October 28, 2020. OTTAWA, ON. On October 28, we commemorate Canada’s First National Internment Operations (1914-1920) – the forced internment of 8,579 Ukrainians and other Europeans, who were branded ‘enemy aliens’ and sent to 24 internment camps across Canada.
In 2014, the Endowment Council of the Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund and the UCC Internment Committee adopted resolutions designating October 28 as National Internment Commemoration Day in Canada.
Men, women, and children suffered during Canada’s First National Internment Operations, not because of anything they had done, but only because of who they were and where they had come from. On this day, we remember the victims of this injustice. And we are united in our resolve to bring an end to prejudice and discrimination, wherever they may appear.
We encourage all Canadians to mark this important day of commemoration in their communities.
On June 20, 2020, Canada commemorated the centenary of the end of Canada’s first national internment operations. The UCC National Internment Centenary Committee organized an online broadcast of commemorations, which can be viewed here:
The UCC Alberta Provincial Council honoured the centenary anniversary with the Twenty Days of Remembrance project, presenting informational written, visual, and video posts that tell the story of the many victims and their descendants, as well as of the artists, authors, and researchers who brought this tragic event in Canadian history into the open after it was unacknowledged for over fifty years. More information is available here
The Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund is supporting many valuable initiatives on Canada’s First National Internment Operations. For more information please visit their website
