Polish Canadians

Last updated
Polish Canadians
Polonia w Kanadzie (Polish)
Canadiens polonais (French)
Flag of Poland.svg Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg
Polish Distribution in Canada, 2021 Census.jpg
Population distribution of Polish Canadians by census division, 2021 census
Total population
1,106,585
(by ancestry, 2016 Census ) [1]
Regions with significant populations
Western Canada, Ontario
Languages
Polish  · Canadian English  · Canadian French
Religion
Predominantly Roman Catholicism  · Judaism [2]
Related ethnic groups
Polish Jews  · Polish Americans

Polish Canadians (Polish : Polonia w Kanadzie) are citizens of Canada with Polish ancestry, and Poles who immigrated to Canada from abroad. At the 2016 Census, there were 1,106,585 Canadians who claimed full or partial Polish heritage. [1]

Contents

History

Sir Casimir S. Gzowski from Historic Sites of Ontario IMG 0655.JPG
Sir Casimir S. Gzowski from Historic Sites of Ontario
Canada provinces 1867-1870 Canada provinces 1867-1870.png
Canada provinces 1867–1870

The first Polish immigrant on record, was Dominik Barcz, came to Canada in 1752. He was a fur merchant from Gdańsk who settled in Montreal. He was followed in 1757 by Charles Blaskowicz, a 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.[ citation needed ]

Among 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 who took part in the November Uprising of 1830 and the 1863 insurrection against the Russian Empire in the Russian sector of partitioned Poland. [3]

In 1841, Casimir Stanislaus Gzowski arrived in Canada from partitioned Poland via the US, and for 50 years worked in the engineering, military and community sectors in Toronto and Southern Ontario, for which he was knighted by Queen Victoria. His great-great-grandson, Peter Gzowski, became one of Canada's famous radio personalities.

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.[ citation needed ]

Polish immigration stopped during World War I and between the wars, over 100,000 Polish immigrants arrived in Canada. [4]

Polish Canadian
Population History
YearPop.±%
19016,285—    
191133,652+435.4%
192153,403+58.7%
1931145,503+172.5%
1941167,485+15.1%
1951219,845+31.3%
1961323,517+47.2%
1971316,430−2.2%
1981254,485−19.6%
1986612,105+140.5%
1991740,710+21.0%
1996786,735+6.2%
2001817,085+3.9%
2006984,565+20.5%
20111,010,705+2.7%
20161,106,585+9.5%
Source: Statistics Canada
[5] : 17  [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]
Note: 1981 Canadian census did not include multiple ethnic origin responses, thus population is an undercount.

Group-settlers

The first significant group of Polish group-settlers were ethnic Kashubians from northern Poland, who were escaping Prussian and German oppression resulting from the occupation after the partitions. They arrived in Renfrew County of Ontario in 1858, where they founded the settlements of Wilno, Barry's Bay, and Round Lake. [17] 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.[ citation needed ]

Geographical distribution

Polish Canadians as % of population by area; also showing Polish Americans Polish ancestry in the USA and Canada.png
Polish Canadians as % of population by area; also showing Polish Americans

Data from this section from Statistics Canada, 2021. [18]

Provinces & territories

Province / TerritoryPercent PolishTotal Polish
Flag of Alberta.svg  Alberta 4.1%169,925
Flag of British Columbia.svg  British Columbia 2.7%134,635
Flag of Manitoba.svg  Manitoba 6.0%78,860
Flag of New Brunswick.svg  New Brunswick 0.5%3,815
Flag of Newfoundland and Labrador.svg  Newfoundland and Labrador 0.3%1,290
Flag of the Northwest Territories.svg  Northwest Territories 1.5%615
Flag of Nova Scotia.svg  Nova Scotia 1.2%11,295
Flag of Nunavut.svg  Nunavut 0.4%135
Flag of Ontario.svg  Ontario 3.3%461,090
Flag of Prince Edward Island.svg  Prince Edward Island 0.7%1,055
Flag of Quebec.svg  Quebec 0.8%63,505
Flag of Saskatchewan.svg  Saskatchewan 5.0%55,605
Flag of Yukon.svg  Yukon 2.5%985
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada — Total2.7%982,820

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 the Polish language during services. [19]

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 with the church in Winnipeg publishing the first Polish newspaper in Canada, Gazeta Katolicka in 1908. [20] In Sydney, Nova Scotia, St. Mary's Polish Parish was established in 1913 by immigrant steelworkers and coal miners, many of whom had previously formed the St. Michael's Polish Benefit Society (est. 1909). The parish remains the only Polish parish in Atlantic Canada, although there is a Polish mission (St. Faustina) in Halifax.

