Released on August 22, 2014
Plaques Unveiled to Commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Canada’s First National Internment Operations
Today, the Government of Saskatchewan expressed gratitude to the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Foundation, as the Foundation remembered Canada's first national internment operations of 1914-1920 by unveiling more than 100 plaques on the 100th anniversary of the War Measures Act, 1914.
Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance Ken Krawetz thanked the Foundation for organizing the commemoration and the Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund for its support.
The plaques will be unveiled simultaneously at 11 a.m. (local time) in Ukrainian, Croatian, Serbian, German and Hungarian churches and cultural centres, as well as in local and regional museums and other public venues across Canada.
“The Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Foundation and its partners are to be commended for their efforts to recognize this important event, and to mark the camps with a plaque in memory of the victims of the internment operations,” Krawetz said. “These plaques will serve to educate Canadians about this sad episode in our history.”
The Deputy Premier was in Saskatoon today to participate in the unveiling of a plaque at St. Petro Mohyla Institute. Mohyla was chosen by the Foundation as one of the sites in Canada.
“The plaques will also remind Canadians that we must remain vigilant in defence of civil liberties and human rights, particularly in times of crisis,” Krawetz said.
This national internment operation during 1914-1920 involved the internment of prisoners of war and thousands of civilians in 24 camps that were established across the Dominion of Canada. Thousands of innocent people - men, women and children - were declared enemy aliens because of their nationality or place of birth and were sent to these camps to work on projects. Ukrainians and other Europeans constituted the majority of the civilian internees. Additional information can be found at www.uccla.ca/CTO_100plaques.htm.
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For more information, contact:
Kathy Young
Executive Council
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0425
Email: kathy.young@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-526-8927