Behind Canadian Barbed Wire

This statue, entitled "Behind Canadian Barbed Wire" was created by sculptor John Boxtel. The memorial is a reminder of Canada's First National Internment Operation, 1914 - 1920. The three figures portray the profound emotions that those caught up during this tragic episode in Canadian history experienced. While the central figure shows defiance, he is flanked by another man whose despair at the indignity of his needless confinement is portrayed by how he hides his face in shame. To his right stands an internee who, in contrast, has somehow endured the wartime hysteria and racism that precipitated the internment operations and now stands proudly confident of his future.