Plaque recalling Ukrainian internees of 1914-1920 unveiled in Winnipeg

by Dr. Roman Yereniuk

WINNIPEG - The 10th plaque honoring Ukrainian Canadian internees during World War I was unveiled on October 11 in Winnipeg, next to the Shevchenko monument on the legislative grounds of the province of Manitoba. The plaque is located near the site of the former Osborne Baracks, where many internees were detained in 1914-1920 prior to being sent out to one of the 24 camps across the country.

The unveiling ceremony was chaired by Lesia Szwaluk of the Winnipeg branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. The blessing of the plaque was celebrated by Metropolitan Wasyly Fedak of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada and Metropolitan Michael Bzdel of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. A brief memorial service (panakhyda) was offered for the many deceased former internees.

The official unveiling was performed by two members of the Ukrainian Canadian community, Carole Martindale and Donna Babick, both of whom had internees in their immediate families.

Greetings on the occasion were delivered by Rosemary Vodrey, Manitoba's minister of culture, heritage and citizenship, and Councilor Harry Lazarenko of the city of Winnipeg. The keynote address was delivered by Borys Sydoruk, director of special projects for the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association, who concluded that "a memorial like this one unveiled today helps us to remember so that we - as Canadians - don't make the same mistakes again; so that we will treat other groups the way we ourselves would like to have been treated."

The unveiling was attended by some 250 people. Both Winnipeg newspapers, the Winnipeg Sun (October 12) and Winnipeg Free Press (October 13), covered the event.

The plaque today stands as a tribute to the internees and a symbol of an injustice perpetrated upon the first wave of Ukrainian immigrants to Canada.

The absence of federal government representatives both at the national event conclave of the UCC being held that weekend in Winnipeg and the unveiling of the plaque was conspicuous.

Observers noted that the challenge for the Ukrainian Canadian community is now to have this injustice of World War I covered in every class when Canadian history is taught. This could be done as a special unit or in the context of the series of injustices done to other Canadian groups such as the Chinese, Japanese, Italians and others.

FOR THE RECORD: Speech at internment plaque unveiling

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, November 8, 1998, No. 45, Vol. LXVI

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