Polonia Centre Cultural Committee, The Holy Trinity R.C. Parish,  Dom Polski – Polish Peoples’ Home Association along with  Polish Club Windsor and Polish Youth Group, The Polish-Canadian Business and Professional Association of Windsor, The Tatry Song and Dance Ensemble  and ZHP Windsor cordially invite Everyone to celebrate the Polish Heritage Month in Windsor in May 2022. Organizers  with the generous support of Sponsors such as Polonia Centre and with the collaboration of the other Organizations prepared variety of  events  – such as exhibits, performances, presentations,  games and social gatherings. All of the above will  provide an opportunity to learn more about Polish culture, history, traditions and the contributions of our predecessors on Canadian soil.

We would greatly appreciate, if you would reserve some of your time and attend these events. All of them are admission free except for May 8th Mother’s Day Lunch and May 28th Heritage Gala organized and  sponsored by Polonia Centre Cultural Committee.

Please celebrate Polish Heritage Month (Miesiac Dziedzictwa Polskiego) by displaying Polish flags.

For full schedule of events please see our programs in English and Polish, as below:

Polish  Heritage Month – May 2022                   Miesiac Dziedzictwa Polskiego – Maj 2022

Text- courtesy of: Maria Wojewnik, Website Publisher
Images – Courtesy of: Polish Club Windsor and Dom Polski-Polish People’s Home Association

The Board Members of Polonia Centre (Windsor) Inc., along with our subsidiary Global Maintenance Company, have elected to support the aid and relief of those in need in Ukraine. A motion was passed to send relief in the amount of $20,000 to the Canadian Red Cross.

Why the Canadian Red Cross?

Following is a section from the News Release issued by Global Affairs Canada:

“Canada will match every donation made by individual Canadians to the Canadian Red Cross between February 24, 2022, and March 18, 2022, up to a maximum of $10 million.”  ………………. “. These critical funds will allow the Red Cross to support immediate and ongoing relief efforts and other critical humanitarian activities, both in Ukraine and in surrounding countries, including support for populations that have been displaced”.

Bottom line – they have the 100+ years of  experience, logistical tactics, and good ole “feet on the ground”!

Plus, matching funds by the government.

The Polonia Centre Board of Directors pray for quick resolution, an end to hostilities and for safety for the People of Ukraine, Poland and their Allies.

Text – Courtesy of: Halina Roznawski, Victor Wolanski

This coming Saturday, March 5th 2022 Polish Club Windsor presents at Dom Polski, 1275 Langlois Ave in Windsor ON,  Pasta Lunch & Dinner Fundraiser to provide much needed relief for  Ukraine refugees. Admission – 25$ per person. Walk in and out between noon and 6pm. Baskets and door prizes to be won will be drawn the following day. All the money will be send directly to the city of Lubycza Królewska in Poland, which receives hundreds of the Ukrainians daily. It is located right on the border crossing in Tomaszow Lubelski County. For more information please call: (519) 991-2715  or email: info@polishclubwindsor.ca. We thank you in advance for your support!

On July 7, 2021 one of the oldest Polish-Canadian Organizations in the Windsor-Essex area – Polish Social Club of Windsor – Polski Klub Towarzyski  (PKT) celebrated  its 70-th Anniversary. The Organization  was established by Polish Veterans of World War II who emigrated to Canada after the end of the war.The Club  has been actively promoting Polish culture and heritage in Canada since 1951. The Polish-Canadian community of Windsor-Essex recognizes and appreciates the contributions and the achievements  of the past and present Members of the Club and its Leaders. We are thankful for their dedication to preserving Polish culture, language and heritage. Over the years Club organized countless unforgettable social and cultural events – such as performances, historical lectures, exhibitions and famous theme balls. The Club also supported many charities financially in Canada and in Poland. We are especially grateful for the Clubs’ commitment in protecting historical truth, in particular – for presenting the role of the Polish Army in the World War II victory, a fact almost forgotten now.

Congratulations on this Milestone Anniversary – “100 LAT!” – and many more years to come!

PKT celebrating 70th Anniversary at Polish Beach in Colchester – August 21, 2021. 1st row from the left: Kasia Wierciak, Adam Wierciak, Emma Wierciak, Danuta Siniarska, Maria Spanik-Wroblewski, Marta Kusmierczyk, Krystyna Chelstowska, Anna Sajczyk, Andrzej Marszal, Elzbieta Marszal. 2-nd row from the left: Andrzej Siniarski, Ryszard Wroblewski, Ryszard Kusmierczyk, Ryszard Jurczynski, Ryszard Chelstowski.

