Plast Montreal Visits Spirit Lake Internment Centre

CSLC-UCC Montreal:   Plast Montreal organized a special visit to the Spirit Lake Internment Interpretive Centre (including museum), 375 miles northwest of Montreal on July 13, 2012. The excursion was coordinated by Katrusia Smolynec, educational director of Plast Ukrainian scouting organization, together with James Slobodian, chairperson of the Camp Spirit Lake Corporation (CSLC). The visit gave the Montreal “plastuny” a first hand experience regarding early settlement of Ukrainians in Quebec including exposure to the history of the unjust internment of Ukrainians and others between 1914-20 by visiting the Centre, and travelling in areas settled by early Ukrainian pioneers.

Not knowing what to expect, Katrusia Smolynec commented, “I was a little sceptical about the museum so far from a big city, but I learned at least two things at our amazing visit: one, the very high quality of the museum which makes it worth the trip; and second, the education and sensitization is not only or even primarily for people who know about the internment. It is for all people of Quebec and Canada to learn about our history and about inclusiveness and plurality. We were very moved by the kindness and hospitality extended by the staff at the Centre, and their help in planning every detail of our visit.”

The “plastuny” were able to pitch their tents and camped overnight on the grounds, exactly the same location on which the camp barracks existed in 1915.  As James Slobodian remarked, “who would have thought that 97 years later, a group of Plast members would occupy the same location where many were interned. This is an historic event, linking these two very different periods of time in history.” The singing by young “plastuny” in the evening, “I confess, gave me a lump in my throat hearing Ukrainian folk songs where almost 100 years ago some internees may have known the very same songs. Yet, somehow the internment grounds and museum did not feel sad.  They give a history and perspective to the settlement and ignited an interest in knowing more about early immigrant history.”

The Ukrainian scouts stayed at La Vrendrye Park, and relaxed on the beach at Spirit Lake just down the street from the Centre.  It gave a sense of the vast Northern wilderness that once surrounded the internees.  Also chaperoning the group was Plast member Nestor Lewyckyj.

This year, “Plast” will be celebrating its 100th anniversary world-wide.  A visit to the Centre by other youth organizations is highly recommended.    

For more information, visit website www.campspiritlake.ca email campspiritlake@cableamos.com or click on the link to visit Facebook. The Spirit Lake site has also been recently added to the Ukrainian Canadian Congress National web site.  For a concise history of Canada’s first internment operations 1914-20, see the documentary film Freedom Had A Price at:www.yluhovy.com.   Spirit Lake is the first such internment interpretive centre opened in Canada.

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