In Pictures: Commemorating an unfortunate episode from the past
A dark and shadowy episode of the past, the imprisonment of thousands of immigrants the start of the First World War, was thrust into the light on Friday, August 22, as a plaque marking the passage of the War Measures Act that permitted it was unveiled at the Revelstoke Museum & Archives. Sarah Mickel photo
By David F. Rooney
A dark and shadowy episode of the past, the imprisonment of thousands of immigrants the start of the First World War, was thrust into the light on Friday, August 22, as a plaque marking the passage of the War Measures Act that permitted it was unveiled at the Revelstoke Museum & Archives.
The plaque was one of 100 unveiled across Canada last week, including 24 in BC alone, to mark the passage of the Act and the arrest of thousands of so-called “enemy aliens” of Ukrainian, German, Hungarian, Serbian, Croatian, Turkish and Armenian descent. These men were rounded up and herded into Canada’s first internment camps at the start of the Great War. They were later released but lest you think this was an anomaly, you should know that we did it again in 1941 when Japanese-Canadians were arrested and interned in camps across BC and Alberta.
The War Measures Act was invoked again during the October Crisis of 1970 when 497 people were detained in Quebec following the kidnapping of British diplomat James Cross and the murder of Quebec Labour Minister Pierre Laporte by terrorists from the Front de libération du Québec. All but 62 of the people scooped by the RCMP and the army were later released without charges. At the time, opinion polls throughout Canada, including in Quebec, showed widespread support for the use of the War Measures Act. The Act remains a tool the government can use to safeguard the country from potential threats from aboard — and within.
Guests at the unveiling of the Revelstoke plaque included many members of the Ukrainian community. Ukrainian-Canadians from across the country have for decades lobbied Ottawa to acknowledge the internment of their fathers and grandfathers.
Here are some photos from the event:
Sam Olynyk and Mayor David Raven unveil the plaque that commemorates a shadowy episode from the First World War: Canada’s decision to imprison thousands of immigrants from the Austro-Hungarian, German and Ottoman empires as “enemy aliens.” Revelstoke was — briefly — the site of one of the internment camps. Sarah Mickel photo100 of these plaques were unveiled on Friday, August 22, at locations across the country, including 24 locations in BC alone. Sarah Mickel photoMayor David Raven displays a cane hand-carved for a guard by one of the prisoners in the Revelstoke Camp that is kept in the mayor’s office at City Hall. Sarah Mickel photoSam Olynyk talks about his Ukrainian family’s experiences with the camps during the turbulent war years. For decades Canada’s Ukrainian community lobbied for some kind of acknowledgement of the unjust internment camps and the draconian nature of the War Measures Act from the federal government. Sarah Mickel photoMP David Wilks (second from the left) arrived late for the ceremony — he was held up by traffic and construction on the Trans-Canada Highway during his drive here from the Columbia Valley. Here he poses with Nicholas Irving, Field Unit Superintendent, Mount Revelstoke & Glacier National Parks (left), the Mayor and Sam for a full and formal unveiling of the plaque. Sarah Mickel photoAttendees Terry Lys of Calgary and Dan Gawiuk and Walter Cwikula of Revelstoke chat during the event. Terry and his wife Lenora were on holiday in BC and came here specifically to attend one of the 100 plaque unveilings. Sarah Mickel photoNellie Cwikula gave thanks to God at the beginning of the post-unveiling luncheon that was a very appropriate and delicious borscht, accompanied by breads, cheeses, sausages and desserts from The Modern. Sarah Mickel photoThis lovely event marks a little-known episode from the past. And it did happen again. In 1941, Japanese-Canadians in BC were interned in camps across BC and Alberta. And hundreds of people in Quebec were arrested and detained during the October Crisis in 1970. Even today, national security legislation permits the federal government to act peremptorily to safeguard Canadians’ safety from perceived threats from abroad and within. Sarah Mickel photo
