Remarks by Anne Clarke, Nanaimo, British Columbia, 22 August 2014 at the Unveiling of the CTO Plaque Recalling Canada’s First National Internment Operations
Many decades ago, a young Ukrainian man named Steve decided to try and seek a better life for himself. At the age of 17, and against the wishes of his father, Steve made the necessary arrangements to leave Ukraine. Because of the occupation of his country at that time, Steve was issued an Austrian passport. He travelled from Lazarowka, to Trieste, Italy, evading officials who were attempting to conscript young Ukrainian men into the army. On 10 April 1913, still following his dream, he boarded a vessel called the SS CONDA. He arrived in Montreal five weeks later, on 17 May 1913 and continued on to Ontario by train, where he resided with other immigrant friends and family in several different urban centres.
Steve settled in Guelph, and found work at a foundry manufacturing stoves. One day, in 1914, he began what he thought would be a routine day at work. A group of Canadian government officials arrived at the foundry and, acting under the authority of The War Measures Act, arrested him. He was told to gather all of his belongings, and was subsequently transported to a lumber camp at Kapuskasing. Steve's name was recorded as Steve Sadozki, printed phonetically, and he was incarcerated. He was assigned POW number 629.
Despite the humility he suffered, the separation from loved ones, and the unprecedented, unmerited, and undeserved treatment of being an "enemy alien" and POW, Steve did find a silver lining in his situation. He admitted that, assigned duties in the camp kitchen, he was warmer than those who found themselves working outdoors all winter long. And the camp provided him with better clothing and boots than he had had at home.
Steve, and the other POWs held at Kapuskasing were eventually released. He returned to Guelph, married, and had five children; including a son who is named Nick. This morning, Nick also attended the unveiling of a commemorative CTO plaque, in Waterloo.
The story that I’ve just told you has been drafted from stories relayed to me. Although I knew him for 25 years, Steve never broached the subject of his internment to me. He passed away in 1984, at age 89. Steve Sadozki was my grandfather. Nick is my father.
Thank you for allowing me to share Grandpa’s story with you.
