Canada's First World War Internment Operations

Mara Lake

Internment in the Shuswap

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Infoukes Figure 21

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Library and Archives Canada 3379222

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Mara Lake has been the ancestral territory of the Secwépemc people for thousands of years. When Europeans arrived they were drawn to the lake's sandy beaches and the abundant reserves of timber in the area. The settlement of Sicamous was established at the lake's north end, and Mara at the south end. It was during the First World War that a road along the lake's edge was constructed to connect these two communities. It was built by forced labourers, men who had been interned as part of Canada's First World War Internment Operations. Today Mara Lake remains a popular destination for all sorts of summer recreation, and Sicamous advertises itself as the Houseboat Capital of Canada. <<>> *Video credit: Armistice Films*

This project has been made possible by a grant from the Endowment Council of the Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund.

We respectfully acknowledge that Mara Lake lies within the ancestral, traditional, and unceded territory of the Secwépemc First Nations.

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Tours

Twin Highway Camps

Forced Labour at Mara Lake

Most of those internees who came from the many nations of the Austro-Hungarian Empire were deemed 'second-class' prisoners and sent to forced labour camps to build roads in awful conditions. The road alongside Mara Lake in the Shuswap was built by these men. In this tour we will learn how these forced labour camps came about, and hear the stories of the mostly Ukrainian men who, despite pledging loyalty to the British Empire, were sent to the camp.

Explore

Mara Lake

Then and Now Photos

Guards on the Ferry

Enerdby & District Museum 4259

1915-1917

A collection of soldiers board the little ship used to ferry supplies between the two internment camps on Mara Lake.

Internment Camp Hut

Library and Archives Canada 3550148

ca. 1915-1918

A building at one of the Mara Lake Internment Camps, likely used as an office or guard's quarters.

Aerial View of the Camp

Vernon Museum & Archives 936

ca. 1915

An aerial view of 2 Mile Camp at Mara Lake during wintertime.

Building Sicamous Bridge

Sicamous & District Museum 0461

1885

A pile scow hammers down pilings during the construction of the first railway bridge across the Sicamous Narrows, part of the trans-Canada Canadian Pacific Railway.