Polish Canadians
Encyclopedia
Polish Canadians are Citizens
of Canada
with Polish ancestry, and Poles
who immigrated to Canada
from abroad. According to the 2001 census by Statistics Canada
, 984,585 Canadians claim full or partial Polish ancestry.
and the 1863 insurrection
against the Russian occupation
of their own homeland.
The first Polish immigrant on record, Dominik Barcz, is known to have come to Canada in 1752. He was a fur merchant from Gdańsk
who settled in Montreal
. He was followed in 1757 by Charles Blaskowicz, who worked as deputy surveyor-general of lands. In 1776 arrived army surgeon, August Franz Globensky
. His grandson, Charles Auguste Maximilien Globensky
was elected to the House of Commons in Ottawa in 1875.
In 1841, Casimir Stanislaus Gzowski
arrived in Canada from the partitioned Poland
via U.S.A. and for 50 years worked in engineering, military and community sectors in Toronto
and Southern Ontario
, for which he was knighted by Queen Victoria.
Charles Horecki immigrated in 1872. He was an engineer with the cross-Canada railway construction from Edmonton
to the Pacific Ocean through the Peace River Valley. Today, a mountain and a body of water in British Columbia
are named after him.
from Northern Poland, who were escaping Prussian oppression resulting from the occupation
. They arrived in Renfrew County of Ontario
in 1858, where they founded the settlements of Wilno
, Barry’s Bay
, and Round Lake (Ontario)
. By 1890 there were about 270 Kashubian families working in the Madawaska Valley
of Renfrew County, mostly in the lumber industry of the Ottawa Valley
.
The consecutive waves of Polish immigrants in periods from 1890–1914, 1920–1939, and 1941 to this day, settled across Canada from Cape Breton
to Vancouver
, and made numerous and significant contributions to the agricultural, manufacturing, engineering, teaching, publishing, religious, mining, cultural, professional, sports, military, research, business, governmental and political life in Canada.
The first Polish Catholic priest visited Polish immigrants in 1862 in Kitchener. The first church serving Polish immigrants was built in 1875 in Wilno, Ontario. In Winnipeg, the Holy Ghost Church was built in 1899.
The first Polish-Canadian Roman Catholic bishop is Reverend Mathew Ustrzycki, consecrated in June 1985, auxiliary bishop of the Hamilton Diocese. There are Polish-Canadian priests in many congregations and orders, such as the Franciscans, Jesuits, Redemptorists, Saletinians, Resurrectionists, Oblates, Michaelites, and the Society of Christ. In addition, 80 priests are serving in 120 parishes.
posthumously for extreme valor in World War II
.
Walter Buczynski - composer
Kinga Mitrowska - singer
Kornel Wolak - clarnet-virtuoso
Canadian nationality law
Canadian citizenship is typically obtained by birth in Canada, birth abroad when at least one parent is a Canadian citizen and was born or naturalized in Canada, or by adoption abroad by at least one Canadian citizen. It can also be granted to a permanent resident who lives in Canada for three out...
of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
with Polish ancestry, and Poles
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
who immigrated to Canada
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Citizenship and Immigration Canada is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for issues dealing with immigration and citizenship...
from abroad. According to the 2001 census by Statistics Canada
Statistics Canada
Statistics Canada is the Canadian federal government agency commissioned with producing statistics to help better understand Canada, its population, resources, economy, society, and culture. Its headquarters is in Ottawa....
, 984,585 Canadians claim full or partial Polish ancestry.
History
The earliest Polish immigrants to Canada were members of the Watt and De Meuron military regiments from Saxony and Switzerland sent overseas to help the British Army in North America. Several were émigrés from Poland who took part in the November Uprising of 1830November Uprising
The November Uprising , Polish–Russian War 1830–31 also known as the Cadet Revolution, was an armed rebellion in the heartland of partitioned Poland against the Russian Empire. The uprising began on 29 November 1830 in Warsaw when the young Polish officers from the local Army of the Congress...
and the 1863 insurrection
January Uprising
The January Uprising was an uprising in the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth against the Russian Empire...
against the Russian occupation
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
of their own homeland.