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 serve in 120 parishes.

Toronto Memorial to Katyn Toronto-katyn-memorial.jpg
Toronto Memorial to Katyn

Largest Polish Canadian communities

The Pope John Paul II statue, Toronto Pope-jp-roncesvalles.jpg
The Pope John Paul II statue, Toronto
The largest Polish festival in Canada, held annually in Roncesvalles, Toronto Roncesvalles Polish Fest 2008.JPG
The largest Polish festival in Canada, held annually in Roncesvalles, Toronto

Polish Canadian organizations

Recognition

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 recipients was Andrew Mynarski, pilot-gunner from Winnipeg, awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously for extreme valor in World War II.

The Order of Canada

  • Mary Adamowska Panaro, C.M. Winnipeg, Welfare Council of Winnipeg [41]
  • Dr. Henry Wojcicki – Edmonton, distinguished psychiatrist, University of Alberta senator [42]
  • Dr.Tom Brzustowski Waterloo, president of NSERC
  • Walter Gretzky, Brantford, Ontario, Canada
  • The Honourable Allan H. Wachowich, C.M., A.O.E., Q.C.Edmonton, Alberta. Member November 18, 2019.

Judges

Their Honours [43]
  • Judge Paul Staniszewski – of Toronto, Montreal and the County Court of Windsor
  • Judge Alfred Harold Joseph Swencisky – of the Superior Court of BC in Vancouver; past president of the Vancouver Hospital Association [44]
  • 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
  • Chief Judge Edward R. Wachowich - of the Provincial Court of Alberta (deceased 2012)
  • Judge E.F. Wrzeszczinski-Wren – of the County Court of Toronto (deceased) [43]

Notable Polish Canadians

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of Canada</span>

Statistics Canada conducts a country-wide census that collects demographic data every five years on the first and sixth year of each decade. The 2021 Canadian census enumerated a total population of 36,991,981, an increase of around 5.2 percent over the 2016 figure. It is estimated that Canada's population surpassed 40 million in 2023 and 41 million in 2024. Between 1990 and 2008, the population increased by 5.6 million, equivalent to 20.4 percent overall growth. The main driver of population growth is immigration, with 6.2% of the country's population being made up of temporary residents as of 2023, or about 2.5 million people. Between 2011 and May 2016, Canada's population grew by 1.7 million people, with immigrants accounting for two-thirds of the increase.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethnic origins of people in Canada</span>

According to the 2021 Canadian census, over 450 "ethnic or cultural origins" were self-reported by Canadians. The major panethnic origin groups in Canada are: European (52.5%), North American (22.9%), Asian (19.3%), North American Indigenous (6.1%), African (3.8%), Latin, Central and South American (2.5%), Caribbean (2.1%), Oceanian (0.3%), and Other (6%). Statistics Canada reports that 35.5% of the population reported multiple ethnic origins, thus the overall total is greater than 100%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visible minority</span> Canadian demographic category

A visible minority is defined by the Government of Canada as "persons, other than aboriginal peoples, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour". The term is used primarily as a demographic category by Statistics Canada, in connection with that country's Employment Equity policies. The qualifier "visible" was chosen by the Canadian authorities as a way to single out newer immigrant minorities from both Aboriginal Canadians and other "older" minorities distinguishable by language and religion, which are "invisible" traits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Asian Canadians</span> Ethnic group

South Asian Canadians are Canadians who were either born in or can trace their ancestry to South Asia or the Indian subcontinent, which includes the nations of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. The term also includes immigrants from South Asian communities in East and South Africa, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Fiji, Mauritius, and the rest of the world.

Swedish Canadians are Canadian citizens of Swedish ancestry or Swedes who emigrated to and reside in Canada. The Swedish Canadian community in Canada numbered 349,640 in the 2016 population census. The vast majority of them reside west of Lake Superior, primarily in Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. Toronto is the most popular settlement spot for newcomers. Despite having an influential presence and distinctive cultural bond, only 14,000 Canadian persons of Swedish descent speak Swedish.

Icelandic Canadians are Canadian citizens of Icelandic ancestry, or Iceland-born people who reside in Canada.

The demographics of Toronto, Ontario, Canada make Toronto one of the most multicultural and multiracial cities in the world. In 2021, 57.0 percent of the residents of the metropolitan area belonged to a visible minority group, compared with 51.4 percent in 2016, and 13.6 percent in 1981. Toronto also has established ethnic neighbourhoods such as the multiple Chinatowns, Corso Italia, Little Italy, Little India, Greektown, Koreatown, Little Tokyo, Little Jamaica, Little Portugal, Little Malta, Roncesvalles (Polish), and Bloor West Village (Ukrainian), all of which celebrate the city's multiculturalism. Data from the suburban municipalities are also included for some metrics as most of these municipalities are part of the Toronto CMA.

