Polish history in Manitoba

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 03/12/2018 (2487 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

 

This past November has represented an incredible milestone for peace and sovereignty. 

 

Nov. 11 marked the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War and the 100th anniversary of Poland gaining its independence from the German, Austrian and Russian empires.

 Polish people came to Manitoba long before the modern state gained its independence in the aftermath of the First World War. The first Polish people arrived in Manitoba with the Lord Selkirk expedition of 1817 alongside a group of Polish soldier/settlers from the Des Meurons Regiment. Since then, institutions such as Holy Ghost Parish and School, Holy Ghost Fraternal Aid Society, Polish Gymnastic Association Sokol and St. John Cantius fraternal aid societies are a few groups that have existed for over 100 years. They make up a part of the Polish community in Manitoba.

 During the First World War, Polish people in Winnipeg eagerly served as volunteer recruits to the Polish Army in France. The Second World War saw the establishment of the local branch of the Canadian Polish Congress. After the war, a large cohort of Polish combatants settled in Manitoba and helped establish the Polish Combatants Association Branch No. 13. When I was in the Canadian military, I served with many soldiers who were Polish immigrants and others like me who descended from Polish heritage. The Polish community has a strong connection to Manitoba and across Western Canada.

 Two Kildonan constituency residents, Lech and Grazyna Galezowski, have spent over 15 years exploring our vast Prairies in search of known and forgotten Polish settlements and collecting information about Polish churches and chapels throughout the region. This work has culminated in the publication of a beautiful text. In the Footsteps of Polish Pioneers on the Canadian Prairies is an important historical work that lends itself to the preservation of Polish history.

 The volunteer-run Ogniwo Polish Museum in Winnipeg’s historic North End is the only Polish-Canadian museum in Western Canada. It promotes understanding of the Polish experience in Canada through exhibits, presentations and workshops. The museum also houses unique collections that speak to Polish history, traditions and folklore, and which help to document the Polish-Canadian settlement experience. 

 Northwest Winnipeg is fortunate to have a strong connection to the Polish community in Manitoba. I encourage anyone to explore institutions such as the Ogniwo Polish Museum at 1417 Main St., where In the Footsteps of Polish Pioneers on the Canadian Prairies can be found.

Engaged constituents are an important part of a healthy community and a better Kildonan. Please continue to reach out to my office at 210-1375 McPhillips St., call me at 204-339-7852 or email me at nic@niccurry.com