In his presentation, Bohdan introduced new perspectives on both Canadian internment operations and the role and responsibility of the Canadian federal government during the First World War. With the outbreak of war in 1914, immigrants originating from Austria-Hungary and Germany became subject under the War Measures Act. Internment became an instrument of security policy and this political choice changed the lives of thousands of innocent people including many Ukrainians. Bohdan provided a critical assessment how the Internment Camp officials and their lack of military/civilian distinctions towards ‘enemy aliens’ and ‘prisoners of war’ shaped the various camp experiences of individual internees. Prof. Kordan argued that it is important to understand the historical significance of internment because of its relevance for contemporary politics. 

Bohdan Kordan graduated from Carleton University in Ottawa (MA, 1980) and Arizona State University (Ph D, 1988). He held research and teaching positions at the University of Alberta, University of Toronto and Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton. He was appointed Professor of International Relations in the Department of Political Studies, St. Thomas More College, University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon in 1993. Bohdan was instrumental in establishing the Prairie Centre for the Study of Ukrainian Heritage and served as its founding director in 1999–2004. He has published six books on the Canadian Internment Operations and his presentation is the result of his many years of research and writing on this historical subject.

A video recording of Bohdan Kordan’s Webinar presentation can be found here.  We also have recordings of the Introductory and Closing segments from that evening.

Information on how to order Bohdan’s book can be found here. Bohdan has also provided answers to questions raised by attendees.

© Bohdan Kordan 2026. All rights reserved. No images or content from this presentation may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the presenter. Access to this recording is solely for educational and informational purposes.