Lubomyr Luciuk at UWO Toronto’s Movie Night

Julie Bahrych-Korol

The Ukrainian Women’s Organization of Canada, Toronto Branch, presented a successful “Dinner & Movie Night” featuring the National Film Board’s acclaimed documentary film titled, Freedom Had A Price on Friday, February 23, 2007 at the UNF Community Centre on Evans Ave.

A capacity crowd attended with much enthusiasm to learn of the historical injustices against Ukrainian Canadians during WWI in Canada. About 9,000 people were unjustly imprisoned in Canadian labour camps during Canada’s first national internment of 1914 – 1920, of which about 5,000 were of Ukrainian descent.

John B. Gregorovich, President of the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association, introduced Dr. Lubomyr Luciuk, Director of Research at UCCLA, as the keynote speaker for the evening.

Dr. Luciuk spoke of the existing political conditions in Canada during 1914-1920. Canada was at war and Ukrainian-Canadian immigrants, possessing Austro-Hungarian passports, were labelled “enemy aliens” of the government.  These unfortunate persons were interned in camps across Canada. What little assets they possessed, were confiscated. Disenfranchised, they suffered humiliation. They laboured  under severe prevailing conditions. People who were interviewed and had some knowledge of the prisoners all agreed that the Ukrainian Canadians were peaceful, law abiding, hardworking souls who intended no harm to anyone.

Dr. Luciuk informed us that Bill C-331, enacting the Internment of Persons of Ukrainian Origin Recognition Act (November 2005) has now received Royal Ascent and mandates that the government negotiate a settlement. He also stressed that the Ukrainian Canadian community is not seeking compensation per person, however prefers a symbolic sum ($12.5 million) which will be applied to fund Ukrainian Canadian cultural and educational activities. The Taras Shevchenko Foundation is to manage the allocation of the funds to benefit all Ukrainians in Canada.

Freedom Had a Price introduced the audience to several pioneers. Mary Manko, a six year old Canadian-born girl, was interned at La Ferme, a camp created in Quebec, similar to other camps across Canada. Today, Mary Manko, 98 years of age, is the last known survivor of Canada’s first national internment operation. Mary’s little sister, Nellie died at La Ferme. Perceiving the pain and suffering of the victims such as Mary Manko and others depicted on film moved the audience emotionally with feelings of compassion, sadness and hurt. The film is an excellent documentary which touches the heartstrings but does finally offer a glimmer of hope for reconciliation, restitution and closure for all Ukrainian Canadians.

Dr. Lubomyr Luciuk is to be congratulated for his dedication to this worthwhile cause. Since 1987, much research has been done to prove that the internment of Ukrainians in Canada occurred. He successfully raised our awareness of the importance of redress, restitution and closure.

Concluding the evening’s presentation, Dr. Luciuk urged all the guests to take positive action. He stressed the importance of contacting respective Members of Parliament and the Prime Minister concerning Bill C-331.  It is important to raise the government’s awareness that the redress settlement is a Canadian issue both locally and nationally.

Achieving closure to this painful time of Canadian history is a priority to all Ukrainian Canadians.