Shevchenko Foundation appoints Fund Advisory Council

March 6, 2009 -- In May 2008 the Honourable Jason Kenny announced a $10 million grant to the Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko. The grant will facilitate projects and initiatives for groups affected by Canada’s first internment operation during World War I to recognize and commemorate their internment experiences.

Letters were sent to all the affected communities and on July 24, 2008, six members were appointed to the Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund Advisory Council: Andrew Hladyshevsky Q.C. (Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko), Dr. Lubomyr Luciuk (Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association), Olya Grod (Ukrainian Canadian Congress), Ivan Grbesic (Croatian community), Diane Dragasevich (Serbian community) and Christopher Adam (Hungarian community). Fran Haskett, daughter of Mary Manko, one of the last know survivors of the Spirit Lake internment camp in Quebec’s Abitibi region, was also appointed to the Advisory Council.

The members of the Fund Advisory Council: Ivan Grbesic, Christopher Adam, Fran Haskett, Lubomyr Luciuk, Olya Grod, Diane Dragasevich, Andrew Hladyshevsky Q.C.

At its first meeting held at Spirit Lake, Quebec, September 5-7, 2008, the Fund Advisory Council met with various levels of Government and the Spirit Lake Corporation which received the first funding to transform the church of St. Viateur de la Ferme into a historical interpretive centre that will document the experiences of the internees held at the Spirit Lake internment camp.

The long-term mandate of the Fund Advisory Council is to actively promote education and commemorative projects in fulfillment of the agreement with the Government of Canada and to request information from affected communities for projects that may be submitted for funding. The short-term goal is to work with Parks Canada in the implementation of the $2.5 million Historical Recognition Program to establish exhibits about the interment at three internment sites at Banff, The Citadel in Halifax and Fort Henry.

Chair Orest Kruhlak

On January 12, 2009, the Shevchenko Foundation Board of Directors appointed Orest Kruhlak chair of the Fund Advisory Council. Mr. Kruhlak began his public service career in Ottawa as a special studies officer and special assistant to the Commissioner of Official Languages. He then moved to the Department of the Secretary of State where he held different positions, including Director of Multicultural Programs in Ottawa, Regional Director for the Pacific Region and Yukon Region for the Department of Secretary of State- Multiculturalism and Citizenship Canada. With the creation of the Department of Canadian Heritage in 1993 he was appointed Regional Executive Director for the Pacific Region. He retired from the federal public service in 2001.

Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko Press Release