100 YEARS OF POLONIA IN WINDSOR 1908-2008 (Sto lat Polonii w Windsor, 1908-2008)

• Authors: Rajski Agata
• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

EN

In 2008 the Polish ethnic group in Windsor celebrated its one hundred-year presence in the city. The beginnings of Polish settlement dates back to 1908. The first Polish family came from neighboring Detroit. The main reason for settling was the growth of the car industry in the area. In 1918 the church of the Holy Trinity was built, which was established as the first Polish church in the diocese of London. The creation of a parish council raised its institutional completeness. The Church was the center of the first institutions established by immigrants. In 1925 together with the parish, the Polish Language School and the Association of Polish Peoples' House were established. Since 1930, the seat of the Association has been the Polish Peoples' House. During World War II, the Polish House served as a recruiting center for the Polish Armed Forces who were stationed in Windsor under the command of Gen. Bronislaw Duch. In subsequent years, other Polonia organizations have been established: The Polish-Canadian Border Cities Club (1930), outpost No. 126 of the Polish Army Veterans Association (1932), the Polish Alliance of Canada, Group 20 (1943), the Canadian Polish Congress (1944), the Polish Social Club (1951), the Polish Scouting Team (1953), the Song and Dance Ensemble 'Tatry' (1972), Polonia Park (1973), the Polonia Centre (Windsor) Inc.. (1978), the Polonia Sports Club (1982), Villa Polonia (1985), the Polish Credit Union (1990), the Theatrical Vocal Group 'Plomien' (1995) and the Polish-Canadian Association of Businessmen and Professionals (1995). An integral part of Polonia life was the church of the Holy Trinity and the Convent of the Ursuline Sisters, who came to Windsor in 1965. The Polish ethnic group has played an important role in the multicultural society of the city. It undertakes many activities of a social, economic and cultural nature that are not only of local range. Nowadays, the Polish Diaspora is the fifth largest ethnic group in the city. According to the census of 2006,, 4 810 people declared Polish origin as their first, and 8 615 people declared it as one of many The social advancement of Polish immigrants and people of Polish origin allows them to be included into the middle-class of Canadian society.

Keywords

EN

POLISH ETHNIC GROUP; WINDSOR

Discipline

• HISTORY: HISTORY

• Publisher: Wydział Studiów Międzynarodowych i Politycznych Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego oraz Polska Akademia Umiejętności
• Journal: Studia Migracyjne - Przegląd Polonijny
• Year: 2010
• Volume: 36
• Issue: 1(135)
• Pages: 81-103
• Document type: ARTICLE

Contributors

author

Rajski Agata

• Agata Rajski, Uniwersytet Jagiellonski, Instytut Amerykanistyki i Studiów Polonijnych, ul. Rynek Glówny 34, 31-010 Kraków, Poland

Identifiers

CEJSH db identifier

10PLAAAA082810