2002: THE YEAR IN REVIEW

News from Canada: redress and celebrations

Redress was the key issue, it seemed, for Ukrainian Canadians during the year 2002. For over a decade the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association (UCCLA) has sought recognition and restitution for the wrongs done to Canadians of Ukrainian and other European origins during Canada's first national internment operations, 1914-1920. More than 8,000 men, and some women and children, were labeled "enemy aliens," herded into Canadian concentration camps and forced to do heavy labor. There were 24 such internment camps throughout Canada, and the UCCLA has been placing markers at the sites. Over 80,000 more were forced to report to the police like common criminals and lost the right to vote; some were deported. The enemy aliens' assets were confiscated, and they were subjected to various other state-sanctioned censures.

As a result of the efforts of the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association, supported by the Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko and the Ukrainian Canadian community of British Columbia, a trilingual historical marker was unveiled at the original site of one of the Monashee-Mara Lake camps, at Two Mile, near Sicamous, on Saturday, June 8.

"This unhappy episode in Canadian history must be recalled if we are to ensure that what happened to Ukrainian Canadians in the first world war period, and to our fellow Japanese Canadians in the second world war, and to some citizens of Quebec in 1970, does not happen again," stated the UCCLA's local representative, Andrea Malysh. Tying such remembrances to current events, she added: "This is particularly important in the wake of the horrors that befell our society on September 11. While we must remain vigilant as we prosecute our war against terrorism, we can not allow our societies to become vigilantes when dealing with Canadians of other ethnic and religious backgrounds. Canada is an inclusive society and must remain that way. Recalling this tragic past is a step we can all take to ensure that wrongs done in the past are not repeated in our future." The plaque in Mara Lake was the 18th placed by the UCCLA and its supporters since 1994.

On August 5, another plaque recalling the internment operations was placed near a camp once located in the Eaton-Munson-Drumheller region of southern Alberta.

Those held around Drumheller worked in the nearby coal mines and were also deployed to assist local farmers in collecting their harvests.

On August 11, the festivities at the annual Ukrainian Day celebrations at the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village were interrupted to unveil a trilingual memorial plaque commemorating the internment operations. The Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, located in Alberta, 30 miles from Edmonton, Alberta, is an open-air museum replicating the pioneer experience of Ukrainians in Canada. It houses the original homestead buildings of several pioneer families, including the Slemkos, who just a few years after their homestead had been cleared and the buildings erected, had three family members unjustly interned at concentration camps in western Canada.

While the markers were being placed at sites around the country, the UCCLA and the Ukrainian Canadian Committee were meeting in an effort to issue a joint position on redress for World War I internment. It was at its annual meeting in Winnipeg on June 22 that the UCC agreed to refine a joint position in cooperation with the UCCLA regarding redress for the World War I period internment operations.

The cooperative effort is being led by attorney Andrew Hladyshevsky, president of the Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko. For several months, the director of research for the UCCLA, Dr. Luciuk, and Paul Grod, first vice-president of the UCC, had worked with Mr. Hladyshevsky to ensure that a thorough and comprehensive redress package would be ready for presentation to the government of Canada in the fall.

Mr. Hladyshevsky, who also serves as chair of the Internment Committee of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress; Dr. Luciuk, and Alexandra Chyczij, a member of the Justice Committee of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and a local constituent; met on August 23 with Member of Parliament Jean Augustine, secretary of state for multiculturalism, and three senior members of the departments of Canadian Heritage and Justice, to begin the process of resolving the community's call for the recognition of Canada's first national internment operations and their impact on Canadians of Ukrainian and other East European origins.

During an hourlong meeting, the minister indicated a willingness to move the issue forward within her own ministry, Canadian Heritage, and others, including Parks Canada, Veterans' Affairs, Justice and to do so in the near future. Although Minister Augustine did not specify a timeline, she did pledge to meet with key ministers in September and to initiate consultations as soon as possible. The minister reaffirmed, in principle, her support for elements of Bill C-331, the Ukrainian Canadian Restitution Act authored by Member of Parliament Inky Mark, who represents the Dauphin-Swan River riding (district) in Manitoba.

A major step toward raising awareness of the redress issue and securing restitution came during the launch of Project Roll Call. The National Press Gallery in Ottawa was the venue on November 5 of the launch of the project, described by MP Mark as "a continuation of the fight to get justice for all the internee Canadians that were put into 24 prison camps across this country between 1914 and 1920."

