The first days of November 2018 in Poland and abroad were focused on celebration of Poland independence. In Winnipeg we celebrated this commemoration on November 10th.

By the initiative of the President of Polish Canadian Congress district Manitoba, Ms. Grazyna Galezowska the organizing committee was called many months before. The celebrations couldn’t have happened without the support of sponsors mainly the Polish Fraternal Aid Society of John Cantius.

Many guests attended the celebration at the Seven Oaks Performing Arts Centre, among them:

• Honorable Cathy Cox- Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage
• Honorable Ron Schuler – Minister of Infrastructure
• Honorable Mary Ann Mihychuk-MP for St. Paul
• Honorable Terry Duguid – MP for Winnipeg South
• Nick Curry – MLA for Kildonan
• Andrew Smith – MLA for Southdale
• His Worship Brian Bowman – Major of Winnipeg
• Colonel Eric Charron – 17 Wing Commander
• Major Greg Niemczyk
• Magdalena Borowska – Consul of Republic of Poland from Toronto
• MD Wlodzimierz Czarnecki – Honorary Consul from Winnipeg

Benedicte Le Maitre and Adam Pawlak led the ceremony. Choir of the Polish Song and Dance Group Sokol performed Canadian and Polish national anthems, President Grazyna Galezowsla offered welcoming greetings. Invited guests; Cathy Cox, Mary Ann Mihychuk, Brian Bowman, Eric Charron and Magdalena Borowska highlighted in their speeches how important is this celebration not only for Poland but for the whole world and for Poles abroad. Father Jacek Nosowicz, Holly Ghost Church Pastor offered prayers for the homeland.

The artistic part started with polonaise performed by Polish School of Dance Sokol, Polish Dance Group SPK Iskry and Dancing School SPK Iskry choreographed by Ms. Bozena Langtry. The Song and Dance Group Sokol directed by Tadeusz Biernacki presented traditional Polish patriotic songs. The youngest dancers performed dance Osa and Krakowiak and the older once dance Hajduk.

Ms. Viletta Los prepared moving presentation “Road to Freedom”. It was a history of Poland from the country partition and fights for independence to the regaining independence in 1918. Performers from the theatrical group “Tacy Sami” were very good in acting their parts and the light and sound effects added the dramatic touch.

Other dancing groups presented most beautiful dances from the different regions of Poland. The Dance School Sokol showed the suite “Poland – the Undefeated Country”. The youngest members of the Dance School SPK Iskry presented dances; jawornicki, cieszyniok, grabowy and kalpok. The junior dancers presented Orawa and their older friends Kaszuby dance.

During the celebration Phd. Beata Biernacka the President of the Honors’ Committee at the KPK Manitoba and the Vice President of the KPK Mr. Michalel Kulasza presented special honors to the activists in Polish community. The Head Board of KPK awarded the KPK Gold Honorary Distinction to Ms. Grazyna Galazowska for the overall work at KPK, and the KPK Silver Honorary Distinction to Ms. Maria Szymanska. The Board of KPK district Manitoba awarded special recognition diplomas for the active engagement in Polonia in Manitoba to Kamillah El-Giadaa, Veronika Wierzbicki, Barbara Przecherka and Krzysztof Dynowski.

The wine and cheese party finished the celebration of 100 years of Regaining Polish Independence. It was a great time for informal gathering, discussion, reminiscence, picture taking and getting connected.

To summarize, the celebration was very successful and the room was full of guests. We wish to have more of such a gathering in Winnipeg. There is over 85 thousand of Poles here and our strength is supported by Polish history which we shouldn’t forget.

Polish Canadian Congress would like to thank you our sponsors:

• Polish Fraternal Aid Society of St. John Cantius
• General Consulate of RP in Toronto
• Polish Combatants Association, Group 13
• Canadian-Polish Legion Branch 246
• Holly Ghost Fraternal Society
• Polish Gymnastic Association Sokol Winnipeg
• Advance Robotic Duct Cleaning Inc.
• MILO Flooring
• Polish Gymnastic Association Sokol St. Boniface
• Hon. Brian Pallister
• Hon. Cathy Cox
• Hon. Ralf Richler
• Hon. Ron Schuler
• Hon. Mary Ann Mihychuk
• Terry Duguid MP
• Blair Yakimoski MLA
• James Teitsma MLA
• Nic Curry MLA
• Dennjis Smook MLA
• Magda Dziurko-Bodnik – Century 21