Polish Language and Literature

Slaby-Ungar Endowment Fund for Polish Language and Literature

created by Henry Slaby and Irene Ungar specially for the purpose of financing the Polish language courses

Henry Slaby. Born in 1925, Henry Slaby was involved in Polish underground operations for which he was arrested by the Germans and sent to Auschwitz. When moved to Flosenburg, he escaped, joined the Polish Army in Italy and found himself in Great Britain after the war ended. In Britain he completed his education in business administration and became a Chartered Accountant. After coming to Canada in 1955, he settled in Toronto where in 1961 he started his own accounting business. In the 1970s, Henry Slaby, by then a very successful, independent businessman, became involved in community service and politics. The list of his accomplishments in these areas is very impressive. He chaired multiple fundraising committees and was essential to completing the fundraising tasks both in Poland and in Canada. His involvement in Poland includes the restoration of the Royal Castle in Warsaw, a multimillion dollar fundraising for the John Paul Collegium Building at the Catholic University of Lublin, and recently the development of the Canadian Studies Program at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków. The Canadian initiatives include the establishment of the Polish TV program and the Polish theater, the building of the Polish senior house (Copernicus Lodge), the Maximilian Kolbe Foundation and the building of the John Paul II Polish Cultural Center in Mississauga, the fundraising for the Chair of Polish History, many years of active participation in the Władysław and Nelli Turzański Foundation, and the establishment of the Slaby and Ungar Fund for the Polish Language and Literature Program at UofT. Henry Slaby was also actively involved in provincial and federal politics (Liberal Party) as CFO, agent and auditor. His many accomplishments were honored by the Queen (Outstanding Citizen Medal), the Provincial and Municipal authorities, the Catholic University of Lublin (Gold Medal for services and Doctor Honoris Causa as well as the title of Protector Universitatis), government of Poland (Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit with Star), and by the Holy Father, John Paul II (the Honor of Knight Commander of the Order of St. Gregory the Great).

Irena Ungar. Born in 1916, died in 2002, nee Kolankiewicz, wife of Wacław Ungar, a Squadron Leader of the Polish Air Force, a participant in the Battle of Britain. She left Poland in 1939 and her journey through Romania, Yugoslavia, Italy, France and Portugal brought her to Canada in 1941. She was fluent in five languages and had a remarkable professional career spanning from intelligence service for the Allies during the war, through journalism, administration, immigration services, diplomacy, and finally to her position as a Canadian Citizenship judge. She was a philanthropist, a community leader, and a great patriot. Her many involvements included several Boards of Directors: of the Copernicus Lodge and International Institute of Metropolitan Toronto. She was chairing or vice-chairing important organizations: Polish-Canadian Congress (Toronto District), Canadian Polish Women Federation, Academic Disciplinary Tribunal at UofT, and the Advisory Board of the Community Folk Arts Council of Metropolitan Toronto. She was essential in establishing the Slaby/Ungar Fund for the Polish Language and Literature Program at UofT. She received an honorary membership in the Association of Polish Engineers in Canada and gold insignia of the Royal Canadian Air Force Association. For her leadership and life accomplishments she was awarded the gold medal of the Canadian-Polish Congress, the Medal of Service of the Order of Canada, the Golden Cross of Merit (from the Polish government in exile), and a medal Sursum Corda from the government of the Polish Republic for her life contribution to culture and community service.

Borys Wrzesnewskyj's gift to Polish Studies at U of T

A $35,000 gift from Borys Wrzesnewskyj, MP for Etobicoke Centre and owner of Future Bakery and M-C Dairy, and his family will support the teaching of Polish language at the University of Toronto. The gift, which establishes the Roman Wrzesnewskyj Polish Endowment Fund , pays tribute to Mr. Wrzesnewskyj's father, who passed away in 2009. Mr. Wrzesnewskyj presented the gift to the University at a special reception held at the home of the Polish Consul General in Toronto on December 17.

“When we speak of Canada's many blessings, most people point to our abundant natural resources; however, I believe that it's our deep reservoir of human resources that represents our greatest asset,” says Mr. Wrzesnewskyj, who graduated from the University of Toronto (U of T) with a Bachelor of Commerce in 1983. “The family motto was, ‘Look to the future in your adopted country, and yet never forget where you came from, your ancestral roots.'”

Canada's Polonia community, of which Mr. Wrzesnewskyj is a distinguished member, has played a significant role in building this country and strengthening its cultural mosaic ever since the first major Polish-group settlers arrived in Ontario in the 19 th century. They include such notables as Alexandre Édouard Kierzkowski, the first MP of Polish descent who served in Canada's inaugural parliament, and the hundreds of thousands of immigrants who have worked as labourers and professionals in every sector. Among them are Mr. Wrzesnewskyj's grandfather, Felix, who founded Future Bakery, and his father, Roman.

“I fondly remember my father patiently teaching me and correcting my Polish,” says Mr. Wrzesnewskyj. “It is with the contributions of Polish Canadians to Canada in mind that our family is making this contribution to the Polish Endowment Fund at U of T. And it is with fond memories of my late father, Roman, that it is being named in his honour.”

Polish Studies, which encompasses language, literature, culture and history, has been an important part of humanities teaching and scholarship at U of T since the 1960s. Its strong presence reflects U of T's belief that fluency in world languages and knowledge of other cultures are critical building blocks of global citizenship and essential tools for cultivating leadership in multicultural societies.

“As the largest undergraduate and the only graduate Polish language and literature program in Canada, we feel it is our responsibility to provide our students with comprehensive, comparative and interdisciplinary perspectives on Polish in a cross-cultural university setting,” says the program's director, Professor Tamara Trojanowska. “Canada's Polish community has been an invaluable partner in helping us to achieve this goal and we are grateful for their ongoing support to secure our Polish language courses.”

“I would like to use this occasion to thank Mr. Borys Wrzesnewskyj for his contribution, which is of significant importance for our community and for the University of Toronto,” says the Ambassador of Poland to Canada, His Excellency Zenon Kosiniak-Kamysz. “I do hope that other representatives of Polonia will follow Mr. Wrzesnewskyj's steps in order to guarantee instructional stability and the assurance of an excellent teaching and learning environment.”

Canadian - Polish Congress

through the

Council for the Support of Polish Studies at the University of Toronto

For more information about the Council's support for the Polish Language and Literature program at UofT, please go to http://csps.kpk.org or visit the Council's facebook page

The Canadian-Polish Millennium Fund in Toronto

The Adam Mickiewicz Foundation in Toronto

Fundacja Semper Polonia

For more information on the Semper Polonia Foundation please go to http://www.semperpolonia.pl