Photo: Courtesy of the Polish Social Club of Windsor

Text: Maria Wojewnik

In 1978, Polonia Centre (Windsor) Inc. was incorporated as a Non-Profit Charitable Corporation in the Province of Ontario with a mandate to participate in cultural, educational and charitable events in the Polish Community of Windsor, as well as to provide financial assistance to not-for-profit organizations. The Organization owns and operates Global Maintenance Company which provides the source of revenue to meet this mandate.

With this year’s distribution, we have awarded over 1.3 million dollars in Donations, Sponsorships and Academic Awards since 1978.

Polonia Centre (Windsor) Inc. values the relationship we have built over the past 43 years with members of our Parish, the Polish Ursuline Sisters as well as all other Polonia Organizations. By working together, we promote our Polish culture and traditions to make the Polish community successful within our Canadian Society.

For over 30 years, the Cultural Committee of Polonia Centre (Windsor) Inc. has organized the annual “Dozynki”. The event features traditional harvest activities as celebrated in Poland and showcases the accomplishments and achievements of Polish youth in Windsor – thus earning the title of “Gala of Excellence”. Annual donations & sponsorships in support of Polish Organizations, and others, are distributed. Due to the restrictions imposed by Covid-19, the event has been cancelled for a second year, however, our commitment in support of our community has not changed.

2021 Donation & Sponsorship Recipients:

· “Tatry” Song & Dance Ensemble $10,000

· Holy Trinity RC Church – Building Fund $ 7,500

· Polish Ursuline Sisters of AHJ $ 6,500

· Polish Language School $ 5,000

· Polish Canadian Business & Professional Association $ 5,350

· Leddy Library at the University of Windsor $ 3,000

· Polskie Nadzieje” Vocal Group $ 2,000

· Canadian Polish Congress – Windsor Branch $ 1,900

· Windsor Public Library $ 1,800

· Polonia Windsor White Eagles Sports & Recreation $ 1,500

· Polish Varieties Radio – WNZK 680/690 AM $ 1,500

· Visla Volleyball Club of Windsor $ 1,000

Academic Awards Program:

This program was established in 1981 to encourage and support students of our Polish Community in their pursuit of higher education. This year, six Undergraduate and two Graduate students shared in a total of $21,000.

A list of recipients is posted under “Polonia Centre/Polonia Centre Academic Awards”.

Prepared by: Halina Roznawski, Vice President

2020 Donations & Academic Awards from Polonia Centre (Windsor) Inc.

Polonia Centre (Windsor) Inc. is committed to promoting our Polish culture and traditions as well as supporting activities which strengthen the fabric that binds the Polish community making it successful within our Canadian Society. The Organization owns and operates the Global Maintenance Company which provides the source of revenue to meet our mandate.

For the past 30+ years, the Cultural Committee of Polonia Centre (Windsor) Inc. organized the Annual “Dozynki / Harvest Festival”. The event features the traditional harvest activities celebrated in Poland and promotes the accomplishments and achievements of our Polish youth in Windsor. We also present our annual donations in support of Polish Organizations, and others, that mirror our mandate. Due to the restrictions imposed by Covid-19, this year’s event was cancelled, but our commitment in support of our community has not faltered.

2020 Donation & Sponsorship Recipients

· Polish People’s Home Association – Renovation $30,000

· “Tatry” Song & Dance Ensemble $10,000

· Holy Trinity RC Church – Building Fund $ 7,500

· Polish Ursuline Sisters of AHJ $ 5,000

· Polish Language School $ 5,000

· Polish People’s Home Ass. Anniversary Book expenses $ 4,000

· Polish Canadian Business & Professional Association $ 3,500

· Leddy Library at the University of Windsor $ 3,000

· Windsor Public Library $ 1,600

· Polish Canadian Student Association of Windsor $ 1,500

· Polonia Windsor White Eagles Sports & Recreation $ 1,000

· “Polskie Nadzieje” Vocal Group $ 1,000

· Polish Varieties Radio – WNZK 680/690 AM $ 1,000

· “Appreciation Lunch” for Windsor’s 1st Responders $ 1,000

· Polish People’s Home Ass. Easter Basket Campaign $ 1,000

· Visla Volleyball Club of Windsor $ 750

Our Academic Awards Program recognizes the achievements of our Polish youth. This year 10 students shared a total of $23,000. The list of recipients is posted on this website under “Polonia Centre/Polonia Centre Academic Awards”.

Polonia Centre (Windsor) Inc. has awarded over 1.2 million dollars in donations, sponsorships and academic awards since our incorporation in 1978.

Prepared by:

Halina Roznawski, Vice President

Polonia Centre (Windsor) Inc

The 100th Jubilee Thanksgiving Mass from Sisters’ Chapel in Warsaw

On June 7th 2020,  the Ursuline  Sisters of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus from all over the World  were celebrating the Milestone Anniversary – 100 years since their Congregation was  founded by St. Ursula Ledóchowska in Pniewy, Poland.

