U of A dissolves research fund named after Waffen-SS veteran
The $30,000 endowment fund was dissolved by the university after controversy surrounding the trust's namesake came to light.
Leah HennigIn 2019, the University of Alberta received a $30,000 donation from Martin Hunka in honour of his parents, Yaroslav and Margaret Hunka. The donation was provided to the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies (CIUS).
Along with this donation, a biography of his parents was included. It stated that Yaroslav served in the Waffen-SS Galicia Division during the Second World War. The university accepted the donation with knowledge of Yaroslav’s background.
Yaroslav was introduced in September 2023 to the Canadian House of Commons. Here, he received a standing ovation from members of parliament from all parties. Subsequently, this sparked backlash due to his involvement with the Galicia Division. Following this, the university chose to review the endowment fund in Yaroslav’s name.
On September 27, 2023, a statement was released announcing that the university planned to close and return the endowment. Provost and Vice-president (academic) Verna Yiu wrote “on behalf of the university, I want to express our commitment to address anti-Semitism in any of its manifestations.”
However, the statement released on August 10, 2026, acknowledges the existence of eight additional endowments named after individuals with connections to the Galicia Division. The university will not be altering or terminating them. This decision came after consultation with CIUS and the Jewish Federation of Edmonton.
However, this comes in contrast to one of the reasons the university gave for dissolving the Hunka Trust. The U of A pursued formal court permission in 2024 to dissolve the trust. In the case, Court of King’s Bench Justice Debra Yungwirth stated that “retaining the Hunka Trust … posed potential risks to the [university’s] … purpose, mission, reputation, and public trust.” The university gave this as one of the most important factors regarding the dissolution of the trust.
$1.1 million in other Galicia Division-linked endowments
The university argued that the main intention for Hunka to oppose the trust’s dissolution is to clear his father’s name. But similarly, the U of A chose to close the trust due to the controversy surrounding Yaroslav’s involvement with the Galicia Division.
Yungwirth writes that “it is clear that the university did not thoroughly consider the possible implications if the donation and its association with a member of the Galicia Division came to light.”
The Gateway also reached out to the university for comment. The university did not reach back out in time for publication.
The Galicia Division is a source of controversy among many. While some say the unit was voluntary and made up of Ukrainian nationalists to resist the Soviet reoccupation, others point out the atrocities committed by the division. The Huta Pieniacka massacre is one of the Galicia Division’s largest atrocities.
Yungwirth’s decision was not to decide if “Yaroslav was a war criminal or anti-Semitic.” The decision made was whether the Trustee Act permitted the dissolution of the endowment.
Ultimately, the Hunka Trust was terminated on August 7, 2026.
The Gateway reached out to the Jewish Federation of Edmonton for comment. They directed The Gateway to the U of A’s August 10 statement.
