Ukrainian Canadian internment

The Ukrainian Canadian internment was part of the confinement of enemy aliens in Canada during World War I, lasting from 1914 to 1920. About 5,000 Ukrainian men of Austro-Hungarian citizenship were kept in twenty-four internment camps and work sites.

Related Topics:
World War I - Internment

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Under the 1914 War Measures Act, "aliens of enemy nationality" were compelled to register with authorities. About 70,000 Ukrainians from Austro-Hungary fell under this description. 8,579 males were interned by the Canadian Government, including 5,954 Austro-Hungarians, most of whom were probably ethnic Ukrainians. Most of the interned were poor or unemployed single men, although 81 women and 156 children (of all nationalities) voluntarily accompanied men at two of the camps. The internment did not include Canadian-born, Canadian citizens, or citizens of the Russian Empire.

Related Topics:
War Measures Act - Austro-Hungary - Canadian Government - Austro-Hungarian - Ukrainians - Russian Empire

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Many of these internees were used for labour in internment camps. Conditions at the camps varied, and the Banff/Castle Mountain camp, where labour contributed to the creation of Banff National Park, was considered exceptionally harsh and abusive. The internment continued for two more years after the war had ended, although most Ukrainians were paroled into jobs for private companies by 1917.

Related Topics:
Banff - Castle Mountain - Banff National Park

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There are several plaques and memorials in Canada commemorating the internment, including one at the location of a former internment camp in Banff National Park. In 2005, Prime Minister Paul Martin recognized the Ukrainian-Canadian internment as a "dark chapter" in the history of Canada, and pledged $2.5 million to fund memorials and educational exhibits.

Related Topics:
Paul Martin - History of Canada

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The Ukrainian Canadian internment is sometimes compared to the Japanese Canadian internment of World War II, but the Japanese internment applied to Canadian citizens, who had their belongings confiscated, were separated from their families, and interned.

Related Topics:
Japanese Canadian internment - World War II

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