The first Polish immigrant on record, Dominik Barcz, is known to have come to Canada in 1752. He was a fur merchant from Gdańsk
Gdansk
Gdańsk is a Polish city on the Baltic coast, at the centre of the country's fourth-largest metropolitan area.The city lies on the southern edge of Gdańsk Bay , in a conurbation with the city of Gdynia, spa town of Sopot, and suburban communities, which together form a metropolitan area called the...
who settled in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. He was followed in 1757 by Charles Blaskowicz, who worked as deputy surveyor-general of lands. In 1776 arrived army surgeon, August Franz Globensky
August Franz Globensky
August Franz Globensky, born August Franciszek Głąbiński , was a Polish physician and one of the founding members of the Polish community in Canada. He was born near Berlin in the Kingdom of Prussia to Joseph Glaubenskindt, a royal notary originally from Poland, and Marie Richter, a German...
. His grandson, Charles Auguste Maximilien Globensky
Charles Auguste Maximilien Globensky
Charles-Auguste-Maximilien Globensky was a writer and politician. C.A.M. Globensky was the grandson of August Franz Globensky, a Hessian surgeon who settled in Verchères, Quebec, and the son of Lieutenant-Colonel Maximilien Globensky.-Career:He was born in Saint-Eustache, Lower Canada and was...
was elected to the House of Commons in Ottawa in 1875.
Casimir Gzowski
Sir Kazimierz Stanislaus Gzowski, KCMG , was an engineer who served as acting Lieutenant Governor of Ontario from 1896 to 1897....
arrived in Canada from the partitioned Poland
Partitions of Poland
The Partitions of Poland or Partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in the second half of the 18th century and ended the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, resulting in the elimination of sovereign Poland for 123 years...
via U.S.A. and for 50 years worked in engineering, military and community sectors in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and Southern Ontario
Southern Ontario
Southern Ontario is a region of the province of Ontario, Canada that lies south of the French River and Algonquin Park. Depending on the inclusion of the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts, its surface area would cover between 14 to 15% of the province. It is the southernmost region of...
, for which he was knighted by Queen Victoria.
Charles Horecki immigrated in 1872. He was an engineer with the cross-Canada railway construction from Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
to the Pacific Ocean through the Peace River Valley. Today, a mountain and a body of water in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
are named after him.
Group-settlers
The first significant group of Polish group-settlers were KashubiansKashubians
Kashubians/Kaszubians , also called Kashubs, Kashubes, Kaszubians, Kassubians or Cassubians, are a West Slavic ethnic group in Pomerelia, north-central Poland. Their settlement area is referred to as Kashubia ....
from Northern Poland, who were escaping Prussian oppression resulting from the occupation
Partitions of Poland
The Partitions of Poland or Partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in the second half of the 18th century and ended the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, resulting in the elimination of sovereign Poland for 123 years...
. They arrived in Renfrew County of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
in 1858, where they founded the settlements of Wilno
Wilno, Ontario
The community of Wilno, Ontario is situated on the border of Killaloe, Hagarty and Richards and Madawaska Valley townships in Renfrew County, Ontario.-Geography:...
, Barry’s Bay
Barry's Bay, Ontario
Barry's Bay is a community in the township of Madawaska Valley, Ontario, Canada, located two hours west of Ottawa on the shores of Kamaniskeg Lake, with a population of approximately 1,300 people...
, and Round Lake (Ontario)
Round Lake (Ontario)
Round Lake is a lake located in Killaloe, Hagarty and Richards Township, Renfrew County, Ontario, Canada. The Bonnechere River flows into the lake in the northwest and flows out of the lake at the southeast....
. By 1890 there were about 270 Kashubian families working in the Madawaska Valley
Madawaska
Madawaska may refer to several places:in Canada*Madawaska County, New Brunswick, Canada*The Republic of Madawaska*Madawaska River *Madawaska River , in Quebec and New Brunswick*Madawaska, Ontario*Madawaska Valley, Ontario...
of Renfrew County, mostly in the lumber industry of the Ottawa Valley
Ottawa Valley
The Ottawa Valley is the valley along the boundary between Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec along the Ottawa River. The valley is the transition between the Saint Lawrence Lowlands and the Canadian Shield...
.
