Members of the Polish community have lived in Canada for more than 100 years and will only celebrate their first Polish Heritage Month next May in Ontario.

Etobicoke Lakeshore MPP Christine Hogarth tabled legislation that passed third reading December 6 and has received Royal Assent by Ontario’s  Lieut.-Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell.

Polish Heritage Month in May recognizes the Polish community’s historic contribution to building Ontario and will forever mark the month of May as Polish Heritage Month in this province, according to the legislation.

Polish Heritage Month will be celebrated each May, commemorating Constitution Day

in Poland, the implementation of the first democratic and progressive constitution in

Europe on May 3rd 1791, the Ontario government said.

“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’”   Hogarth said.  “Poland has always had a democratic tradition and a desire for freedom.”

She was ‘inspired by the many accomplishments and contributions of Polish-Ontarians to the diverse cultural and economic fabric of this province.’

Hogarth’s 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.

“This May and every May afterward, all of Ontario will share in the celebration of Polish Heritage,” she said.

Officials said 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.

Ontario is home to nearly 524,000 Polish Canadians, who have lived in Ontario ever since the

19th century. Nearly 12,000 live in the Etobicoke-Lakeshore area alone.