Canadian First World War
Internment Recognition Fund

Fonds canadien de reconnaissance de l'internement durant
la première guerre mondiale


  • Applying for a Grant
    Annual Granting Deadline
    is April 1st.
    Learn More
  • Annual Reports
    Download the Reports
    from 2009 to 2019.
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  • Map of Internment Camps
    Download the map and list
    of internment camps here.
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  • Request a Lecture
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    request a lecture.
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Welcome to CFWWIRF

The Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund exists to support projects that commemorate and recognize the experiences of all of the ethno-cultural communities affected by Canada's first national internment operations of 1914-1920.

Fonds canadien de reconnaissance de l'internement durant la Première Guerre mondiale a pour but d'appuyer des projets visant à commémorer et à reconnaître les expériences vécues par les communautés ethnoculturelles touchées par la première opération nationale d'internement menée au Canada de 1914 à 1920.


The Camps, Season 2, Episode #15, Ottawa, Ontario




Address delivered by Ivan T. Grbešić, Chair of the Endowment Council of the Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund at the Preview of the
Canadian History Hall at the Canadian Museum of History
on June 12, 2017




Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.
Bonjour mesdames et monsieurs.
Dobar dan, dame i gospodo.

Greetings as well to their Excellences, diplomatic representatives, elected officials of all levels of government, and members of the clergy, who are here with us today, most of whom were introduced.

I would like to thank the Canadian Museum of History and its President and CEO, Mark O’Neill for providing me with the opportunity to address you here today in my capacity as Chair of the Endowment Council of the Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund.

Click here to read the entire address (PDF).



Vernon Pleasant Valley Cemetery Internee Remembrance Ceremony


Address delivered by Ivan T. Grbesic, Chair of the Endowment Council of the Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund at the Vernon Pleasant Valley Cemetery Internee Remembrance Ceremony on
Saturday, May 23, 2015.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen,
Bonjour mesdames et monsieurs,
Dobar dan, dame i gospodo.

What a beautiful day for such a solemn occasion. While we are honoured to have had in attendance with us today Minister Jason Kenney, it is also great to see and to be able to greet such a large number of elected officials, and members of the clergy, who are here today.

Click here to read the entire address (PDF).



Stamps Commemorating 100th Anniversary of Canada's First Internment Operations Now Available


16 December 2014 - Ottawa - The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) is pleased to announce that a stamp commemorating the 100th anniversary of Canada's First National Internment Operations is available for purchase.

Click here to read the entire media release.




Address by the Hon. Jason Kenney at the National
Internment Exhibit Official Opening




Slave Labour, in Unthinkable Conditions

Address delivered by the Hon. Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Multiculturalism at the Opening Ceremony of the National Internment Exhibit at Cave and Basin National Historic Site, Banff, AB on September 13, 2013.

Dobray Den, na vsa dobra; Dobar dan.
Good afternoon, Bonjour.
Your Grace, Your Excellency, Reverend Fathers.
Member of Parliament, James Bezan, Senator Tannas,
Your Worship, Fellow Canadians, Dear Friends.

As we look around us and see a place of unspeakable beauty and yet we know that this site is also one of unspeakable sadness.

Today we realize the sacred duty what the great chronicler of the Holocaust, Elie Wiesel said was the most sacred duty that echoes down to us from the bible, the moral duty to remember. "To remember the good of which we have been blessed and the evil that we have suffered."

Click here to read the entire address (PDF).




National Internment Exhibit Opening - Address by
Ivan T. Grbešić, Chair of the CFWWIRF




Ivan T. Grbešić  Ribbon Cutting
Photos courtesy of Frank Jankač

Address delivered by Ivan T. Grbešić, Chair of the Endowment Council of the Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund at the Opening Ceremony of the Internment Exhibit at Cave and Basin in Banff, Alberta on September 13, 2013:

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.
Bonjour mesdames et monsieurs.
Dobar dan, dame i gospodo.

Greetings as well to Minister Kenney, their Excellencies, diplomatic representatives, elected officials of all levels of government, and members of the clergy, who are here with us today, most of whom were introduced.

Ladies and gentlemen, I want to begin by first thanking Parks Canada for providing me, as Chair of the Endowment Council of the Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund, with the opportunity to address you here today.

Click here to read the entire address (PDF).


National Internment Exhibit, Banff, Alberta
June 20, 2013
Kontakt Ukrainian Television Network

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Contact CFWWIRF

Andrea Malysh
Program Manager
202-952 Main Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba R2W 3P4
Toll Free: 1-866-288-7931
Email: [email protected]

© The Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund and The Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko. All Rights Reserved.

DISCLAIMER: The Endowment Council of the Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund (CFWWIRF) provides this website as a public service. Material contained within it carries no guarantee of any kind, express or implied. The CFWWIRF does not endorse, recommend or control linked websites and accepts no responsibility whatsoever for their contents or views.