The consecutive waves of Polish immigrants in periods from 1890–1914, 1920–1939, and 1941 to this day, settled across Canada from Cape Breton
Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia
Cape Breton Regional Municipality often shortened to simply CBRM, is a regional municipality in Nova Scotia's Cape Breton County.According to the 2006 Census of Canada, the population within the Cape Breton Regional Municipality is 102,250...
to Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, and made numerous and significant contributions to the agricultural, manufacturing, engineering, teaching, publishing, religious, mining, cultural, professional, sports, military, research, business, governmental and political life in Canada.
Religious services
All Polish Canadians including their descendants are encouraged by organizations such as the Congress, to preserve their background and retain some ties with Poland and its people. In the past, the most significant role in the preservation of various aspects of Polish traditions and customs among the Polish communities in Canada fell for the Polish urban parishes, which retain the use of Polish language during services.The first Polish Catholic priest visited Polish immigrants in 1862 in Kitchener. The first church serving Polish immigrants was built in 1875 in Wilno, Ontario. In Winnipeg, the Holy Ghost Church was built in 1899.
The first Polish-Canadian Roman Catholic bishop is Reverend Mathew Ustrzycki, consecrated in June 1985, auxiliary bishop of the Hamilton Diocese. There are Polish-Canadian priests in many congregations and orders, such as the Franciscans, Jesuits, Redemptorists, Saletinians, Resurrectionists, Oblates, Michaelites, and the Society of Christ. In addition, 80 priests are serving in 120 parishes.
Largest Polish Canadian communities
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Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
|
The Victoria Cross
Numerous Polish-Canadians have been recognized with awards and appointments by the Queen and the Canadian governments as well as universities and various organizations. One of the most notable recipient being Andrew Mynarski, pilot-gunner from Winnipeg, awarded the Victoria CrossVictoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
posthumously for extreme valor in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Polish Canadian recipients of the Order of Canada
- B. Dubienski of Winnipeg, lawyer
- Jan Drygala of Oshawa, WWII staff-sergeant of the Polish Army.
- Captain Andrew Garlicki of Ottawa
- Rt. Rev. Monsignor Anthony Gocki of Regina
- Rev. Anthony Hylla, Oblate priest
- Rev. Michael Smith, missionary Oblate priest
- Casimir Stanczykowski of Montreal, multilingual radio station founder and broadcaster
- Stefan Sznuk, Group Captain
- Peter Taraska of Winnipeg, Knight of St. Gregory, alderman and citizenship judge
- Irena Ungar, Citizenship JudgeCitizenship judgeA citizenship judge is an official or judge of the Canadian government who reviews applications for Canadian citizenship.Citizenship judges are appointed by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration....
- Dr. Henry Wojcicki, Edmonton, distinguished psychiatrist, Univ. of Alberta senator http://www.wcr.ab.ca/news/2007/0115/wojcicki011507.shtml
- Walter Gretzky, Brantford, Ontario, Canada, father of Wayne Gretzky
Polish Canadian Queen’s Counsels and lawyers appointed as judges
- Their Honors
- Judge Paul Staniszewski, of Toronto, Montreal and the County Court of Windsor
- Judge P. Swiecicki, of the Superior Court of BC in Vancouver
- Judge Allan H. J. Wachowich, of the Court of Queen’s Bench in Edmonton
- Judge E.F. Wrzeszczinski-Wren, of the County Court of Toronto.
Science and Engineering
- Karol Józef KrótkiKarol Józef KrótkiKarol Józef Krótki, FRSC was a renowned Canadian Polish Canadian demographer who, at various times, lived and worked in Poland, the United Kingdom, Sudan, Pakistan, Morocco and Canada. Professor Krotki was elected to the Royal Society of Canada in 1979.-Early life:Karol Krotki was born in 1922...
FRSCRoyal Society of CanadaThe Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
, demography professor, statistician - Adam SkorekAdam SkorekAdam Waldemar Skorek was born in Krzczonów, Lublin, Poland, on December 24, 1956.He completed Master of Sciences in Electrical Engineering Program at Technical University of Białystok receiving both Master of Sciences and Engineer degree in 1980. His Ph.D. Degree in Electrical Engineering was...
, professor of electrical and computer engineering - Witold RybczynskiWitold RybczynskiWitold Rybczynski , is a Canadian-American architect, professor and writer.Rybczynski was born in Edinburgh of Polish parentage and raised in Surrey, England before moving at a young age to Canada. He attended Loyola High School , located on Sherbrooke street, in Montreal-Ouest...
