Dear supporters,
A new article in the Edmonton Journal has once again raised questions about the legacy of Peter Savaryn and the calls to rename Savaryn Drive. You can read it in full here:
Key Points from the Article
Wartime Context:
At only 17 years old, Savaryn joined the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division (1st Galician) as Soviet troops advanced westward. Historians such as Pers Anders Rudling note there is no evidence he ever committed war crimes. Many young Ukrainians saw this as one of few desperate options: forced labour, Soviet camps, or joining a unit they believed might become a Ukrainian national army.
Exonerated by Inquiries:
The Deschênes Commission (1986) found no basis to indict the Galician Division as a criminal organization, and no evidence that Canadian veterans of the unit committed war crimes. Even Allied authorities did not classify them as war criminals.
Savaryn’s Canadian Legacy:
After immigrating to Canada, Savaryn became a lawyer, Chancellor of the University of Alberta (1982–1986), and a close collaborator with Premier Peter Lougheed in establishing the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies and the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village. He was named to the Order of Canada in 1987 for his lifelong contributions.
Condemnation of Totalitarianism:
As quoted in the article, Savaryn “condemned both Hitler and Stalin for their crimes” and “worked tirelessly for those who supported democracy at home and abroad.”
Unfair Guilt-by-Association:
Critics provide no new evidence—only a narrative of guilt by association. Scholars and community leaders emphasize that Savaryn was “certainly no Nazi, but a Lougheed-era Conservative” who gave 70+ years of service to Canada and Ukraine.
Larger Historical Perspective:
The article notes how Ukrainians faced impossible choices between Nazi and Soviet occupations. Even Western Allies themselves allied with Stalin despite knowing of his mass crimes. To judge Ukrainians harshly for survival choices while ignoring this broader context is historically inconsistent.
Why We Must Continue Our Petition
This latest wave of scrutiny shows how fragile legacies can become when viewed through the lens of simplified narratives. Erasing Savaryn’s name would:
Deny the Canadian contributions of a man who built institutions, advanced multiculturalism, and defended democracy.
Disregard the findings of Canada’s own judicial inquiry.
Repeat propaganda tropes long used to discredit Ukrainians.
We continue to call on the City of Edmonton to retain Savaryn Drive and, if needed, add contextual education (such as plaques or exhibits) rather than erase history.
Please keep sharing this petition and article link. Together, we can protect historical truth and defend a legacy of service, not let it be erased by oversimplification.