UAlberta returns endowment to family of veteran who fought in Nazi unit

The University of Alberta has announced that it will return an endowment to the family of Yaroslav Hunka, a Ukrainian veteran who fought in a Nazi unit and was controversially honoured in the Canadian House of Commons. UAlberta reportedly began a review of the $30K endowment fund to the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies (CIUS) after Hunka was recognized in the House of Commons. “After careful consideration of the complexities, experiences and circumstances of those impacted by the situation, we have made the decision to close the endowment and return the funds to the donor,” said UAlberta Interim Provost and VPA Verna Yui. “The university recognizes and regrets the unintended harm caused.” The move was praised by the Jewish Federation of Edmonton and the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre for Holocaust Studies (FSWCHS), the latter of which added that the institution has other funds and connections that need to be investigated.