, architect, professor and writer - Nicole Tomczak-JaegermannNicole Tomczak-JaegermannNicole Tomczak-Jaegermann FRSC is a Polish Canadian mathematician, a professor of mathematics at the University of Alberta, and the holder of the Canada Research Chair in Geometric Analysis....
FRSCRoyal Society of CanadaThe Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
, mathematics professor - Janusz ŻurakowskiJanusz ZurakowskiJanusz Żurakowski was a renowned Polish fighter and test pilot, who, at various times, lived and worked in Poland, the United Kingdom, and Canada.-Early life:...
, Battle of Britain fighter pilot
Education
- Isaac HellmuthIsaac HellmuthIsaac Hellmuth , second Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Huron, was the founder of Huron University College and the University of Western Ontario, one of Canada's leading universities...
, from Warsaw, via England, one of the founders of the University of Western Ontario.
Politics
- Leon David CrestohlLeon David CrestohlLeon David Crestohl was a Canadian lawyer and politician.Born in Warsaw, then Russian Empire, the son of Rabbi Hyman Meyer Crestohl , he emigrated with his family to Canada in 1911 living in Quebec City before moving to Montreal in 1919. Crestohl was educated at McGill University and the...
- Liberal MP Cartier 1950-1963 - Bonnie CrombieBonnie CrombieBonnie Crombie is a Canadian politician. Formerly a Liberal Party Member of Parliament for the electoral district of Mississauga—Streetsville, in Ontario, she was elected to Mississauga City Council in a by-election in September 2011....
- current Liberal Member of Parliament for Mississauga-Streetsville (2008 - present) - Jan DuksztaJan DuksztaJanusz Romwald Dukszta is a Polish-born Toronto psychiatrist and former Ontario New Democratic Party MPP in the Ontario legislature. He and his brother, Andrzej, escaped with their mother from Poland near the end of World War II and settled in London where they were educated at Christ College,...
- former OntarioOntarioOntario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
NDP MPP - Gary FilmonGary FilmonGary Albert Filmon, PC, OC, OM is a Manitoba politician. He was the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba from 1983 to 2000, and served as the 19th Premier from 1988 to 1999.-Early life and municipal career:...
- former Premier of ManitobaManitobaManitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other... - Jesse FlisJesse FlisJesse Philip Flis is a former Canadian politician. He served in the Canadian House of Commons from 1979 to 1984, and from 1988 to 1997, as a member of the Liberal Party of Canada.Flis was born in Fosston, Saskatchewan...
- Liberal MP Parkdale—High Park 1979-1984; 1988–1997 - Casimir GzowskiCasimir GzowskiSir Kazimierz Stanislaus Gzowski, KCMG , was an engineer who served as acting Lieutenant Governor of Ontario from 1896 to 1897....
- Lieutenant Governor of OntarioLieutenant Governor of OntarioThe Lieutenant Governor of Ontario is the viceregal representative in Ontario of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the United... - Stanley HaidaszStanley HaidaszStanley Haidasz, PC, MD was a Canadian politician.Haidasz was born to Polish parents who immigrated to Canada in 1910 from Stanislawów...
- Liberal MP: for Trinity: 1957-1958, for Parkdale: 1962-1978, Minister of State, Senator - Andrew KaniaAndrew KaniaAndrew Kania was a Canadian Member of Parliament for the electoral district of Brampton West, in Ontario. Kania was elected in the 2008 Canadian federal election, winning as the Liberal Party candidate in the riding vacated by Liberal Colleen Beaumier.Kania was a member of the Standing Committee...
- current Liberal Member of Parliament for Brampton West (2008 - present) - Stan Kazmierczak Keyes - former national chair of Liberal Party of CanadaLiberal Party of CanadaThe Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
; Liberal MP Hamilton West 1988-2004 - Alexandre Edouard Kierzkowski - Liberal MP St. Hyacinthe 1867-1870, First MP of Polish Decent
- Chris Korwin-KuczynskiChris Korwin-KuczynskiChris Korwin-Kuczynski is a Canadian politician. He served as a councillor in Toronto from 1981 to 2003, and was the city's deputy mayor for a time....