The gathering also aimed to drum up support for a bill to recognize the injustice inflicted decades ago upon persons of Ukrainian descent and other Europeans - including Croats, Serbs, Poles, Turks, Slovenians, Slovaks, Hungarians, Germans and Austrians - who were interned at the time of World War I .

The joint press conference by Mr. Mark and the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association (UCCLA) announced the beginning of the Roll Call program that will mail more than 37,000 postcards to Canadian households that have been identified as having the same or similar surnames to those of the World War I internees. Among other political leaders present were Sen. Raynell Andreychuk and MP Joe Clark.

Dr. Luciuk stated: "Project Roll Call is a search for survivors of Canada's first national internment operations in 1914 to 1920. It is not only for survivors, actual internees, but for their descendants."

He explained how the UCCLA began this project: "Several years ago, working with the few remaining government documents that refer to the internment operations, volunteers right across Canada pulled together a list of some 5,000 civilian internees in the first world war period. Over the last year, working with volunteers across Canada, we have ... put together a master list, of just over 37,000 Canadian families who may be in some way or another related to a person who was interned during the First World War."

"The postcard has two objectives," explained Mr. Mark. "First, it asks that Canadians whose family members were or may have been interned to contact the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association. Second, it urges all Canadians to support Private Member's Bill C-331 that I introduced in the last session of Parliament and will be re-introducing shortly."

Mr. Mark reminded his listeners that: "For almost two decades, Canadians of Ukrainian descent, and there are almost a million of them in this country, have been looking for justice from this Liberal government and I just want to remind Canadians that in 1993 Mr. [Jean] Chrétien wrote a letter as leader of the Official Opposition saying that he would deal with the redress issue when he became prime minister. Well, we have been waiting for almost 10 years."

Mr. Mark's fellow Progressive Conservative, Mr. Clark, speaking in English and French, noted that Bill C-331 "urges the government to act on an undertaking that the prime minister made in 1993." He noted that "the principle of redress has been established in our law," referring to the redress sought and gained by Japanese Canadians for mistreatment during World War II.

"Thousands ... were unjustly interned in Canadian concentration camps during the first world war period, not because of anything they had done but only because of where they had come from," Dr. Luciuk explained. "They had been lured to Canada with promises of freedom and free land, and yet suddenly found themselves branded as enemy aliens, herded into 24 Canadian concentration camps, forced to do heavy labor, their valuables and property confiscated."

"Ironically, this happened against the background of some 10,000 Ukrainian Canadians volunteering to serve with Canadian Expeditionary Forces overseas, one of whom as you may know, Philip Konowal, won the Victoria Cross," Dr. Luciuk added.

Mr. Mark said he had met recently with Mr. Chrétien and urged him to honor his decade-old promise before he leaves office in early 2004." A legacy of broken promises should not be the legacy of a prime minister," Mr. Mark concluded.

Dr. Luciuk emphasized that "there are still some survivors of Canada's first national internment operations alive, and we would like to resolve this matter within their lifetimes. That is all that we want."

During the latter part of 2002, working with the Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, the UCCLA crafted terms for a proposed settlement with the government of Canada, involving recognition of the injustices done coupled with educational and commemorative projects collectively aimed at initiating a timely and honorable reconciliation. In Hamilton on December 2 they tabled the proposal with Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps.

The proposal calls for, among other things, the development of a permanent museum about the internment operations in Banff National Park, six commemorative stamps, historical markers at all internment camp sites and the development of educational and other commemorative materials for Canadian schools and universities, including four permanently endowed scholarships for those intending post-graduate studies in the social sciences and humanities, law, education and the arts having to do with the Ukrainian Canadian experience. The total amount - which would be committed to the proposed Ukrainian Canadian Reconciliation Fund, to be administered by the Shevchenko Foundation - will be determined after negotiations with the federal government have arrived at an agreed-upon contemporary value of the internee's forced labor and of that portion of their confiscated wealth that was never returned.

Speaking after the meeting, Dr Luciuk remarked: "The minister was very sympathetic to the proposal we tendered, which represents the united position of our community on this matter. She has promised to work with us to action some of our requests in the near future, and to follow up with other government ministries to ensure that all relevant departments within the government are engaged in helping us right this historical injustice."

In other news, in July the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association called for an official commission of inquiry on Soviet and Communist war criminals in Canada, and, if the evidence merits it, for the denaturalization and deportation of those who lied about their criminal activities upon entering Canada. The request came in light of recent evidence of individuals now living in Canada who were members of SMERSH, a Soviet formation responsible for the executions of Red Army soldiers and of thousands of anti-Communist civilians in Eastern Europe. One of the most well-known victims of SMERSH was Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat who saved Hungarian Jews during World War II.

