Official Opening of the Cave and Basin First World War Internment Exhibit

Ukrainians of Southern Alberta will have the first opportunity to visit the new, to be unveiled Cave and Basin First World War Internment Exhibit in Banff National Park this June 20, 2013. Especially poignant for the descendants of those who were taken into custody during the First World War, it has to be a "mark on your calendar" event.

The Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association has worked long and hard to establish such excellent relations with the representatives of Canadians in various arms of government. Their decades long advocacy on behalf of the Ukrainian idea in Canada is something for which I am personally thankful.

As a descendant of the early pioneers, I can say without question that the War Internment affected my family. Tenaciously holding to their Ukrainian identity over the generations hasn't always been easy. In fact, like many families, the assimilation process is strong. But as a Canadian, I take great pride in the manner in which my government has owned and tried to right the wrong that was done by establishing yet another First World War Internment Exhibit - this time in Banff National Park. Teaching the general public about the errors in judgement human beings can make, and then leading by example in correcting a historic wrong, this special exhibit will serve a greater good, for a more honorable way forward. We can only hope the world around us will emulate this trend.

It will be a special Thursday afternoon, an excellent opportunity to reach out to family and friends to take a driving trip to Banff. Ukrainian Canadian Congress President Paul Grod is among the esteemed guests who will make the trip across Canada to mark the event on behalf of the many who cannot. Perhaps you could represent your group, and take photos for your local media outlet?

The Official Opening of the Cave & Basin First World War Internment Exhibit will take place on June 20, 2013 at 2:00 pm at the Cave & Basin National Historic Site in Banff, Alberta.

http://ukrainiancalgary.blogspot.ca/2013/03/pavilion-at-cave-and-basin-in-banff.html

Canadian Feature Film - "Enemy Aliens" -

Finally, there is a film planned to portray the historical events from the Enemy Aliens episode of Ukrainian Canadian history!  In mid October the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Foundation granted support to Actor/ Film Maker Ryan Boyko in his mission to produce a new Feature Film about Canada's First National Internment Operations of 1914-1921.  "Enemy Aliens" will tell the story of brothers who leave Ukraine just before the declaration of war in central Europe in 1914.  Ambitious and aspiring to a better life in Canada, the boys arrive and have their hopeful dreams dashed.  Like the stories of many new immigrants of the time, the ramifications of their arrival in Canada at this strategic juncture in world history are daunting.  The movie is a fictional account, full of adventure, love, betrayal, hopes, and dreams.  One alarming event after another will forever change their lives - and the lives of many more who were engulfed in this sorry experience. 

The Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Foundation has contributed a sum of 25 thousand towards this film.  If you should choose to support it too, you can donate directly to UCCLF ( Donations to "Enemy Aliens") , a not for profit organization that will issue tax receipts for donations.  The Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund has also supported this project - check it out at www.internmentcanada.ca.

For more information on the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Foundation, please visit their website at www.ucclf.ca. For more information on this and other upcoming projects, please visit www.ryanboyko.com and www.armisticefilms.com. rmisticefilms.com.

Where is Calgary's Internee Plaque?

Calgary's first Ukrainian church rang its bells in 1912, in what is currently Tuxedo area.  Local Calgarians of Ukrainian ethnicity, coal miners, labourers, farmers and ranchers joined in prayer together - celebrating their ancestral faith.  However, this high moment was short lived.  The many men, women and children who celebrated the liturgy together, were soon engulfed in another tragedy - the WW1 war time internment of "enemy aliens".

Newly minted Canadians, people of Ukrainian ethnicity from the breadbasket of Europe, holding a variety of citizenship papers including those of Austro-Hungary (WW1 enemies of the British Empire) were declared enemy aliens. During World War 1, these people were gathered in 24 internment camps across Canada, and some of them were, if not locals, then itinerant workers in the Calgary area.  Who were they? What are their names? What became of them?

The Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association has been a leader in the Ukrainian Canadian struggle for government ackowledgement of what happened to Ukrainians and other East Europeans during Canada's first national internment operations of 1914-1920.  With over twenty years of service to the community the UCCLA has gained public attention, but only recently, in 2008, did the signing of a technical document establish a $10 million dollar endowment fund within the Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko.  With these funds, UCCLA has been instrumental, with the Canadian government, in establishing memorial sites, and permanent markers at the various sites across Canada to pay tribute to those internees.  One such site is at the Castle Mountain Internment Camp site near Calgary, but most recently another marker was unveiled and blessed in the Whitney Pier district of Sydney, Nova Scotia. 

Like Calgary's 1912 establishment of its first Ukrainian church, the ethnically Ukrainian congregation at Whitney Pier in Sydney, Nova Scotia celebrated its church's first Divine Liturgy in 1912.  Sydney was grievously affected by the internment operations, and now there is a monument to acknowledge that fact, thanks to UCCLA and the local community.

Calgary's Ukrainian community suffered too.  During the First World War, many people were interned, leading to the closing of the first Ukrainian church in Calgary.  The community life of Ukrainians here in Western Canada was forever changed.  Some say that even after nearly a hundred years have passed, this event still resonates in the minds and hearts of families and friends here..  Could it be that this trauma led to immediate assimilation, and intentional loss of ancestral culture, language and family ties?

In defence of the human rights and civil liberties of the entire Ukrainian community here in Canada, but specifically Calgary, I wonder where in the city of Calgary there is such a place of honor? 

For more information, check THE NEW PATHYWAY, Thursday, October 11, 2012 page 6 for two more articles.  Also check www.infoukes.com/newpathway
And CAPE BRETON POST, 21 September, 2012