'No place being honoured': Manitoba revokes honour to former art gallery director for alleged Nazi ties
Manitoba’s premier is revoking a provincial honour given to a former director of the Winnipeg Art Gallery due to his alleged ties to the Nazi party.
Premier Wab Kinew announced Wednesday he revoked Ferdinand Eckhardt’s appointment to the Order of the Buffalo Hunt. The Order was at one point the top honour Manitobans could receive, and was given to Eckhardt in 1982, according to the Manitoba Historical Society.
It comes following recent reports and allegations that Eckhardt, who was the director of the Winnipeg Art Gallery from 1953 to 1974, was associated with the Nazi party in the 1930s while living in Germany and wrote several articles published in Nazi publications.
“This is a person who, to speak very frankly, pledged an oath of allegiance to Hitler,” Kinew said. “He has no place being honoured in the public sphere here in Manitoba.”
Kinew said he struck Eckhardt’s name out of the book that contains the names and signatures of all recipients of the Order of the Buffalo Hunt.
“In a situation like this, I think we have to show the utmost respect and reverence for Holocaust survivors, and everyone who was impacted by this terrible human tragedy,” he said. “Part of the way that we commemorate the impacts and ensure the continuation of the living memory of what happened in the Holocaust is we have to let the stain remain.”
WAG-Qaumajuq has removed Eckhardt’s name from the entrance hall, the gallery’s website and all other gallery materials. It's also reviewing the provenance of Eckhardt and the art donations made to the gallery during his time as director.
The University of Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba both have buildings named after Eckhardt’s wife, composer and musician Sophie-Carmen Eckhardt-Gramatté.
Both universities are currently reviewing the names.
“We take the recent information regarding Ferdinand Eckhardt very seriously and are currently reviewing all names associated with the family,” a spokesperson from the University of Winnipeg said in a statement. “The lecture hall will soon be undergoing renovations, and its name will be reviewed as part of that process.”
“The U of M is conducting a full review into the naming of the space and all other associations with the name to determine next steps,” the University of Manitoba said in a statement.
“In the meantime, any painting or plaque that bears the name will be covered until after the review.”
A Brandon University spokesperson said discussions have taken place regarding the possible renaming of the Eckhardt-Gramatte Conservatory of Music, but no decision has been made.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
CDC says it's identified 1st documented cases of HIV transmitted through cosmetic needles
Three women diagnosed with HIV after getting 'vampire facial' procedures at an unlicensed medical spa are believed to be the first documented cases of people contracting the virus through a cosmetic procedure using needles.
All London Drugs stores closed across Western Canada due to system issue
All 79 locations of pharmacy and retail chain London Drugs are shut down Sunday, and there is no estimate on when they will be back open.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Ontario to ban use of cellphones in school classrooms starting in September
Ontario is introducing a suite of measures that will crack down on cellphone use and vaping in schools.
Australian prime minister describes domestic violence as a 'national crisis' after protests
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday described domestic violence as a 'national crisis' after thousands rallied around the country against violence toward women.
Casey DeSmith won’t start Game 4 for the Canucks
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Vancouver Canucks when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series Sunday.
Putin likely didn't order death of Russian opposition leader Navalny, U.S. official says
U.S. intelligence officials have determined that Russian President Vladimir Putin likely didn't order the death of imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny in February, according to an official familiar with the determination.
Tornadoes kill 4 in Oklahoma, leaving trail of destruction and thousands without power
Tornadoes killed four people in Oklahoma and left thousands without power Sunday after a destructive outbreak of severe weather flattened buildings in the heart of one rural town.
Murder charge laid after man falls to death from Toronto apartment balcony
One person has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of a man who fell from a balcony following an altercation inside a Toronto apartment building.