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October 15, 2009
Mr. David Miller,
Mayor Toronto City Hall,
2nd Floor, 100 Queen St. West,
Toronto ON M5H 2N2
Dear Mayor Miller:
Re: CNE Hotel and Stanley Barracks Site
It is our understanding that the Toronto City Council recently approved the development of a hotel facility on the grounds of the Canadian National Exhibition. It is generally appreciated that a hotel on this site will enhance the use and enjoyment of these grounds.
I am writing to bring to your attention the fact that the hotel will be built adjacent to the Stanley Barracks. This site is recognized as an historic site, and was used as an internment camp for "enemy aliens" during Canada's first national internment operations of 1914-1920 where thousands of Ukrainians and other Eastern European were unjustly interned. Recently the government of Canada recognized this tragedy and a trilingual historical marker was placed at Stanley Barracks to commemorate this unfortunate episode in our nation's history.
As one of the communities that were subjected to the internment operations, the Ukrainian Canadian community is concerned about the impact this hotel development may have on this historic site. I would be most grateful if you would let me know how this hotel development will take into consideration the existence of the Stanley Barracks historic site and internment camp area.
We would be pleased to appoint a representative of our community to work with your office and the developers of this hotel to ensure that the development pays due respect to the site, by, for example, not overcrowding it, or perhaps by incorporating it into the hotel design, to make it part of the attraction of the site for visitors. It is important to maintain appropriate access to the site for purposes of commemorative ceremonies and educational activities which will be developed by the Canada First World War Internment Fund, recently established by the federal government.
I look forward to your early reply.
Yours truly,
Paul Grod,
National President
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