STAMPS COMMEMORATING 100th ANNIVERSARY OF CANADA'S FIRST INTERNMENT OPERATIONS NOW AVAILABLE

16 December 2014 – Ottawa – The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) is pleased to announce that a stamp commemorating the 100th anniversary of Canada’s First National Internment Operations is available for purchase.

During the First World War, thousands of Canadians, many of them of Ukrainian heritage, were designated “enemy aliens” and incarcerated under the War Measures Act in 24 internment camps across Canada, not for what they had done but for who they were or where they had come from. The Endowment Council of the Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund (CFWWIRF), undertook to design a Canada Post Picture Postage Permanent Stamp as part of their efforts to ensure that the story of Canada’s First National Internment Operations of 1914-1920 receive proper recognition among Canadians. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress has organized these stamps to be made available to the general public through a grant by the Endowment Council of the CFWWIRF.  

The stamp was officially unveiled on 31 March, 2014 at the Senate of Canada. The ceremony was hosted by the Honourable Raynell Andreychuk, Senator, and attended by the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development, and Minister for Multiculturalism. Minister Kenney stated at the ceremony, “Although the internees are no longer with us, acts of recognition such as this commemorative stamp honour their memory, their sacrifice, and their devotion to Canada. I was honoured to work with the affected communities to establish the Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund in 2008, and I am pleased to support this wonderful initiative.”

The CFWWIRF official logo, designed by international muralist and internee descendant Michelle Loughery was used as the image for this stamp. The colours of the logo deliberately lack vibrancy to reflect the sombre nature of the internment operations. The image of the blue maple leaf and the snowflakes conveys the coldness of the internment camps that were located behind the barbed wire fence.   

“The Ukrainian Canadian community and the CFWWIRF have done enormous work to ensure that the story of Canada’s first national internment operations receive due attention in Canadian society,” stated Paul Grod, National President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. “I congratulate everyone involved in the efforts to release a Canada Post stamp to honour the memory those whose basic rights were violated.”  

The stamps are available for purchase in books of 12 at a cost of $15.00 per booklet at the following locations:

About CFWWIRF The Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund (CFWWIRF) was established to support projects that commemorate and recognize the experiences of all of the ethno-cultural communities affected by Canada’s first national internment operations of 1914 to 1920. For more information please visit:http://www.internmentcanada.ca/

About the UCC The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) is the voice of Canada’s Ukrainian community.  The Congress brings together under one umbrella all the national, provincial and local Ukrainian Canadian organizations. Together with its member organizations, the UCC has been leading, coordinating and representing the interests of one of Canada’s largest ethnic communities (1.2 million) for 70 years and instrumental in shaping Canada’s social, economic and political landscape.