- former Toronto city councillor (1981-2003) - Ken Kowalski, former Deputy Premier of AlbertaAlbertaAlberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta - Don MazankowskiDon MazankowskiDonald Frank "Don" Mazankowski, PC, OC, AOE is a Canadian politician who served as a cabinet minister under Prime Ministers Joe Clark and Brian Mulroney. He was also Deputy Prime Minister under Mulroney....
- Deputy Prime MinisterDeputy Prime MinisterA deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some counties, a government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to that of a vice president, but is significantly different, though both...
for Brian MulroneyBrian MulroneyMartin Brian Mulroney, was the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993 and was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1993. His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by the introduction of major economic reforms, such as the Canada-U.S...
, Progressive Conservative MP Vegreville 1968-1993 - Gary MalkowskiGary MalkowskiGary Malkowski is a former Canadian provincial politician. He represented the riding of York East in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 to 1995, as a member of the Ontario New Democratic Party...
- former Ontario NDP MPP, Canada's first deaf parliamentarian - Peter MilczynPeter MilczynPeter Milczyn is a city councillor in Toronto, Canada. He represents one of the two Etobicoke—Lakeshore wards, Ward 5 Etobicoke-Lakeshore. Born in Etobicoke, he attended Etobicoke Collegiate Institute and the University of Toronto where he got a degree in architecture.He set up his own...
- Member of Toronto City Council 2000 - present - Fred RoseFred Rose (politician)Fred Rose was a Communist politician and trade union organizer in Canada. He was born in Lublin in what is now Poland, part of Russia at the time. He emigrated to Canada as a child in 1916. He became involved with the Young Communist League of Canada, and then joined the Communist Party of Canada...
- Labour Progressive (Communist) MP Cartier 1943-1947; his capture as a Soviet spy helped to start the Cold War - Borys WrzesnewskyjBorys WrzesnewskyjBorys Wrzesnewskyj is a Canadian politician who represented the riding of Etobicoke Centre in the Canadian House of Commons in the 38th, 39th and 40th Parliaments. He is a member of the Liberal Party.-Background:...
- current Liberal Member of Parliament for Etobicoke Centre (2004 - present) - Paul YakabuskiPaul YakabuskiPaul Joseph Yakabuski was a politician in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1963 to 1987, as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party....
- former Ontario Progressive Conservative MPP - Elaine ZiembaElaine ZiembaElaine Ziemba is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. She was a New Democratic Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 to 1995, and served as a cabinet minister in the government of Bob Rae.-Background:...
- former Ontario NDP MPP
Music
- Dan BrykDan BrykDan Waldemar Bryk is a Canadian-born singer-songwriter and recording artist. Originally from Toronto, Bryk is currently based in New York City...
- singer-songwriter - Basia BulatBasia Bulat- External links :*...
- singer-songwriter - Anna CyzonAnna CyzonAnna Cyzon , is a Polish Canadian independent recording artist, actress and former Canadian MTV/etalk personality.-Career:...
- singer-songwriter - Janina FialkowskaJanina FialkowskaJanina Fialkowska, OC is a Canadian-American classical pianist.- Early life :Fialkowska was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to a Canadian mother and a Polish father , an engineer and Polish army officer who emigrated to Canada in 1945...
- renown pianist, born in Montreal http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0001204 - Marek Jablonski - pianist-virtuoso, born in Cracow http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0001728
- Steve JoczSteve JoczStephen Martin "Steve" Jocz was born on July 23, 1981, and is best known as the drummer for Canadian punk band Sum 41.-Early life:...
- drummer for Sum 41Sum 41Sum 41 is a Canadian rock band from Ajax, Ontario. The band was formed in 1996 and currently consists of members Deryck Whibley , Tom Thacker , Jason McCaslin and Steve Jocz .In 1999, the band signed an international record deal with Island Records... - Ben Kowalewicz - lead singer for Billy TalentBilly TalentBilly Talent is a Canadian post-hardcore band from Streetsville, Ontario. They formed in 1993 with Ben Kowalewicz as the lead vocalist, Ian D'Sa on lead guitar, bassist Jon Gallant and drummer Aaron Solowoniuk ....
- Geddy LeeGeddy LeeGary Lee Weinrib, OC, better known as Geddy Lee , is a Canadian musician, best known as the lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Canadian rock group Rush...
