UCCLA Supports Parks Canada Interpretive Museum at Banff

The Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association (UCCLA) recently concluded its annual conclave for 2008 in Canmore, Alta. Members from across Canada gathered to tour Banff’s Cave and Basin, the site of an internment camp for Ukrainians and other East Europeans during Canada’s First National Internment Operations during and after the First World War.

The group received a short presentation by Rob Harding of Parks Canada. He detailed his department’s plans to spend the $2.5 million it received from the federal government in 2008 to commemorate the details of the internment operations, including the building of an interpretive centre near the site of the actual camp. The UCCLA was pleased to learn that Parks Canada’s development plans are proceeding well.

The UCCLA further discussed the nature of the endowment that was received by the Ukrainian community from the Government of Canada during a briefing from the Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko, and was brought up to speed on developments with Spirit Lake Corporation’s plans for a separate internment interpretive centre in the Abitibi, Que. UCCLA also discussed the presence of alleged Soviet War Criminals in Canada, and laid down plans for the further pursuit of justice regarding Soviet war crimes.

The UCCLA conclave also made preliminary plans to install memorial plaques at the four Canadian internment sites that have not yet been commemorated: Edgewood, B.C., Lethbridge, Alta., Montreal, Que., and Halifax, NS.

Tentative plans were made to hold next year’s UCCLA conclave in Vernon, B.C.

For more information, please visit www.uccla.ca.