First World War internment prisoners heap their baggage onto a truck, prior to departure from Vernon train station, February 27, 1919. The story of Canada’s first internment camps from 1914-1920 is told in the film That Never Happened, which will be screened by Zoom by the Vernon and District Family History Society Sunday, Nov. 15. (Greater Vernon Museum and Archives, Photo No. 25372).

Vernon internment camp part of family history society film screening

First World War camp at what is now Seaton Secondary part of film That Never Happened

  • Nov. 13, 2020 12:00 a.m.

The Vernon and District Family History Society will show the film That Never Happened via Zoom, and everyone is invited to the screening.

That Never Happened, produced by Armistice Films, reveals the story of Canada’s first national internment operations, when more than 88,000 people were forced to register, and more than 8,500 were wrongfully imprisoned in concentration camps across Canada, including Vernon.

It will be available on Zoom on Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. Deadline to register is Sunday, Nov. 15.

The film recounts the forced internment of thousands of Ukrainians and other Europeans from 1914 to 1920. The Vernon internment camp, located at what is now W.L. Seaton Secondary, was one of the largest and longest opened, one of only two that held women and children.

The society screened the film at the Towne Theatre in February 2018.

The cost is $5 for non-society members, free for those who are society members. Payment can be made by e-transfer to treasurer_vdfhs@vdfhs.com. The Zoom link will be sent once the transfer is received.

After the screening, Vernon’s Andrea Malysh, program manager of the Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund, will be available for a question and answer.

READ MORE: Film focuses on internment camps


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