"We are calling on the Canadian government to determine how many of these alleged Soviet war criminals and collaborators are in Canada, how they came to be here and why they continue to enjoy the privileges of Canadian citizenship," said Dr. Luciuk. "We are also calling for their denaturalization and deportation, if the evidence warrants it. There are people in Canada today who have publicly admitted to having committed atrocities while serving with SMERSH and the murderous Soviet secret police, the NKVD. Some have even written books, in English, boasting of their roles in liquidating anti-Soviet Lithuanians and Ukrainians," he added.

Canada's Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Section has not taken any known action against alleged Communist war criminals in Canada, despite several requests by UCCLA.

Ukrainians in Canada were closely watching the case of Wasyl Odynsky, a displaced person who arrived in Canada in 1949. Back in March 2001, Justice W. Andrew MacKay of the Federal Court of Canada found that Mr. Odynsky was innocent of any war crimes. However, he did find him guilty of probably not truthfully answering questions asked by Canada's immigration authorities when he entered the country 53 years ago. In his decision Justice MacKay wrote, "After careful consideration of the evidence presented, on a balance of probabilities it is more probable than not Mr. Odynsky did not truthfully answer questions that were put to him concerning his wartime experience." As a result, during 2002 Mr. Odynsky was awaiting a decision of the federal Cabinet on whether he should be deported from Canada. Deported - not for war crimes - but for probably lying.

In a commentary titled "Who needs evidence?" in Report Newsmagazine on July 8, Kevin Michael Grace got to the heart of the matter, describing the government's argument: "Immigration officials must have asked Mr. Odynsky and the others about Nazi associations (because that was government policy), and they must have lied (because they would not have been admitted otherwise)." For the record, Mr. Odynsky said under oath that he was not asked what he did in the war. According to Dr. Luciuk, "No specific documentary evidence refutes his testimony. Ottawa destroyed those files years ago. But, on 'a balance of probabilities,' the judge ruled Mr. Odynsky secured citizenship under false pretenses."

In a June 14 column titled "This is justice?" Peter Worthington of the Toronto Sun wrote: "The case against Odynsky - conscripted by the Nazis at age 19 on pain of death and/or reprisals to his family - is so tenuous, vindictive and unjust it should be dismissed out of hand. ... By any objective standard, Odynsky was more a victim of Nazism than a perpetrator ... Odynsky, 19, with a Grade 5 education, was conscripted into an SS auxiliary unit as a perimeter guard at a concentration camp. He ran away to avoid conscription, but returned when the Nazis threatened his family."

The Ukrainian Weekly weighed in with its editorial on the case, arguing that : "The only just decision at this point in this case would be for the Cabinet of Canada to allow Mr. Odynsky to remain in that country. But justice would be best served if Canada went back to the drawing board, trashed the new Citizenship Act that permits naturalized citizens to be deported without appeal (in effect creating a lower class of citizens) and reverted to the made-in-Canada solution to war crimes: i.e., prosecuting suspected war criminals for war crimes - not some lesser violation - in accordance with Canadian criminal law and the concomitant higher standards of evidence.

The year 2002 began with Canada marking a decade of relations with Ukraine. Canadians and Ukrainians on January 30 celebrated that anniversary at a special gathering in Ottawa, as more than 300 people crowded into the National Archives down the street from the National Parliament in the Canadian capital to mark the occasion.

Canada was the first country in the Western hemisphere to recognize independent Ukraine, extending diplomatic recognition one day after Ukrainians voted on December 1, 1991, in a national referendum to break away from the Soviet Union. By January 27, 1992, Canada's secretary of state for external affairs at the time, Barbara McDougall, was in Kyiv to open the Canadian Embassy.

"As Canada's [representative] at that historic moment a decade ago, I am proud that our country was the first to extend diplomatic recognition to Ukraine," said Ms. McDougall in a speech read by Ian Wilson of the National Archives. (Ms. McDougall was unable to attend the January 30 event due to a prior commitment.) "Canadians with Ukrainian roots were among those who were bursting with pride in their former homeland," she said. "And many, indeed, have since returned to help shape democracy and free markets as the country has developed. ... That period of development has not been without missteps and indeed, sometimes, mischief." But there is no turning back, and we must never forget that momentous change is hard work."

In a letter to Canada's head of state, Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, President Leonid Kuchma of Ukraine wrote that Canada will always be "a close friend" to Ukraine. "Without exaggeration, [Canada's acknowledgment] paved the way for our state into the international community," said Mr. Kuchma. "It accelerated democratic reforms and the formation of a civil society in Ukraine."