Danish Canadians are Canadian citizens of Danish ancestry. According to the 2006 Census, there were 200,035 Canadians with Danish background, 17,650 of whom were born in Denmark.

The demographics of Metro Vancouver indicate a multicultural and multiracial region. Metro Vancouver is a metropolitan area, with its major urban centre being Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The Vancouver census metropolitan area, as defined by Statistics Canada, encompasses roughly the same territory as the Metro Vancouver Regional District, a regional district in British Columbia. The regional district includes 23 local authorities. Figures provided here are for the Vancouver census metropolitan area and not for the City of Vancouver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of Ontario</span>

Ontario, one of the 13 provinces and territories of Canada, is located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province by a large margin, accounting for nearly 40 percent of all Canadians, and is the second-largest province in total area. Ontario is fourth-largest in total area when the territories of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut are included. It is home to the nation's capital city, Ottawa, and the nation's most populous city, Toronto.

Norwegian Canadians refer to Canadian citizens who identify themselves as being of full or partial Norwegian ancestry, or people who emigrated from Norway and reside in Canada.

Welsh Canadians are Canadian citizens of Welsh descent or Wales-born people who reside in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of Alberta</span>

Alberta has experienced a relatively high rate of growth in recent years, due in large part to its economy. Between 2003 and 2004, the province saw high birthrates, relatively high immigration, and a high rate of interprovincial migration when compared to other provinces. Approximately 81% of the population live in urban areas and only about 19% live in rural areas. The Calgary–Edmonton Corridor is the most urbanized area in Alberta and is one of Canada's four most urban regions. Many of Alberta's cities and towns have also experienced high rates of growth in recent history. From a population of 73,022 in 1901, Alberta has grown to 4,262,635 in 2021 and in the process has gone from less than 1.5% of Canada's population to 11.5%. It is the fourth most populated province in Canada. Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, the Alberta population grew by 4.8%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of Manitoba</span>

Manitoba is one of Canada's 10 provinces. It is the easternmost of the three Prairie provinces.

According to the 2021 census, the City of Edmonton had a population of 1,010,899 residents, compared to 4,262,635 for all of Alberta, Canada. The total population of the Edmonton census metropolitan area (CMA) was 1,418,118, making it the sixth-largest CMA in Canada.

Nordic and Scandinavian Canadians are Canadian citizens with ancestral roots in the Nordic countries and/or Scandinavia

Belgian Canadians are Canadian citizens of Belgian ancestry or Belgium-born people who reside in Canada. According to the 2011 census there were 176,615 Canadians who claimed full or partial Belgian ancestry. It encompasses immigrants from both French and Dutch-speaking parts of Belgium.

The demographics of Winnipeg reveal the city to be a typically Canadian one: multicultural and multilingual. Winnipeg is also prominent in the size and ratio of its First Nations population, which plays an important part in the city's makeup. About 12.4% of Winnipeggers are of Indigenous descent, which vastly exceeds the national average of 5.0%.

Austrian Canadians are Canadian citizens who are of Austrian ancestry or Austrian-born people who reside in Canada. According to the 2021 Census, there were 189,535 Canadians who claimed either full or partial Austrian ancestry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yugoslav Canadians</span> Ethnic group

Yugoslav Canadians are Canadians of full or partial Yugoslav ancestry. At the 2016 Census, the total number of Canadians whose origins lie in former Yugoslavia, majority of whom indicated specific ethnic origin, was 386,340 or 1.12% of the total population.

