Polish-Canadian Club in Ottawa – History
Our Beginnings (1936)
The Polish-Canadian Club is the oldest Polish community organization in Canada’s capital. It was founded on December 13, 1936, when Ottawa’s Polish community consisted mostly of economic immigrants—tradespeople and unskilled service workers.
Even without a large professional class, the Club quickly developed strong social and cultural programming, united by a deep sense of connection to Poland and a commitment to sharing the truth about Polish history abroad.
From the very beginning, the Club saw itself as the representative voice of Ottawa’s Polish community, engaging with local residents and Canadian authorities. Its values and mission were affirmed in both the 1937 and 1979 Statutes.
Membership grew and shifted over time, particularly with the arrival of:
- Polish professionals during WWII
- Political refugees and veterans after the war
- Later waves of immigrants from Poland
Across decades, members remained dedicated to the Club’s mission.
Our Contributions to Polish and Canadian Life
The Club’s legacy reflects two major areas of activity:
- Building strong internal community life
- Supporting Polish causes locally and internationally
World War II Efforts
During WWII, Club members:
- Supported the Polish Red Cross and the National Defence Fund
- Financed an ambulance for Polish troops fighting in France
- Assisted Polish refugees in Romania and Portugal
- Sent aid to Polish POWs in Germany
- Enlisted in the Polish Armed Forces
- In Canada, played a key role in safeguarding the Wawel Treasures brought to Canada during the war
Post-War Milestones
- 1949: Helped establish the Polish parish in Ottawa and contributed $6,000 toward the church’s construction
- 1960s–70s: Led Ottawa’s celebrations of the Millennium of Polish Christianity
- Advocated for the creation of the Polish collection at the Ottawa Public Library
- Donated two large tapestries by Polish artist Jolanta Owidzka to the National Arts Centre (1969)
- Helped organize major exhibitions at the National War Museum and the National Museum of Man
- Coordinated Polish participation in the NAC’s Christmas Tree Presentation
- Supported Ottawa’s celebrations of the 500th anniversary of Copernicus’s birth (1973)
- Fundraised successfully for Polish Pioneers Museum (Wilno, ON), POSK London, and the Polish Library in Paris
- Purchased and donated a rare 1613 edition of Aleksander Gwagnin’s Chronicle of European Sarmatia to POSK London
- Organized dozens of patriotic commemorations, cultural events, and lectures over decades
- Members served actively in the Canadian Polish Congress, often in leadership positions
(Historical section based on the work of Zofia Ruebenbauerowa.)
A New Chapter: The Formation of Canadian Polish Club Inc. (2020)
For many years, the Polish National Unity and the Polish-Canadian Club shared similar goals and collaborated frequently. Discussions on merging the organizations were first initiated by the late Jerzy Czartoryski, former President of both groups.
Talks resumed in 2020 and led to the creation of a unified organization:
Canadian Polish Club Inc. (Klub Polsko-Kanadyjski)
On October 17, 2020, members of both organizations voted to form the new Club, preserving the goals and structure of its predecessors.
Today, the Canadian Polish Club Inc. continues to:
- Serve the Polish community in Canada
- Support cooperation among Polish Canadians
- Promote Polish heritage and culture among Canadians