“The intention to completely destroy a group, culture or religion is the atrocity that is genocide. In April, we join the rest of Canada in recognizing Genocide Remembrance, Condemnation and Prevention Month. This is a time to remember and pay tribute to the victims of mass killings, and to take a stand against the fear and hatred that are the root causes.
“On April 7, we also mark the anniversary of one of the most horrific acts in human history – the genocide of the Tutsi people in Rwanda. Over 100 days, approximately one million people were slaughtered.
“Many Albertans are descendants of people who survived these genocides and we honour their stories. Stories of the Rwandan genocide, the Ukrainian Holodomor, Armenian genocide, Yazidis, and the Holocaust share similar themes. They all caused incredible pain and grief that has impacted generations.
“We remember these tragedies because we must ensure that nothing like this ever happens again. We need to celebrate our diversity, and recognize that living among people of different backgrounds is a gift.
“In this difficult time, we have the opportunity to reflect on how we create resilient communities here in Alberta. Part of that is learning more about each other and discovering our differences are our strengths. We all want safe homes for our families, freedom to practise our faith and traditions, and opportunities to succeed. The only way we can achieve this is by working together and condemning the racism and discrimination that exists in our world.”