(Toronto/Calgary/Sudbury - 16 August 2000)

A Canadian hero, Ukrainian-born FILIP KONOWAL, will be honoured with the unveiling of a trilingual plaque and statue in his home village of KUTKIW, Ukraine, on Monday, 21 August 2000 at 11:00 a.m.

Konowal, who emigrated to Canada in 1913, enlisted on 12 July 1915 with Ottawa's 47th Canadian Infantry Battalion. Sent overseas in the summer of 1916 he was transferred to the 47th Canadian (British Columbia) Infantry Battalion, shortly afterwards being appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal. Konowal went into combat in the early fall of 1916 as part of the 4th Canadian Division, during what came to be known as the BATTLE OF THE SOMME. He also took part in the battle of VIMY RIDGE. On 21 August 1917, during the battle for HILL 70, Konowal fought with such exceptional courage that he was later personally awarded the VICTORIA CROSS, the highest decoration of the British Empire, by His Majesty King George V.

Over the past several years Branch 360 of The Royal Canadian Legion has worked to ensure that Filip Konowal's valour is not forgotten. Trilingual plaques recalling his heroism have been unveiled in the CARTIER SQUARE DRILL HALL (Ottawa), with the co-operation of the GOVERNOR GENERAL'S FOOT GUARDS, in Toronto at Branch 360, on Queen Street West, and in the DRILL HALL of THE ROYAL WESTMINSTER REGIMENT in British Columbia. Furthermore, Branch 360 sponsored the publication of a trilingual booklet, Konowal, which brings together much of what is known about Konowal's life and deeds.

Exactly 83 years after Konowal's heroism at HILL 70 earned him the VICTORIA CROSS a statue of this Canadian war hero, prepared by Lviv sculptor Petro Kulyk, and a trilingual plaque describing Konowal's deeds, will be unveiled in his home village of KUTKIW, where members of the Konowal family still reside.

Commenting, the president of Branch 360, Mr John B Gregorovich, said: "Canadians like to say that we honour the men and women who put themselves in harm's way to defend democracy and our way of life during the wars our country has been involved in. Unfortunately, the Canadian government has done little to commemorate one of Canada's Victoria Cross recipients. Despite our having invited the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet, including the ministers responsible for Canadian Heritage, Defence, External Affairs and Veterans Affairs, not one of them is coming. We can appreciate that Kutkiw is not as desirable a summer destination as other parts of Europe, but we find it inexplicable that the Canadian government would be so utterly disinterested in helping us honour a Canadian war hero. Doing so would only serve to strengthen ties between Canada and Ukraine, bonds built up by the tens of thousands of Ukrainian immigrants whose work, and that of their children, and childrens' children, helped make Canada the good place that it is."

For More Information Please Contact: Mr J B Gregorovich, president, Branch 360, The Royal Canadian Legion, (519) 323-9349. Please visit http://www.infoukes.com/uccla