“PAUL WOJDAK’S FATHER, PAWEL, was born in 1912 in Novosibirsk, Siberia. During the 1800s, many Polish people were banished to Siberia for rising against czarist Russia’s repressive policies aimed to destroy Polish language and culture, and they eventually lived in Siberia for generations. By the 1920s, war and chaos followed the Russian Revolution, and Poles were cast as “enemies of the people,” fleeing east as refugees. Most died from disease, starvation, cold, or violence, including Pawel’s parents, and many Polish children were tragically trapped in Siberia—a seven-year-old Pawel among them.
Later in life, living in Canada with his wife and son, Pawel physically could not speak about his childhood and refused to speak about his life as a young adult, but his memories were sometimes triggered by chance events, leaving mysterious tidbits for his son, Paul. Why could his father sing the Japanese national anthem? How did he come to see a tractor as a young boy in the United States?
Inspired by his love for his father combined with a desire to understand Pawel’s complicated life, after his father’s death, Paul takes on the daunting task of trying to piece together his father’s past, determined to uncover the truth in the hopes of learning the story of a man who, despite all his hardships, was respectful, loyal, dedicated, and loving.

Only knowing bits and pieces of his father’s childhood and knowing his father fought in World War II, Paul begins by connecting his father’s story with the stories of other Polish children and men in Siberia and Eastern Europe from 1917 to 1945. From there, he brings to light the remarkable story of the Polish Rescue Committee and their plight to rescue Polish children in Siberia after World War I and of the compassion of the Japanese people in harbouring these children. Following records of his father’s trail, he shares the incredible journey these children then took before finally arriving in Poland in late 1922, only to find their lives in upheaval again in 1939, when Poland was invaded by Russia and Germany.

Escape from Siberia, Escape from Memory not only shares an extraordinary story of heroism and survival but also explores the struggle to recapture and preserve cultural and personal memory and the impact of war on children and young adults.” This author’s meeting is organized by the Canadian Polish Congress Alberta Society, the Polish Canadian Association of Calgary, the Polish Combatants in Canada, Branch # 18, Calgary and the Polish Canadian Society (Edmonton) as part of a series of events
celebrating Polish Canadian Heritage Day in Alberta.

It would also be possible to meet Paul Wojdak on Sunday June 1 between 2 – 3:30 pm at a
book signing at Audrey’s Books, 10702 Jasper Ave in Edmonton.

Poniżej zamieszczamy planowane terminy spotkań z Przedstawicielami ZUS: 

• 24 marca 2025 Edmonton (Dom Polski)
• 26 marca 2025 Calgary (Dom Polski)
• 29 marca 2025 Vancouver (PVA)  
• 30 marca 2025 Vancouver (Parafia Św. Kazimierza)

Szczegółowe terminy i godziny spotkań zostaną przekazane w terminie późniejszym.

ZUS zachęca do przesyłania pytań na jakie przedstawiciele ZUS będą mogli udzielić odpowiedzi.

W przypadku jeżeli osoby zainteresowane wyżej wymienionym spotkaniem będą chciały zadać jakikolwiek pytania, mogą je przesyłać e-mail adres: vancouver.info@msz.gov.pl do 10 marca br. z dopiskiem: „DPZUS Edmonton”, „DPZUS Calgary” lub „DPZUS Vancouver”.

Zachęcamy do zapoznania się z broszurą: „Poradnik dla Polaków pracujących lub mieszkających za granicą. Najczęściej zadawane pytania”. Link poniżej:

https://www.zus.pl/documents/10182/167567/Poradnik+dla+Polak%C3%B3w+pracuj%C4%85cych+w+UE+i+EFTA.pdf

Droga Polonio!
Zwracamy się do Was z gorącym apelem o wsparcie dla mieszkańców południowej Polski, którzy stanęli w obliczu dramatycznej sytuacji spowodowanej niszczycielską powodzią. Żywioł sieje spustoszenie, a tysiące ludzi tracą dobytki swojego życia. Mieszkańcy zalanych terenów walczą o przetrwanie, a my nie możemy pozostać obojętni. Woda wciąż zalewa kolejne miasta i wsie, niszcząc domy, drogi, mosty oraz lokalną infrastrukturę. Potrzebna jest pilna pomoc, a czas działa na niekorzyść poszkodowanych. Apelujemy zarówno do indywidualnych osób, jak i do organizacji polonijnych i polskich biznesów o przyłączenie się do naszej akcji. Każdy gest solidarności ma ogromne znaczenie. Pokażmy, że w chwilach kryzysu jesteśmy jedną wielką polonijną rodziną, która potrafi zjednoczyć się i nieść pomoc rodakom w potrzebie. Razem możemy pomóc odbudować ich życie. Prosimy o rozpowszechnienie tego apelu. W załączeniu przesyłamy szczegółowe informacje na temat przekazania dotacji do Fundacji Charytatywnej Kongresu Polonii Kanadyjskiej. Fundacja jest zarejestrowaną organizacją charytatywną, która została założona w celu pomocy społeczności Polonii kanadyjskiej w działalności charytatywnej, kulturalnej i edukacyjnej. Zarząd Główny Kongres Polonii Kanadyjskiej Fundacja Charytatywna KPK.

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Appeal from the National Executive of the Canadian Polish Congress and the KPK Charitable Foundation – “HELP FOR FLOOD VICTIMS” Dear Polonia, We are reaching out to you with an urgent appeal for support for the residents of southern Poland, who are facing a dire situation caused by a devastating flood. The natural disaster is wreaking havoc, and thousands of people are losing their livelihoods. The residents of the flooded areas are fighting for survival, and we cannot remain indifferent. The floodwaters continue to submerge more towns and villages, destroying homes, roads, bridges, and local infrastructure. Urgent assistance is needed, and time is working against those affected. We appeal to both individuals and Polish community organizations, as well as Polish businesses, to join our relief efforts. Every act of solidarity is of great importance. Let us show that in times of crisis, we are one large Polish-Canadian family, capable of coming together and providing aid to our compatriots in need. Together, we can help rebuild their lives. Enclosed are detailed instructions on how to donate to the Canadian Polish Congress Charitable Foundation. The Foundation is a registered charitable organization established to assist the Canadian Polish community in charitable, cultural, and educational activities. National Executive of the Canadian Polish Congress KPK Charitable Foundation