A new era for Ogniwo

North End

In its 40th year, Ogniwo Polish Museum has entered a new era by changing its name to the Polish Canadian Museum and Archives (PCMA).

The news, announced at Ogniwo’s anniversary luncheon on Nov. 1, coincided with the announcement of a 10-year capital campaign that will eventually upgrade the North End museum space to make way for donated archives from across the country.

The museum’s current space at 1417 Main St. is one large donation away from being completely filled up, vice-president Marta Dabros said, and around 98 per cent of its holdings were donated by people living in or with roots in Manitoba, with a few exceptions from Ontario and Alberta.

Its archives range from personal letters and correspondence between a Winnipeg women’s war relief group and families in Poland asking for help, to toys, Polish cultural attire, arts, books from Polish publishers, and more.

The capital campaign was kicked off by an initial donation of over $800,000 from a member of the community, and the volunteer-run museum has received vocal expressions of support from the Polish government and embassy, the latter of which wholly supports a project of this nature stemming from the prairies rather than a larger city like Toronto.

Dabros, an archivist by trade, said the prospect of expanding the collection to a national level is very exciting.

“Since I’ve been here, (I’ve been) seeing the amazing stories that come out of these artifacts and these archives,” she said. “(They) tell the stories of our community that would otherwise be lost forever, and thinking, if this is just in Manitoba, if this is just in the Winnipeg region, how many stories are we missing that are out there across the country?

“We know there are, because people are reaching out.”

Dabros said many non-Manitoba residents have found the museum online and said they consider it a good home for records they have no idea what to do with.

“We see a need in the community, and we’re trying to respond to that need,” she said. “What keeps me going and invested is the team effort of it. It’s not something any of us could do on our own, but it’s something that, when we all contribute, we build something bigger than ourselves that will hopefully outlive us and keep telling our stories for generations to come.”

Plans for the future Polish Canadian Museum and Archives could include either an expansion of its current building (which would make use of rear parking lot space), or a move into a new building. Either option will take millions of dollars, Dabros said.

Hiring professional staff will also become a priority, as everyone at the museum — from its president to its IT professional — is a volunteer.

The biggest challenge of next decade will be raising the funds, Dabros explained.

PCMA is currently operating on its winter schedule, meaning it is open every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Those interested in visiting at other times can email info@polishmuseum.com to make arrangements. Admission is always free.

The museum will hold its Christmas open house on Saturday, Nov. 29 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., featuring seasonal displays, a makers’ market and refreshments.

Those interested in donating funds, can do so at polishmuseum.com

Finally, Dabros added that the museum is always looking for volunteers.

“There’s always things to do, and we are one big family,” Dabros said, adding that everything at the museum is a team effort, and everyone pulls their weight. “We’re very welcoming and happy to work with anybody, whatever level of engagement they want to provide.”