Legislation creates Polish Heritage Month In May
QUEEN’S PARK: December 9, 2021 – Etobicoke-Lakeshore PC MPP Christine Hogarth tabled legislation that passed third reading on Monday 6 December and has received Royal Assent today by The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, The Lieutentant-Governor of Ontario. Polish Heritage Month in May recognizes the Polish- Ontarian community’s historic contribution to building our province and will forever mark the month of May as Polish Heritage Month in Ontario.
Polish Heritage Month will be celebrated each May, commemorating Constitution Day in Poland – the implementation of the first democtratic and progressive constitution in Europe on May 3rd 1791. This is the one of the most important dates in Poland’s history and marks the centuries long struggle for freedom and independence by the Polish people. This applies especially to Polish-Ontarians, whose ancestors fought for liberty while resisting centuries of invasion and aggression including most recently in the last century against Nazi and Soviet occupation.”
“One reason I entered public life was to safeguard Ontario’s democratic tradition,” Hogarth said, when originally tabling An Act to Proclaim the Month of May as Polish Heritage Month. “Poland has always had a democratic tradition and a desire for freedom. This history inspired me as I came to know the many accomplishments and contributions of Polish-Ontarians to the diverse cultural and economic fabric of this province. Polish Heritage Month will justly honour these contributions.”
Hogarth noted that her riding is home to several Polish Catholic churches, the Polish Cultural organization, Polish National Union in Canada including the Consulate of the Republic of Poland. “I am very proud to have made this bill a reality on behalf of the Polish-Ontarian community in my riding and indeed across Ontario,” Hogarth concluded. “This May and every May afterward, all of Ontario will share in the celebration of Polish Heritage.”
This Bill would be the first piece of legislation recognizing Polish Heritage Month in the history of Ontario Legislature. According to the 2016 census, some 524,000 Polish Canadians call Ontario home. That is far more than any other province. Ontario is home to nearly 524,0001 Polish Canadians, who have lived in Ontario ever since the 19th century. Since then, people of Polish heritage have made significant contributions to Ontario’s society, economy, politics and culture. Nearly 12,000 live in Hogarth’s Etobicoke-Lakeshore riding alone.
Why Etobicoke – Lakeshore?
More than 11,000 Ontarians of Polish heritage reside in Etobicoke – Lakeshore. MPP Hogarth’s riding is also home to the Consulate General of Poland in Canada, which often holds events for Polish Ontarians. Etobicoke – Lakeshore is one of the centers of the Polish community in Ontario. It is symbolic that the Polish Heritage Month would be introduced by an MPP from this riding.
Why Ontario?
The very first Polish-Canadian settlement in the country is the township of Wilno in Renfrew County, Ontario. Most of the original settlers in the area came around 1858 from the Polish cultural region of Kashubia. The settlement was established in 1864.
Why May?
May 3rd is widely celebrated by Polish people around the world to commemorate the constitution of 1791, which is a symbol of Poland’s aspiration for freedom, democracy and independence. This is one of the most important Polish holidays, and many parades and festivities take place in May. Polish Heritage Month is an opportunity to educate Ontarians about the hardships that Polish Canadians went through to achieve their liberty, and underscore the significance of the Polish Canadian community in Ontario’s history.
“The Polish community has contributed significantly to Ontario, its development and culture ever since the first major wave of Kashubians immigrated in 1858. The recognition of the Polish community’s contributions by the Province of Ontario through Bill 18, Polish Heritage Month in May, honours this historic bond.” said Consul General of The Republic of Poland in Toronto, Magdalena Pszczolkowska.
“An important aspect of fostering Ontario’s rich and diverse cultural mosaic is recognising the achievements of the communities that have come to call our province home. With this Bill, we are ensuring that the place of Poles in Ontario is both recognised and celebrated.” – Natalia Kusendova, MPP for Mississauga Centre
“As a first generation Polish-Ontarian, I know the Polish community has contributed significantly to the growth, culture and development of Toronto, Ontario and Canada in business, arts, academia, the military and politics. That is why Polish Heritage Month is so important in recognizing the contribution of the Polish community on a provincial level.” – Chris Korwin-Kuczynski, Former Toronto City Councillor
As an active member of the Polish-Canadian Community, I strongly feel that Mrs. Hogarth’s initiative is a very needed one and will be greatly appreciated by the Polish Canadians at large. – Bart Habrowski, President of Branch 1 of Polish National Union of Canada
“The Canadian Polish Congress welcomes the introduction of Bill 18 in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to establish Polish Heritage Month in the Province of Ontario. As the organization representing the over 1.2 million Polish Canadians across Canada – as many as half of whom live in Ontario – we are happy that the many historic and ongoing contributions of Ontarians of Polish descent will be officially recognized and celebrated each May. Thank you to MPP Christine Hogarth and MPP John Yakabuski for leading this important initiative.” – John J. Tomczak, President, Canadian Polish Congress
Legislation creates Polish Heritage Month In May
QUEEN’S PARK: December 9, 2021 – Etobicoke-Lakeshore PC MPP Christine Hogarth tabled legislation that passed third reading on Monday 6 December and has received Royal Assent today by The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, The Lieutentant-Governor of Ontario. Polish Heritage Month in May recognizes the Polish- Ontarian community’s historic contribution to building our province and will forever mark the month of May as Polish Heritage Month in Ontario.
