Parks Canada unveils a new exhibit recognizing Canada’s history of First World War internment in Yoho National Park
News release
June 22, 2019 Field, British Columbia Parks Canada Agency
Parks Canada protects and restores our national parks and historic sites and enables people to discover and connect with nature and history.
Today, Parks Canada officially opened a newly updated exhibit to recognize Canada’s role in the First World War internment operations of 1914 to 1920 in Yoho National Park. A special ceremony was held in the park with representatives from the Canadian First World War Recognition Fund, the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association and the local community.
Located west of Field, British Columbia, Camp Otter in Yoho National Park housed up to 200 internees who were unjustly interned as enemy aliens from 1915 to 1916 under the War Measures Act. During Canada’s first national internment operations of 1914 to 1920, over 8,000 people were sent to 24 camps across Canada, including camps in Banff, Jasper, Mount Revelstoke, and Yoho national parks. Thousands of Ukrainians and other Europeans were interned as a result of prejudice, or for failing to register, being unemployed, or trying to leave the country.
The new exhibit is located near the Natural Bridge, en route to Emerald Lake, 4 km west of Field in Yoho National Park. More information on Canada’s First World War Internment Operations is available online.
Parks Canada is committed to providing visitors with high-quality and meaningful experiences and developing new and innovative interpretive programs and materials enables more Canadians, including youth and newcomers, to experience the outdoors and learn about our environment and history, including the difficult periods that are part of our past.
Quotes
“We are working with Canadians to learn and share the experiences of people interned during the war. We must we remember these difficult times in our history and never forget.”
The Honourable Catherine McKenna,
Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada
“Reconciliation requires recognition and so we are grateful to Parks Canada for acknowledging the wrongs done to Ukrainians and other Europeans during Canada’s first national internment operations. The unveiling of this exhibit will further remind passersby of what happened in Yoho National Park.”
Borys Sydoruk
Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association
“The Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund (CFWWIRF) is pleased to provide funding towards the John Boxtel statue, “Last Man Standing” for the Parks Canada Yoho National Park Internment commemoration project. Mr. Boxtel has created a cross Canada legacy trail of meaningful statues that question the decisions made by the Government to impose the War Measures Act against innocent men, women and children during Canada’s first national internment operations of 1914 to 1920.”
Emil Yereniuk
Chair, Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund
Quick facts
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Camp Otter in Yoho National Park was created by Parks Commissioner J.B. Harkin in 1915. In July 1916, frustrated by working conditions and determined not to spend another winter at Camp Otter, internees protested. They refused to pick up their tools and the strike continued through the summer. The camp closed on October 7, 1916, and most of the men were relocated to camps in Banff, Alberta or Spirit Lake, Quebec. Some were released on parole.
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The legacy of Camp Otter lives on in the roads and bridges built by internees in Yoho National Park.
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Located at the Cave and Basin National Historic Site, the First World War Internment Exhibit was opened in September 2013 to share the legacy of Canada’s First World War internment operations.
Associated links
Contacts
Lesley Matheson
Partnering and Engagement Officer
Parks Canada Agency
403-431-2325
Pc.yohomedia.pc@canada.ca
Media Relations
Parks Canada Agency
855-862-1812
pc.medias-media.pc@canada.ca
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