Enemy alien internment
Castle Mountain Camp, Alberta, 1915. Glenbow Museum, NA-1870-6
1914 to 1920
During the First World War, Canada (like many other countries) instituted a policy of interning residents who were citizens of countries with whom Canada was at war. About 8,500 residents were interned, mostly Ukrainians (citizens of Austro-Hungary) and Germans. The majority were single men, housed in a series of 24 internment camps and worksites, mostly in remote locations. Conditions were often poor and many were assigned to hard labour. Another 80,000 were left at large but were required to register and report regularly to the police.
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