Polish Heritage Month will be celebrated each May, commemorating Constitution Day in Poland – the implementation of the first democtratic and progressive constitution in Europe on May 3rd 1791. This is the one of the most important dates in Poland’s history and marks the centuries long struggle for freedom and independence by the Polish people. This applies especially to Polish-Ontarians, whose ancestors fought for liberty while resisting centuries of invasion and aggression including most recently in the last century against Nazi and Soviet occupation.”
“One reason I entered public life was to safeguard Ontario’s democratic tradition,” Hogarth said, when originally tabling An Act to Proclaim the Month of May as Polish Heritage Month. “Poland has always had a democratic tradition and a desire for freedom. This history inspired me as I came to know the many accomplishments and contributions of Polish-Ontarians to the diverse cultural and economic fabric of this province. Polish Heritage Month will justly honour these contributions.”
Hogarth noted that her riding is home to several Polish Catholic churches, the Polish Cultural organization, Polish National Union in Canada including the Consulate of the Republic of Poland. “I am very proud to have made this bill a reality on behalf of the Polish-Ontarian community in my riding and indeed across Ontario,” Hogarth concluded. “This May and every May afterward, all of Ontario will share in the celebration of Polish Heritage.”
This Bill would be the first piece of legislation recognizing Polish Heritage Month in the history of Ontario Legislature. According to the 2016 census, some 524,000 Polish Canadians call Ontario home. That is far more than any other province. Ontario is home to nearly 524,0001 Polish Canadians, who have lived in Ontario ever since the 19th century. Since then, people of Polish heritage have made significant contributions to Ontario’s society, economy, politics and culture. Nearly 12,000 live in Hogarth’s Etobicoke-Lakeshore riding alone.
Why Etobicoke – Lakeshore?
More than 11,000 Ontarians of Polish heritage reside in Etobicoke – Lakeshore. MPP Hogarth’s riding is also home to the Consulate General of Poland in Canada, which often holds events for Polish Ontarians. Etobicoke – Lakeshore is one of the centers of the Polish community in Ontario. It is symbolic that the Polish Heritage Month would be introduced by an MPP from this riding.
Why Ontario?
The very first Polish-Canadian settlement in the country is the township of Wilno in Renfrew County, Ontario. Most of the original settlers in the area came around 1858 from the Polish cultural region of Kashubia. The settlement was established in 1864.
Why May?
May 3rd is widely celebrated by Polish people around the world to commemorate the constitution of 1791, which is a symbol of Poland’s aspiration for freedom, democracy and independence. This is one of the most important Polish holidays, and many parades and festivities take place in May. Polish Heritage Month is an opportunity to educate Ontarians about the hardships that Polish Canadians went through to achieve their liberty, and underscore the significance of the Polish Canadian community in Ontario’s history.
“The Polish community has contributed significantly to Ontario, its development and culture ever since the first major wave of Kashubians immigrated in 1858. The recognition of the Polish community’s contributions by the Province of Ontario through Bill 18, Polish Heritage Month in May, honours this historic bond.” said Consul General of The Republic of Poland in Toronto, Magdalena Pszczolkowska.
“An important aspect of fostering Ontario’s rich and diverse cultural mosaic is recognising the achievements of the communities that have come to call our province home. With this Bill, we are ensuring that the place of Poles in Ontario is both recognised and celebrated.” – Natalia Kusendova, MPP for Mississauga Centre
“As a first generation Polish-Ontarian, I know the Polish community has contributed significantly to the growth, culture and development of Toronto, Ontario and Canada in business, arts, academia, the military and politics. That is why Polish Heritage Month is so important in recognizing the contribution of the Polish community on a provincial level.” – Chris Korwin-Kuczynski, Former Toronto City Councillor
As an active member of the Polish-Canadian Community, I strongly feel that Mrs. Hogarth’s initiative is a very needed one and will be greatly appreciated by the Polish Canadians at large. – Bart Habrowski, President of Branch 1 of Polish National Union of Canada
“The Canadian Polish Congress welcomes the introduction of Bill 18 in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to establish Polish Heritage Month in the Province of Ontario. As the organization representing the over 1.2 million Polish Canadians across Canada – as many as half of whom live in Ontario – we are happy that the many historic and ongoing contributions of Ontarians of Polish descent will be officially recognized and celebrated each May. Thank you to MPP Christine Hogarth and MPP John Yakabuski for leading this important initiative.” – John J. Tomczak, President, Canadian Polish Congress
Recent Comments