 May 2016, a conference on the Holodomor in Ukraine was held in Toronto. On 5–6 October 2016, Valentina Kuryliw conducted a master class at California State University on 'Studying the Holodomor in the 21st Century: Mastering Critical and Historical Thinking Skills.' On 30 October 2017, a presentation of Anne Applebaum's book 'Red Famine: Stalin's War on Ukraine' was organized. On 28 November 2017, a lecture on 'Tell the Kremlin We Are Starving!' — Rhia Kleinman's journey through Ukraine's 'Hungry Lands' — was held at the University of Toronto. On 18 December 2017, a competition for the best article on the Holodomor in Ukraine was organized, with a prize of 2,500 CAD. On 22 February 2018, a lecture by Dr. Oleh Volovyna on 'Questions of Holodomor Studies' was organized. In March 2018, grants for Holodomor research were launched. On 13 March 2018, a scholarship was established for University of Toronto students in the Genocide and Human Rights program. On 14 March 2018, financial support was provided for the publication 'Starving Ukraine: The Holodomor and Canada's Response' by Dr. Serhiy Tsiptko. On 29 March 2018, a presentation of Marci Shore's book 'The Ukrainian Night: An Intimate History of Revolution' was organized. On 19–20 October 2018, scholarships were introduced for the conference 'Genocide in the 21st Century: Challenges and Problems in Interpretive, Ethical-Political and Legal Concepts.' HREC continues to be active in organizing conferences, lectures, workshops, and grant competitions, and in developing educational resources. It has launched a free online course on the Holodomor through Coursera and hosts the Toronto Annual Ukrainian Famine Lecture. The consortium remains a project of CIUS at the University of Alberta, with staff in Toronto and Edmonton and researchers in Ukraine.

• HREC established with a gift of 1,062,000 CAD from the Temerty Foundation; office opened in Toronto.

• Educational conference for educators held in Toronto (10–12 May).

• Scholarly conference marking the 80th anniversary of the Holodomor held in Toronto (27–28 November).

• Lecture by Ron Vossler on 'Deathbed Cry: Letters of Ethnic Germans...' funded by HREC.

• Holodomor highlighted at academic conferences in Calgary and Lviv (May–June).

• Conference 'Empire, Colonialism and Famine in Comparative Historical Perspective' at University of Toronto.

• Presentation of Anne Applebaum's book 'Red Famine: Stalin's War on Ukraine' organized.

• Competition for best article on the Holodomor with a 2,500 CAD prize.

• Grants for Holodomor research launched.

• Scholarship established for University of Toronto students in Genocide and Human Rights program.

• Scholarships introduced for conference 'Genocide in the 21st Century' (19–20 October).

An academic and educational initiative dedicated to Holodomor research and teaching, affiliated with a major Canadian university and supported by philanthropic funding.

• Holodomor guide for teachers

  Published in spring 2013, materials in English, Ukrainian, and French.

• Online course 'Famine as Genocide in the 20th Century: The Case of the Holodomor'

  A free 13-module course on Coursera.

• Research grants and fellowships

  Grants for Holodomor research and scholarships for students.

1. 1Holodomor Research and Education Consortium - HRECholodomor.ca
2. 2How to Hide a Famine - The Holodomor as History and Heuristic - HRECholodomor.ca
3. 3About us - HRECholodomor.ca
4. 4Hołodomor research and educational consortium - Wikidatawikidata.org
5. 5Дослідно-освітній консорціум із вивчення Голодомору - Wikipedia (Ukrainian)uk.wikipedia.org