ENDOWMENT COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE CANADIAN FIRST WORLD WAR INTERNMENT RECOGNITION FUND MEET AND ATTEND NATIONAL INTERNMENT ART EXHIBIT OPENING IN VERNON, B.C.
On June 4, 2022, the Endowment Council of the Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund (CFWWIRF) held a meeting in Vernon, British Columbia, site of the central permanent internment camp of British Columbia, which once imprisoned hundreds of so-called “enemy aliens” during Canada’s first national internment operations of 1914 to 1920. The Endowment Council met to review applications and grant funding to a variety of new initiatives intended to recognize and commemorate the experiences of the affected ethno-cultural communities. The Endowment Council includes representatives from the Ukrainian, German, Bulgarian and Austrian communities and an internee descendant. Internment Camp site tours were organized for the Endowment Council to Mara Lake, Monashee, and Vernon internment camps. Andrea Malysh, CFWWIRF Program Manager provided a historical overview of the Mara Lake and Vernon internment camps operation along with the use of the new ON THIS SPOT internment walking tour app. Lawrna Myers provided the historic tour of the Monashee internment camp and the Vernon Internee Cemetery.
On June 3, 2022, the Endowment Council of the CFWWIRF also attended the official opening of the National Internment Art Exhibit, Pause in Plight by artist, Kerri Parnell hosted by Gallery Vertigo and The Wayfinder Sunflower Project. This exhibit is on a cross Canada tour which is funded by a grant from the CFWWIRF. Speaking at this event was Brigitte Red, Executive Director of Gallery Vertigo, Charlene Heidt representing Vernon-Monashee MLA Harwinder Sandhu, Borys Sirskyj, Chair of the CFWWIRF, and Artist, Kerri Parnell.
Speaking on behalf of the Endowment Council of the CFWWIRF, the Chair, Borys Sirskyj, said: “As you walk through this exhibit you will experience not only the propaganda from the time, but the “Emotional Series” exhibits the strength and resilience of thousands of new immigrants who were invited to Canada and then found themselves interned and working for little pay in Canada’s hinterland against their will. The “Old Eyes Series” examines the lineage of trauma that resonates within future generations who burden the shame of what happened. It serves as a reminder, that in some circumstances, differences are still not celebrated in Canada today. Pause in Plight represents a timely milestone in remembering, commemorating, and in recognizing this historic injustice suffered by thousands of innocent people.
Vernon Internee Cemetery Monument
CFWWIRF Endowment Council left to right:Maxim Bozhilov, Bulgarian Community; Lawrna Myers, CFWWIRF Researcher; Carola Lange, President, German Canadian Congress; Borys Sirskyj, CFWWIRF Chair; Kim Pawliw, Internee Descendant; Andrea Malysh, CFWWIRF Program Manager and Paul Migus, Ukrainian Canadian Congress. Photo courtesy of Andrea Malysh
Call for Final Grant Applications to the CFWWIRF
The CFWWIRF 15-year granting program will end on March 31, 2023. The Endowment Council is announcing a final call for grant submissions by September 1, 2022. Grant criteria and applications are available on the website: https://www.internmentcanada.ca
About CFWWIRF
The Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund was established to support projects that commemorate and recognize the experiences of all the ethno-cultural communities affected by Canada’s first national internment operations of 1914 to 1920.
8,579 so-called “enemy aliens”, including women and children, were interned, including Ukrainians, Alevi Kurds, Armenians, Bulgarians, Croatians, Czechs, Germans, Hungarians, Italians, Jews, Ottoman Turks, Poles, Romanians, Russians, Serbians, Slovaks, and Slovenes, among others, of which most were Ukrainians and most were civilians.
For more information on the Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund contact the Program Manager,.
[email protected]
toll-free 1-866-524-5314
https://www.internmentcanada.ca
Photo credits:
Top Photo 1
Vernon Internment Camp monument
CFWWIRF Endowment Council left to right:
Paul Migus, Ukrainian Canadian Congress; Maxim Bozhilov, Bulgarian Community; Kim Pawliw, Internee Descendant; Borys Sirskyj, CFWWIRF Chair; Carola Lange, President, German Canadian Congress.
Missing from photo: Boris Balan, Shevchenko Foundation, Roman Zakaluzny, Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association and Joseph Patrouch, Austrian Canadian Council.
Photo courtesy of Andrea Malysh
Photo 2
Gallery Vertigo Official Opening of Pause in Plight by Kerri Parnell
Left to Right:
Paul Migus, CFWWIRF Endowment Council; Andrea Malysh, CFWWIRF Program Manager; Maxim Bozhilov, CFWWIRF Endowment Council; Carola Lange, CFWWIRF Endowment Council; Kerri Parnell, Artist, Pause in Plight; Borys Sirskyj, CFWWIRF Chair; Bohdana Bashuk, Shevchenko Foundation Executive Director; Kim Pawliw, CFWWIRF Endowment Council; Charlene Heidt representing Vernon-Monashee MLA Harwinder Sandhu; Brigitte Red, Gallery Vertigo Executive Director; and Michelle Loughery, Wayfinder Sunflower Project.
Photo courtesy of Gallery Vertigo
Photo 3
Vernon Internee Cemetery monument
CFWWIRF Endowment Council left to right:
Maxim Bozhilov, Bulgarian Community; Lawrna Myers, CFWWIRF Researcher; Carola Lange, President, German Canadian Congress; Borys Sirskyj, CFWWIRF Chair; Kim Pawliw, Internee Descendant; Andrea Malysh, CFWWIRF Program Manager and Paul Migus, Ukrainian Canadian Congress.
Photo courtesy of Andrea Malysh