References

  1. 1 2 "Immigration and Ethnocultural Diversity Highlight Tables". statcan.gc.ca. 25 October 2017.
  2. ↑ Sheldon Kirshner (Sep 15, 2004). "Database" (PDF). The Polish-Jewish Heritage Foundation of Canada. The Canadian Jewish News, Toronto. Archived from the original (PDF file, direct download 351 KB) on May 15, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  3. ↑ Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, 2002, Archival Sources for the Study of Polish Canadians. Accessed 2008-01-03
  4. ↑ Reczynska, Anna (1996). For bread and a better future : emigration from Poland to Canada, 1918-1939. Toronto: Multicultural History Society of Ontario. p. 8. ISBN   0-919045-70-7.
  5. ↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (1999-07-29). "Historical statistics of Canada, section A: Population and migration - ARCHIVED". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  6. ↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2013-04-03). "1961 Census of Canada : population : vol. I - part 2 = 1961 Recensement du Canada : population : vol. I - partie 2. Ethnic groups". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  7. ↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2013-04-03). "1971 Census of Canada : population : vol. I - part 3 = Recensement du Canada 1971 : population : vol. I - partie 3. Ethnic groups". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  8. ↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2013-04-03). "1981 Census of Canada : volume 1 - national series : population = Recensement du Canada de 1981 : volume 1 - série nationale : population. Ethnic origin". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  9. ↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2013-04-03). "Census Canada 1986 Profile of ethnic groups". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  10. ↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2013-04-03). "1986 Census of Canada: Ethnic Diversity In Canada". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  11. ↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2013-04-03). "1991 Census: The nation. Ethnic origin". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  12. ↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-06-04). "Data tables, 1996 Census Population by Ethnic Origin (188) and Sex (3), Showing Single and Multiple Responses (3), for Canada, Provinces, Territories and Census Metropolitan Areas, 1996 Census (20% Sample Data)". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  13. ↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2013-12-23). "Ethnic Origin (232), Sex (3) and Single and Multiple Responses (3) for Population, for Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2001 Census - 20% Sample Data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  14. ↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2020-05-01). "Ethnic Origin (247), Single and Multiple Ethnic Origin Responses (3) and Sex (3) for the Population of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census - 20% Sample Data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  15. ↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-01-23). "Ethnic Origin (264), Single and Multiple Ethnic Origin Responses (3), Generation Status (4), Age Groups (10) and Sex (3) for the Population in Private Households of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2011 National Household Survey". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  16. ↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-06-17). "Ethnic Origin (279), Single and Multiple Ethnic Origin Responses (3), Generation Status (4), Age (12) and Sex (3) for the Population in Private Households of Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2016 Census - 25% Sample Data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  17. ↑ Blank, Joshua C. (2016). Creating Kashubia: History, Memory and Identity in Canada's First Polish Community. Montreal & Kingston: McGill-Queen's University Press. ISBN   9780773547209.
  18. ↑ "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". 9 February 2022.
  19. ↑ Henry Radecki, Ethnic organizational dynamics: the Polish group in Canada. Page 102   Wilfrid Laurier Univ. Press, 1979 – 275 pages
  20. ↑ Heydenkorn, Benedykt (Spring–Summer 1982). "Polish press in Canada". Polyphony: The Bulletin of the Multicultural History Society of Ontario. 4 (1): 35. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  21. ↑ "Polonia Inclusive - Community supporting culture, diversity and advocacy in Canada, Poland and around the world". Polonia Inclusive. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
  22. ↑ "Polonia Inclusive". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
  23. ↑ "Polonia Inclusive (@poloniainclusive) • Instagram photos and videos". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
  24. ↑ "Polonia Inclusive Mailing List". Mail Chip. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
  25. ↑ "polish national union". polishnationalunion.ca. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  26. ↑ "Polish Organizations and Cultural Centers in Canada". Gov.PL. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  27. ↑ "Polish Canadian Professionals". Konekt. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  28. ↑ "Who We Are - History". Polycultural Immigrant and Community Services. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  29. ↑ "Collecting and preserving the history, culture, and development of the Polish group in Canada". The Canadian Polish Research Institute. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  30. ↑ "Poland in the Rockies: Looking back". Cosmopolitan Review. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  31. ↑ "Resources :: Polish Community". Łowiczanie Polish Folk Ensemble. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  32. ↑ "Poland in the Rockies". Polish Winnipeg. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  33. ↑ "Websites for Polish Americans". Polish American Librarians Association. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  34. ↑ "about". Young Polish-Canadian Professionals Association. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  35. ↑ "ABOUT". polish institute. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  36. ↑ "Polish Organizations (155)". Polish Canadians Network. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  37. ↑ "Polish Canadian Women's Federation - Federacja Polek w Kanadzie". FederacjaPolek.ca. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  38. ↑ "Polish Organizations in Canada". Polish Alliance of Canada. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  39. ↑ "Federation of Polish Jews of Canada". Ontario Jewish Archives. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  40. ↑ "Federation of Polish Jews of Canada". Canadian Jewish Heritage Network. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  41. ↑ Services, Government of Canada, Office of the Secretary to the Governor General, Information and Media. "Order of Canada". Archive.gg.ca. Retrieved 27 May 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  42. ↑ Gonzalez, Ramon (January 11, 2007). "Brilliant psychiatrist and Polish patriot dies". Western Catholic Reporter . Edmonton. Archived from the original on 2007-08-10. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  43. 1 2 CPC. "In the legal profession". Contribution of Poles to the Canadian Society. Canadian Polish Congress. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
  44. ↑ "FamilySearch". Familysearch.org. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.