- bassist, keyboardist and lead vocalist for RushRush (band)Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart... - Jan LisieckiJan LisieckiJan Lisiecki is a classical pianist. Born in Calgary, Canada to Polish parents, Lisiecki is most well known as being extremely accomplished in piano as well as in academics at a young age....
- pianist-virtuoso, born in Calgary - Margaret MayeMargaret MayeMargaret Maye , born in Poland, is a Polish-Canadian singer and performer in various musical genres. Her repertoire consists of early and modern music, opera, oratorio, operetta, music theatre, cabaret and jazz. Maye studied singing, drama and dancing at the post-secondary Music Theatre School in...
- singer and actress - Daniel WnukowskiDaniel WnukowskiDaniel Wnukowski is a Polish Canadian pianist from Windsor, Ontario, Canada.- Early years and training:At age 3 and a half, he showed strong fascination for a grand piano made completely out of glass in a music store and begged his parents to begin taking piano lessons.He studied piano at the...
- pianist
Walter Buczynski - composer
Kinga Mitrowska - singer
Kornel Wolak - clarnet-virtuoso
Culture and Media
- Andrzej BuszaAndrzej BuszaAndrzej Busza - Polish Canadian poet, translator, essayist. Associated Professor Emeritus of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver....
- poet - Bogdan CzaykowskiBogdan CzaykowskiBogdan Czaykowski was a Polish Canadian poet, essayist, literary translator and literary critic, professor emeritus and former Dean at the University of British Columbia. He wrote numerous articles in academic journals and literary magazines, and was the subject of literary research papers...
- poet, translator, essayist - Peter GzowskiPeter GzowskiPeter Gzowski, was a Canadian broadcaster, writer and reporter, most famous for his work on the CBC radio show Morningside. His first biographer argued that Gzowski's contribution to Canadian media must be considered in the context of efforts by a generation of Canadian nationalists to understand...
- broadcaster, writer and reporter - Rafal Heydel-MankooRafal Heydel-MankooRafal Heydel-Mankoo Rafal Heydel-Mankoo Rafal Heydel-Mankoo (born 1 June 1976, London, England is a London-based free-lance media correspondent on royal affairs, and a writer, commentator and pundit on heraldry, aristocracy, and various honours systems. He was born in the United Kingdom, and...
- historian and royal commentator for CTVCTV television networkCTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival... - Wacław Iwaniuk - poet in Polish, literary critic and essayist
- Jacqueline MilczarekJacqueline MilczarekJacqueline Milczarek is a Canadian news anchor for CTV News Channel broadcasting on weekend afternoons. She started working for CTV News in 2007. Before she joined CTV News, Milczarek was a reporter and part-time anchor to Global TV's First National with Peter Kent...
- journalist, news anchor - Anne MroczkowskiAnne MroczkowskiAnne Mroczkowski is a Canadian TV reporter and news anchor. She is currently co-anchor of Global News Hour, along with Leslie Roberts, a job she started on June 1, 2010....
- journalist, news anchor - Bogumil Pacak-Gamalski - poetPoetA poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, essayist, editor-in-chief of 'Strumien' art annual http://strumien.ca - George RadwanskiGeorge RadwanskiGeorge Radwanski is a former public servant, policy adviser, journalist and author. He is most recently known for having served as Privacy Commissioner of Canada until he resigned amid a controversy over allegedly too high-spending expense claims, maintaining that he was the victim of a political...
- Editor-in-Chief of the Toronto Star - Chava RosenfarbChava RosenfarbChava Rosenfarb was a Holocaust survivor and Jewish-Canadian author of Yiddish poetry and novels, a major contributor to post-World War II Yiddish Literature. Rosenfarb began writing poetry as young as eight...
- novelist, poet in Yiddish, wife of Henry MorgentalerHenry MorgentalerHenry Morgentaler, CM is a Canadian physician and prominent pro-choice advocate who has fought numerous legal battles for that cause.-Early life:... - Adam SmolukAdam SmolukAdam Smoluk is a Canadian screenwriter, director and actor. His work often explores themes of alienation and isolation. He has cited Jim Thompson, James M...
