The "truth of injustice" has been recorded (10/23/05)

The "truth of injustice" has been recorded

Following is the text of remarks delivered by Nancy Lyzaniwski at the ceremonies unveiling a historical marker in Fernie, British Columbia, at the site of a World War I internment camp.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen.

On behalf of the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association, I am very pleased to welcome you here today for this important historical marker for all Ukrainians and for all Canadians.

We stand together today to unveil and dedicate a plaque marking the location of a serious injustice that was perpetrated on Ukrainian Canadians just like you and me. This plaque will forever honor and remember our past so that we can proudly move forward knowing that the "truth of injustice" has been recorded.

Most Canadians and many Ukrainian Canadians were not told of a dark period in Canadian history between 1914 and 1920 where 24 internment camps were in operation across Canada. The Fernie camp was one of the last camps to open in 1915.

All together, the camps held over 8,000 people of other east European descent, over 5,000 were of Ukrainian descent. All were deemed "unsuitable" to carry on their daily lives working on their farms, in factories and in local businesses throughout Canada. They were separated from their families, friends, and their communities. Their possessions and property were confiscated and never returned. They were confined to unbearable living quarters secured by barbed wire, high fences, walls and guards because the government perceived they were a security risk to Canada because they came from a particular part of Europe with which Canada was at war.

We stand before a plaque to honour those innocent citizens of our country who were never convicted of any crime. The injustice was made even greater by the fact that many of these Ukrainian Canadians were recent immigrants who had followed the Government of Canada's invitation to leave Ukraine for a promise of a new life to live and work in a country that was "free" and full of opportunity. Their dream was simple to start a new life and raise their families.

This dream quickly became a nightmare for many, as those interned were forced to build highways and roads, to clear the land that would become today's national parks, to build log-houses for families of prisoners, erect bunk-houses and fencing, and installing drains and water-pipes. Essentially they built their own prisons.

This ceremony is also a timely event as it was just over a month ago when Prime Minister Martin made a long-awaited announcement in my home-town of Regina, Saskatchewan. His government allocated $2.5 million in funding for commemorative projects that will highlight the contributions made by communities affected by wartime measures, such as internment and immigration restrictions.

In closing, as a Canadian of Ukrainian decent, I take this opportunity to applaud the work of UCCLA, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, the Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko, and the government for its announcement and most importantly, its acknowledgement - all of which will educate those who visit and travel throughout our country.

Canada is my home and it becomes a new home to many new immigrants each year with the same simple promise of a land of opportunity that goes beyond race, beyond religion and beyond social class.

Commemorations and plaques remind all Canadians to keep the promise of a just and free society. This collective spirit for justice and tolerance is the promise that we as Canadians extend to each other, our friends, our neighbors at home and abroad. We remember, we honor and we continue the promise to build a life in this great country together.

Thank you for joining us today.

| Home Page |