Discussions

Between 1914 and 1920, 8,579 "enemy aliens" were incarcerated under the 'War Measures Act' of October 28, 1914. Of this number 3,138 were classed as "prisoners of war." Of the remaining 5,441 most were of Ukrainian origin.  
 
Over 80,000 others (the majority Ukrainians) were also categorized as "enemy aliens" and had to report regularly to Registrars or the North West Mounted Police (NWMP).  
 
The nationality of early Ukrainian immigrants to Canada came under a variety of names. These pioneers were listed in the Canadian censuses of 1901 and 1911 as Austrians, Bukovinians, Galicians, Ruthenians, Hungarians or Russians, according to their place of birth as registered in their passports because the ancient Ukrainian lands had been divided as spoils of war by surrounding nation states. In North America most Ukrainians were known as Ruthenians (from the Latin word rutheni).  
 
After 1914, the word 'Ukrainian' came in vogue, and its usage was strengthened by the declaration of Ukrainian independence in 1917.  
 
Ironically, during World War I the Ukrainians in Canada supplied 10,000 men to the Canadian Armed Forces, and had one of their own, Corporal Philip Konowal, earn the Victoria Cross for valour in battles against the Germans.  
 
With the blessing of Brandon’s city council of the day, the Wheat City Arena was utilized to house many of the internees. It opened in September 1914, and closed July 1916.  
 
It was not used as a work camp but an assembly point before Internees were transported to one of the alternate 23 work camps that were situated across the country.  
 
On a June night in 1915, 17 men from the Brandon camp, which contained a predominantly Ukrainian population of about 800, attempted an escape. Andrew Grapko, 18, was shot and killed as he scrambled out of a window.  
 
There were few escape attempts from the camp after that.  
 
In 1920 a government report stated the cost to run the concentration camps from 1914 to 1920 was $4,445,092.35.  
 
In 1998, Brandon city council endorsed the idea of commemorating the Internment of Ukrainian Citizens during World War One near the site of the old Wheat City Arena.  
 
The Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association planed to place plaques at various internment sites in the country, and wanted one placed as near as possible to 10th Street and Victoria Avenue, where the old Wheat City Arena once stood.  
 
Concerns were raised by the Department of National Defence, (DND) about the placement of the plaque at the Armouries, (May be they are not too proud of that chapter of their history?)  
 
The city offered the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association a site on the city owned green space south of City Hall where the Plaque sits today, so I think it would be a good idea for the city to offer a location to the U.C.C.L.A. at the new Police Station, the original site of the Intern Camp.  
 
Source: http://www.inkymark.com/site/node/59  
http://www.infoukes.com/history/internment/booklet02/doc-086.html