- director, screenwriter and actor - Mark StarowiczMark StarowiczMark Starowicz, is a Canadian journalist and producer.Born in Worksop, England, the son of son of Polish émigrés, he and his family immigrated to Montreal in 1954. He received a B.A. from McGill University in 1968. In 1964, he started as a reporter for the Montreal Gazette...
- head of CBC Television Documentary Programming unit, journalist and TV producer - Alexandra SzackaAlexandra SzackaAlexandra Szacka was CBC/Radio-Canada correspondent in Moscow. She was assigned there in Fall 2007. She replaced Nick Spicer.She is now correspondent in Paris replacing Maxence Bilodeau....
- CBC/Radio-Canada correspondant - {Zig Misiak} - author, cocreator of Six Nations Iroquois Program Teachers Resource Guide
Actors
- Magda Apanowicz - actress
- Henry CzernyHenry Czerny- Career :Czerny received formal training at the National Theatre School in Montreal. After graduating in 1982, he went on to perform onstage across Canada, from Ottawa's National Arts Centre to Edmonton's Citadel Theatre and the Stratford Festival. By the late 1980s, he had established himself as...
- actor - Lisa RayLisa RayLisa Ray , born 4 April 1972, is a Canadian actress and former model.-Early life:Lisa Ray was born in Toronto to a Bengali Indian father and a Polish mother and grew up in the suburb of Etobicoke...
- actress - Devon SawaDevon SawaDevon Edward Sawa is a Canadian actor. Although he appears in independent films, he is best known for portraying the part of Alex Browning in the 1999 movie Final Destination...
- actor
Military
- Andrew Charles MynarskiAndrew Charles MynarskiAndrew Charles Mynarski VC was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for bravery in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces...
- VC, Second World War airman - Stefan SznukStefan SznukStefan Sznuk, OC was a pioneering Polish aviator, as well as an Air Force Major-General and was among the first to join the new Polish Air Force in 1919.Born in Warsaw, he was educated at the Warsaw University of Technology....
- Major General. - Walter J. Natynczyk - Chief of the Defence Staff of the Canadian Forces
Sports
- Turk BrodaTurk BrodaWalter "Turk" Broda was an ice hockey goaltender, playing his entire career for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League . Broda was born in Brandon, Manitoba to a Ukrainian family; joining the Maple Leafs in 1936.-Personal:...
- ice hockey goalie - Wayne GretzkyWayne GretzkyWayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
- Hockey Legend - Robert Swiercz - Hockey Player Europe
- Michael KlukowskiMichael KlukowskiMichael Klukowski is a Canadian footballer who is currently plays for Manisaspor in Turkish Süper Lig.At left-back, Klukowski has enjoyed a rapid rise since his move to Belgium in 2002...
- soccer player for Club BruggeClub BruggeClub Brugge Koninklijke Voetbalvereniging is a football club from Bruges in Belgium. It was founded in 1891 and is one of the top clubs in Belgium. Its home ground is the Jan Breydel Stadium, which has a capacity of 29,472.... - Tomasz KucharzewskiTomasz KucharzewskiTomasz Kucharzewski was a Polish-Canadian martial artist. Kucharzewski initially gained fame while competitively fighting in Kyokushin kaikan and Shidōkan styles of karate...
- martial artist - Jim PeplinskiJim PeplinskiJames Desmond Peplinski is a retired Canadian National Hockey League player.He played junior hockey for the Toronto Marlboroughs of the OHL and was drafted in 1978 NHL Amateur Draft by the Atlanta Flames. Peplinski was one of five active NHL players who played on Canada's 1988 Olympic ice hockey...
- Calgary FlamesCalgary FlamesThe Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
NHL - Chris PozniakChris PozniakChris Pozniak is a Polish-born Canadian soccer player who currently plays for Haugesund in the Tippeligaen.-Club career:Pozniak emigrated with his parents, Tadeusz and Elżbieta, and sister Kinga, to Canada in 1990....
- soccer player who currently plays for San Jose EarthquakesSan Jose EarthquakesThe San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
. - Tomasz RadzinskiTomasz RadzinskiNot to be confused with the Czech footballer Tomáš RosickýTomasz Radzinski is a Canadian association footballer who plays as a striker. He is currently unattached.-Club career:...
