MPP Christine Hogarth has tabled legislation at Queen’s Park which, if passed, would bring long-overdue recognition of the Polish-Ontario community’s historic contribution to building our province.

Polish Heritage Month would be celebrated each May, commemorating Constitution Day in Poland – the advent of their supreme law in 1791, according to Hogarth.

“One of the reasons why I got into public life was to safeguard Ontario’s democratic spirit,” Hogarth said, in tabling An Act to proclaim the month of May as Polish Heritage Month.

“To me, there’s no better way to do that than to celebrate the ways in which our immigrant communities have enriched our province.”

“This applies especially to Polish-Ontarians, whose ancestors fought for freedom and to achieve liberty – against centuries of invasion and aggression including Nazi and Soviet occupation.”

Some 524,000 Polish Canadians call Ontario home. That is far more than any other province. Nearly 12,000 live in the Etobicoke-Lakeshore riding, according to a 2016 census.

“The Polish community has contributed significantly to Ontario, its development and culture ever since the first major wave of Kashubians immigrated in 1858. The recognition of the Polish community’s contributions by the Province of Ontario through Bill 18, Polish Heritage Month in May, honours this historic bond.” said, Consul General of The Republic of Poland in Toronto, Magdalena Pszczolkowska.

An important aspect of fostering Ontario’s rich and diverse cultural mosaic is recognising the achievements of the communities that have come to call our province home. With this Bill, we are ensuring that the place of Poles in Ontario is both recognised and celebrated.” said, MPP for Mississauga Centre, Natalia Kusendova.

The commemoration will join others like Black History Month already celebrated in Ontario.