Premiere of French Version 

Ukrainians in Quebec

Documentary at Spirit Lake

Spirit Lake, Quebec: The newly released, French-language version of the documentary film “Ukrainians in Quebec 1891-1945”, Les Ukrainiens du Qubec, by Montreal filmmaker Yurij Luhovy was officially premiered at Spirit Lake Internment Interpretative Centre, 600km north of Montreal, on June 17.

The by-invitation only screening was officially opened by James Slobodian, chairperson of Spirit Lake Corporation, the body of volunteer Board of Directors that oversees workings of the Centre. After welcoming the guests, he introduced the the key-note speaker, the Deputy Premier of Quebec, Franois Gendron. Minister Gendron congratulated the making of the French version. He emphasized the need to have the history of early Ukrainian settlement remembered and made available to Quebec’s majority francophone population as it is an integral part of the entire history of Quebec. Born and raised in the Abitibi region, he paid tribute to the many Ukrainians that worked for decades in the surrounding mines and contributed greatly to the growth and development of the many towns in the area, which had sizeable Ukrainian populations.

Deputy Minister Gendron was followed by Yurij Luhovy, producer-director of the documentary, who gave an overview of how the original English-language version of the film was made, shot in 16mm film in the mid-1970’s, based on extensive research and the incorporation of historic documents, photos, archival film footage, including interviews with the remaining early founders of the Ukrainian organizations in Montreal and settlements of the Abitibi-Tmiscamingue area of Quebec. The documentary includes a significant section regarding the unjust internment of mainly Ukrainians at Spirit Lake including the cemetery at Spirit Lake where internees were buried. Luhovy recalled how Marcel Lesyk helped him first find Spirit Lake when not even Quebec City’s main cartographer was not sure where the site was located due to various name changes. That day, it was pouring rain and all access was through muddy terrain, which made everyone’s determination to proceed even more pronounced, especially since the project’s film equipment was rented by the day from Montreal.

The film’s premiere was a significant event, since it brought together various Provincial government, municipal and local representatives from the surrounding regions. Along with the Deputy Premier, also present were Mayor of Amos, Ulrick Chrubin; Director of Amos Historical Society, Madame Rousseau; Natalia Holub First Secretary, Ukrainian Embassy in Ottawa; Mayor of Lac Castagnier (formerly called Sheptytsky Colony), M. Lemire; Mayor of Trcesson, M. Nadeau; Chair of Board of Directors of CLD (Local Development Centre of Abitibi), M. Grodin; Ghyslain Drolet, formerly Board Member of Camp Spirit Lake who did much of the initial research on the subject, and currently representing Member of Parliament Hon. Christine Moore; and other dignitaries. Seven media outlets attended and extensive coverage was given in local and provincial press, radio and television.

Also attending was Anastasia Kyva, representing Montreal’s Caisse Populaire Desjardins Ukrainienne de Montral; Zorianna Hrycenko-Luhova, president of Ukrainian Canadian Congress Montreal branch/Quebec Provincial Council, co-producer of the documentary; and Peter Melnycky from Edmonton, research-historian with Historic Sites & Archives in Alberta who has written extensively on early settlement of Ukrainians in Canada including the unjust internment at Spirit Lake.

During Luhovy’s concluding remarks, he thanked the Government of Quebec, the Shevchenko Foundation, Caisse Populaire Desjardins Ukrainienne de Montral, Prosvita Verdun and Spirit Lake Corporation for financially assisting to make the French version of the documentary. Without their support, this version would not have been made possible.

This is the first French-language documentary released depicting Quebec’s early Ukrainian immigration history. It will finally be possible to include early Ukrainian history and the contribution made to the development of Montreal and Quebec in the teaching curriculum to the seven million-francophone population across Canada, including the six million in Quebec.

Luhovy thanked his daughter and Vancouver Film school graduate Adriana Luhovy who helped with the French language release and who designed the documentary’s jacket cover with its multi-faceted, subtle symbolism. Adriana was invited to film the premiere’s opening for the Centre. The premiere’s opening, which includes remarks by James Slobodian, Deputy Premier Francois Gendron and Yurij Luhovy will be available at: www.yluhovy.com and www.campspiritlake.ca.

Following the film presentation, a reception followed where discussions continued and many asked when a French-version of Freedom Had A Price will be made. During the film’s showing, to the mainly non-Ukrainians attending, many were moved to tears. As Luhovy later commented, “I was somewhat surprised how French-Canadians emotionally related to the story of settlement, hardships and contributions of the early Ukrainian settlers. I think this story of early Ukrainian development, also becomes a story of hardships endured by the parents and grandparents of the early French-Canadians and other immigrants. The story of settlement of a specific immigration becomes a universal story of immigrant’s determination and will to survive under difficult and unexpected conditions. Historical documentaries such as these eventually begin to have a life of its own, recording aspects of history for future generations”. The French version of the documentary is available by ordering at: www.yluhovy.com.

PHOTO
L. to R.: James Slobodian; Filmmaker Yurij Luhovy; Anastasia Kyva; Deputy Premier of Quebec François Gendron opening keynote speaker; Research-historian Peter Melnycky at the Premiere of the French version Ukrainians in Quebec