As we could hear in the beautiful  “Song of Trust”, the Congregation consists of many  Sisters in the communities in the following 14  countries: Poland, Philippines, Russia, Belarus, France, Canada, Ukraine, Finland, Germany, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Tanzania and Italy. The Motherhouse and shrine of St. Ursula Ledóchowska are located in Pniewy in Poland. The Generalate is in Rome.

Our heartfelt congratulations and thanks are extended to the entire Congregation for Sisters’ dedication, tireless work  and unwavering commitment to the communities blessed by their presence. May the Grace of God continue to shine upon you all in the years to come.

“Song of Trust” compilation – courtesy of Sr. Weronika Kafarowska

Sister Malgorzata as the Mother Superior in the year 1965 just after arrival to Windsor and today

On this joyful occasion, on behalf of the entire Polish Community here in Windsor and the rest of Canada, we  would like to send our Beloved Sister Malgorzata Gorska our best wishes of love,  good health  and all the Blessings of her Patroness St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. We are very grateful for Sister’s presence here in Windsor during the last 55 years. Dear Sister, please  accept our heartfelt thanks  for all  your help, wisdom and love shown to anyone who had an honor and pleasure to meet You. May God   keep You  in the palm of His Hand  – now and always.

Initiative by the Polish People Home Association Community 

– shopping and errands assistance. 

Anyone who needs help with groceries, picking up prescriptions etc., please  contact Michael Slusarczyk at (519) 991-5515 or by emailing:  ent.magna@gmail.com.

In this time of trouble and uncertainty, let us lend a helping hand. We will bring your groceries or any necessities to you providing you with the receipt for refund after purchase and delivery

This is an advertisement  and initiative that is sponsored by the Polish People’s Home Association organization and does not necessarily reflect the views or implicate the position of Polonia Centre. We continue to urge safety and to follow precautions, recommendations and guidelines issued by the Government and Health Officials.

Miss Julie Gill-Blak at the front of the store.

On September 8th, 2018 popular Blak’s Bakery, run by the same Family since 1918, celebrated it’s 100th anniversary of being continuously in business and serving our local community. The place located at 1022 Langlois Ave. Windsor, Ontario is famous on both sides of the border not only for their paczki, strudels and delicious pastry, but also for their trademark rye bread, made every day from the original sour dough starter and baked in century old brick owen.

In 2015 the Bakery became even more famous after comedian Jerry Seinfeld, who performed in Windsor fell in love with Blak’s  Bakery marble rye bread and took  back home to New York 20 loaves of this delicacy presented  to him by Tony Blak – an avid fan of the Seinfeld Show.

“The sour is, as far as we know, the original sour from my grandfather Peter Blak Sr, because what we do every day is we save some to remake it for the next day,” said owner Valerie Blak-Gill of the fermented mixture of flour and water that gets refreshed with more flour before it is put in the refrigerator at night to rise.”

“We mix it by hand so I mean you think the same sour he mixed by hand, we’re mixing by hand”.

Mrs. Valerie Gill-Blak – the current owner, shown with Anniversary cake

Peter Blak (centre) is shown with his son Tony (L) and grandson Peter (R) in this May 2014 Facebook photo.

When you try the slice of that rye bread it is incredible to realize, that you are eating something that actually has traces of century old history and tradition in artisan bread making!

One of a kind in the whole Ontario -Blak’s Bakery Rye Bread

On Saturday people were flocking to the Bakery, which was hosting an open house for customers with free coffee and delicious cupcakes, BBQ and hot sandwiches served for small donation in order to support Heart & Stroke foundation in the name of the  late Parents and former  owners –  Elsie and Peter Blak.  Blak’s Bakery is also very well known for their involvement in Polish-Canadian community and for their generosity and support of numerous charities in Windsor – Knights of Columbus, Polish Village at the Carrousel of the Nations, local TATRY – Song & Dance Ensemble, Insight Advantage – to name a few.  Mrs. Elsie Blak, who passed away in July 218 and volunteered for so many years in Catholic Women League,  was truly a  pillar of  RC Holy Trinity Parish community here in Windsor.

In the early 30th, during the Great Depression, the owner – Peter Blak Sr. was giving regularly  bread for free to the single mothers and widows with children. He used to tell them – “As long as I have flour and as long as there is enough coal for the owen to bake another load, you can always return and get more  bread for the next day”.

An open heart and goodness – that hasn’t  changed over four  generations – this is what makes Blak’s Bakery baked goods outstanding and unique.

Congratulations, Happy Birthday and all the best for the next 100 years to come! Windsor is truly lucky to have you.

Text: Maria Wojewnik

Photos: Blak’s Family archives,

“Windsor Star” – Dax Melmer,

Maria Wojewnik