Inky Mark receives appreciation award at Canada's National Ukrainian Festival (09/03/06)

Inky Mark receives appreciation award at Canada's National Ukrainian Festival

OTTAWA - Inky Mark, member of Parliament for Dauphin-Swan River, Marquette was the recipient of a special "Award of Appreciation" presented to him at the official opening ceremonies of Canada's National Ukrainian Festival on Friday, August 4, in Dauphin, Manitoba.

Mr. Mark commented, "On Friday, I was honored by Canada's Ukrainian community for my work in advancing Bill C-331, The Ukrainian Canadian Recognition and Restitution Act. This recognition is humbling."

While accepting the distinction before an audience of enthusiastic guests, Mr. Mark shared his award saying, "I accept this honor on behalf of the 5,000 internees, the 80,000 Ukrainian Canadians who were forced to register like common criminals and the thousands of Canadians of Ukrainian descent who worked for justice over the last two decades."

Bill C-331, an act to acknowledge that persons of Ukrainian origin were interned in Canada during the first world war and to provide for recognition of this event received Royal Assent on November 25, 2005.

Mr. Mark concluded his remarks by saying, "The Ukrainian community now has an act of Canada addressing this historic wrong. We still have work to do. To this day, the Ukrainian community has not received a single nickel from the government of Canada. We must continue to lobby the prime minister to ensure that the provisions in C-331 are carried out."

Mr. Mark's award was inscribed with the following:

"For his dedication and relentless effort towards passing the Private Members' Bill C-331, The Ukrainian Canadian Recognition and Restitution Act on November 25, 2005, from: Ukrainian Centennial Memorial Park Committee, Canada's National Ukrainian Festival, Ukrainian Folk Art Center and Museum, The Ukrainian Community of Dauphin."

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