The representative of King Charles III in Canada expressed ‘deep regret’ for giving elite awards to Peter Savaryn, the former chancellor of the University of Alberta who served with SS Galichina during World War II.
Canada’s governor general apologized Tuesday afternoon for awarding one of the country’s highest honors to a Ukrainian immigrant who served in the same Nazi unit during World War II as the 98-year-old who was honored last month in the Canadian Parliament, an incident which sparked international outrage.
The statement from the governor general — the representative of the British monarchy in Canada — concerned Peter Savaryn, who served as chancellor of the University of Alberta from 1982 to 1986 and in 1987 was appointed to the Order of Canada. The award is akin to the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom, and is considered the second-highest distinction for Canadians, topped only by the Order of Merit available to all citizens of the British Commonwealth.
Responding to an inquiry from the Forward, the statement from Governor General Mary Simon expressed “deep regret” about Savaryn’s appointment. A spokesperson said the office is also now reviewing two other honors it gave Savaryn: the Golden Jubilee (awarded in 2002) and Diamond Jubilee (awarded in 2012) medals.
Savaryn’s background has come under new scrutiny since the Forward was the first news organization to reveal the background of Yaroslav Hunka, the veteran given a standing ovation in Parliament during the Sept. 22 visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. (more...)
Canada apologizes for honoring another veteran from unit that fought with Nazis
No comments:
Post a Comment