Ukraine's independence was first recognized by its Western neighbor, Poland. But as Ukraine's ambassador to Canada, Dr. Yuri Shcherbak, was quick to point out, Poland, located in almost the same time zone as Ukraine at the time, had the advantage of time in extending its acknowledgment. Ottawa was only eight hours behind, he argued, and its early recognition must not go unnoticed.

A month after the celebration of the decade of bilateral relations, Ambassador Shcherbak on February 22 convened a meeting at his residence with prominent members of the Ukrainian Canadian community, to discuss the state of affairs and future directions of Canada-Ukraine relations. Members shared their views on the contributions of the Ukrainian Canadian community to the relationship between both countries. The outcome of the discussion was the establishment of a Canada-Ukraine Advisory Committee to the ambassador of Ukraine. The main goal of this committee is to contribute to the strengthening of bilateral Canada-Ukraine relations in all spheres of cooperation, including supporting Ukraine's initiatives in the democratization of society, economic development and integration into the European Community; partnering in the organization of a wide range of the educational, scientific, cultural and economic workshops, conferences and other events related to current and future Canada-Ukraine relations; promoting Ukrainian masterpieces of tangible and intangible heritage; and informing Canadians about these activities.

Members of the Canada-Ukraine Advisory Committee encompass persons from diverse fields. They include: James C. Temerty, president of Northland Power Inc. (tapped by committee participants as coordinator); Erast Huculak, president and chairman of the board, Medical Pharmacies Group Inc.; Orest V. Nowakiwsky, executive director, Canadian Bank Note Co. Ltd.; Mary Szkambara, president, Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Toronto Branch; Rostyslav Kysil, president Meest Corp. Inc.; Orest Dubas, director, Ukraine-Canada Policy and Trade Center; Oksana Bashuk-Hepburn, president, Ukraine-Canada Relations Inc.; Prof. Ostap Hawaleshka, president, Canada-Ukraine Foundation; Prof. Orest Subtelny, York University; Dmytro Cipywnyk, chair, Advisory Committee on Saskatchewan-Ukraine Relations; Viktor Pedenko, secretary-general, Ukrainian World Congress; Bud Convey, representative of the Alberta-Ukraine Council; and John Woychyshyn, president, Oleh Olzhych World Foundation, Canadian Branch.

The Advisory Committee decided to hold its meetings twice a year, alternately in Ottawa and Toronto, and to include as members not only Ukrainian Canadians but also prominent representatives of Canadian society.

In other developments in Canada, the Ukrainian Canadian Students' Union, now in its 50th year, announced that during 2002 that it was entering a rebuilding phase. After a productive but poorly attended national congress held in Ottawa in July, the union will be concentrating on re-establishing links with its members and narrowing down a focus.

"We're an umbrella body for Ukrainian student clubs across Canada," said the new vice-president (internal), Jenn Kehoe. "Some of these clubs are faring extremely well, while others are faltering. All we can do as their national representatives is help them out if they need it," she explained.

Windsor, Calgary and Ottawa universities were represented at the three-day gathering, which is held annually. Lower-than-expected turnout was the result of a number of factors, explained outgoing President Pavlo Horbal. "Since the congress this year was pushed to the summer instead of the usual February, many students couldn't get away because of summer job commitments," Mr. Horbal noted. "Being peak travel season, and understanding the rising costs of tuition here in Canada, we realized that many students probably couldn't afford to make the trip to Ottawa. We may have to look more towards fund-raising in the future." It is expected that the SUSK conclave will return to February next year in Toronto, which is hosting the 50th anniversary congress.

In Winnipeg, the Osvita Foundation on June 12 hosted a reception at Oseredok, as the Ukrainian Cultural and Education Center there is known, to celebrate 20 fruitful years of support for Ukrainian education in Canada. Osvita lapel pins were presented to outstanding individual donors, past Osvita testimonial banquet honorees and past members of the board of trustees.

Meanwhile, in Toronto, North American's largest Ukrainian street festival, the Bloor West Village Ukrainian Festival attracted well over 100,000 visitors in the period beginning on Friday evening, September 13, and continuing all day Saturday. The seven-block festival features a 40-square-foot stage that presents an all-day concert featuring pop stars from Ukraine and Canada, and numerous dance ensembles, among other performers. The festival, presented by Kontakt Television, is to be even larger in 2003 with plans calling for outdoor structures to represent Ukrainian community life, and even a scale model of the world's largest cargo plane, Ukraine's own Antonov-225, the Mria.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, January 12, 2003, No. 2, Vol. LXXI

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