About the Canadian World War I
About the Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund
Following several months of negotiations between the Federal Government of Canada and the Ukrainian Canadian community, as represented by the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association (UCCLA), the Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko (UCFTS), and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC), a $10 million endowment known as the Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund (CFWWIRF) was established to commemorate and educate Canadians about Canada’s first national internment operations of 1914 to 1920.
The agreed terms of the endowment were confirmed during a signing ceremony held on May 9, 2008, at the Stanley Barracks in Toronto, Ontario. The Federal Government was represented by Hon. Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration, and Multiculturalism, and the Ukrainian community was represented by Mr. Andrew Hladyshevsky, K.C. (UCFTS), Mr. Paul Grod (UCC), and Dr. Lubomyr Luciuk (UCCLA).
The CFWWIRF was designated for the support of projects to commemorate and recognize the experiences of ethno-cultural communities affected by the First World War internment. Only the interest earned on the $10 million was used to fulfill the objective of the Fund.
The funding agreement with the Government of Canada expired On May 9, 2023.
About the Canadian World War I Internment Legacy
The Canadian WWI Internment Legacy (Internment Legacy) is a program of the Shevchenko Foundation that succeeds and will continue the work of the “Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund” (CFWWIRF).
The Internment Legacy acknowledges the work of numerous community stakeholders, including the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association, in establishing the endowment as created by the Government of Canada and reflects the commitment of TSF to honour the mission for which it was established.
The funds will continue to support projects that commemorate and recognize the experiences of ethno-cultural communities affected by the First World War internment and address the ongoing harm resulting from this unjust internment.
Detailed information about project funding and the application process are available on the TSF website.
About Our Logo
Our logo incorporates the image of the monument titled “ВИТРИВАЛІСТЬ – ENDURANCE” designed by Artist Herman Poulin.
This Internment monument is an initiative of the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Foundation intended to educate, raise awareness and honour the many thousands of Ukrainians and other eastern Europeans who were victimized by Canada’s First World War national internment operations of 1914 to 1920.
The Internment monument, funded in part by the Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund, was unveiled on October 1, 2023, at the Alberta Legislature Grounds in Edmonton, Alberta.