- soccer player - Krzysztof SoszynskiKrzysztof SoszynskiKrzysztof Soszyński is a Polish-Canadian mixed martial artist. He fought for the Los Angeles Anacondas of the International Fight League . After the demise of that organization, he moved to the UFC, appearing on season 8 of The Ultimate Fighter...
- Mixed Martial Artist - Larry TraderLarry TraderLarry J. Trader is a retired ice hockey defenceman. He played a handful of games at the NHL level, but is mostly known for his high scoring in the American Hockey League and overseas. He last played for Varese Hockey Club in Italy...
- played for Detroit, St. Louis, Montreal, 1982–1988 - Wojtek WolskiWojtek WolskiWojciech "Wojtek” Wolski is a Polish-Canadian professional ice hockey left winger, currently playing for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League . He previously played for the Colorado Avalanche and the Phoenix Coyotes.-Junior:...
- Colorado AvalancheColorado AvalancheThe Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
Player NHL - John Tavares - ice hockey player for the New York Islanders
- Aleksandra WozniakAleksandra WozniakAleksandra Wozniak is a Canadian professional tennis player. She turned professional in November 2005. Wozniak achieved a career-best ranking of no. 21 on June 22, 2009, making her the fourth-highest ranked Canadian singles player of all time. She has won one WTA and eight ITF tournaments...
- professional tennis Player - Stan MikawosStan MikawosStan Mikawos is a former Canadian football player. A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Mikawos played college football at North Dakota. He played professional football in the Canadian Football League as a defensive tackle for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1982 to 1996...
- Winnipeg Blue BombersWinnipeg Blue BombersThe Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
Player CFL - Dave StalaDave StalaDave Stala is a professional Canadian football slotback for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted in the 6th round, 50th overall by the Montreal Alouettes as a placekicker in 2003. He played CIS football for the Saint Mary's Huskies...
- Hamilton Tiger-CatsHamilton Tiger-CatsThe Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
Player CFL
Fictional Characters
- Walter "Sasquatch" LangkowskiSasquatch (comics)Sasquatch is a fictional character, a superhero in Marvel Comics' universe. He first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #120 and was created by John Byrne.-Fictional character biography:Dr...
, a Marvel superhero - Jude Lizowsky, a 6teen6teen6teen is a Canadian animated sitcom, which premiered in Canada in 2004 on Teletoon. In the USA, 6teen first premiered on Nickelodeon on December 18, 2005 and was removed from the schedule on May 13, 2006 before being removed completely in 2007 before the series' run could be completed. 6teen was...
character
See also
- Great EmigrationGreat EmigrationThe Great Emigration was an emigration of political elites from Poland from 1831–1870. Since the end of the 18th century, a major role in Polish political life was played by people who carried out their activities outside the country as émigrés...
- Canadian-Polish Congress
- Polish Culture Society of EdmontonPolish Culture Society of Edmonton- History :Established in 1971 in Edmonton, Alberta by a group of Polish emigrants, among them was a renowned professor of University of Alberta, demographer Dr.Karol Józef Krótki.- Mission :...
- Polish Americans
- Polish Cathedral style of North American church architecturePolish Cathedral styleThe Polish Cathedral architectural style is a North American genre of Catholic church architecture found throughout the Great Lakes and Middle Atlantic regions as well as in parts of New England...
- Polish BritishPolish BritishPolish migration to the United Kingdom describes the temporary or permanent migration of Poles to the United Kingdom . Most Polish migrants to the UK emigrated after two major events, the Polish Resettlement Act 1947 and the 2004 enlargement of the European Union...
- Polish AustralianPolish AustralianPoland has been a source country of immigrants to Australia, in particular in the post-war period. Immigration from Poland has long tapered off, with Polish Australian population now part of the mainstream Australian community.-Demography:...
s - Polish BrazilianPolish BrazilianA Polish Brazilian is a Brazilian person of full or partial Polish ancestry, who is aware of such ancestry and remains connected, in some degree, to Polish culture, or a Polish-born person permanently residing in Brazil. The number of Polish descendants in Brazil is estimated at 1.8 million...
s
External links
- Canadian Polish Congress
- History of Ours: the Polish Community in Brantford
- Multicultural Canada website digitized issues of Toronto newspaper Zwiazkowiec (Alliancer), 1935–1978