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Ambassador Marcin Bosacki on a two-day visit in Nova Scotia, Sept 16 - 17, 2014
(see pictures...)

The Ambassador made his speech at Dalhousie University talking about Poland's achievements in the last 25 years in building successful democracy and good relations with other countries. The speech was well attended by approx. 70 people.

The Ambassador also met with the representatives of the Polish community at the residence of the Polish Honorary Consul in Halifax. The most important topic discussed during the meeting was the coordination of the activities of Polish diaspora and diplomacy in strengthening the image of Poland in Canada.

Included in the program was also a visit to Pier 21 Museum of Immigration, a visit to Halifax Citadel National Historic Site as well as a meeting with the representatives of the Nova Scotia Consular Corps.

The exhibit 'The world knew. Jan Karski’s mission for humanity', Saint Mary's University, May 2 - 10, 2014
(see pictures...)

Jan Karski (1914 – 2000) was a Polish diplomat and later professor at Georgetown University. He served in various diplomatic posts in Germany, Switzerland, and Great Britain between 1936 and 1938. In 1942 Karski reported to the Polish government in exile and the Western Allies on the situation in German-occupied Poland, especially the destruction of the Warsaw Ghetto, and the secretive German-Nazi extermination camps.

The exhibit "The world knew. Jan Karski’s mission for humanity" was produced by the Polish History Museum in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland and the Jan Karski Educational Foundation. The exhibit was opened in Ottawa in November 2013, as a Canadian recognition to Jan Karski by Minister Jason Kenney, see more. 2014 was announced in Poland the Year of Jan Karski.

The exhibit will be presented during many events in various places in Canada. The exhibit was officially presented by the Consul General in Montreal at Saint Mary's University on May 8, 2014. The Jan Karski legacy Panel discusion took place right after the exhibit presentation. Two key panelists took part in the discussion: Wanda Urbanska, President of the Jan Karski Educational Foundation in Raleigh, North Carolina and Tom Wood from Nashville, Karski's biographer.

Poland's Independence National Day celebration Halifax, November 18, 2013

On the occasion of the 95th anniversary of Polish Independence, a celebration was held at Marriott Harbourfront hotel in Halifax on November 18, 2013. See pictures. The Consulate of the Republic of Poland organized the reception to honor the occasion that was attended by top provincial and municipal politicians, consular corps of Nova Scotia, local businessmen as well as many members of Polish community.

National Independence Day is a public holiday in Poland celebrated every year on 11 November to commemorate the anniversary of Poland's resumption of independent statehood in 1918 after 123 years of partition by Russia, Prussia and Austria.

Józef Piłsudski, "First Marshal of Poland", played an enormous role in Poland’s recovery of sovereignty. Major celebrations, attended by Polish State authorities, are held in Warsaw at Piłsudski Square. Sharply at noon, a ceremonious change of guards takes place before the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Patriotic gatherings and parades are held all over Poland. Churches celebrate masses with the intentions of the Homeland. Since 1989 every year several thousands of volunteers have taken part in the Race of Independence to commemorate the day.

Consul General in Montreal, Mr. Andrzej Szydło held the consular services session in Halifax on November 18, 2013

The Polish Consulate General in Montreal holds regular consular services sessions in Nova Scotia which eliminates the need for you to travel to Montreal.

Thirty Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland residents met with the Consul General at the Polish Honorary Consulate office in Halifax to apply for a passport and other consular services.

A presentation of the Hollocaust survivor Renata Skotnicka-Zajdman, University of King's College, Halifax, November 3, 2013

The presentation sponsored by the Consulate General of Poland in Montreal, the Chair in European Studies at Dalhousie University, the Contemporary Studies Programme at the University of King's College and the Atlantic Jewish Council was well attended. More info...

A screening of the movie 'The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler' took place first. The story of Irena Sendler, a social worker who was part of the Polish underground during World War II and was arrested by the Nazis for saving the lives of nearly 2,500 Jewish children by smuggling them out of the Warsaw ghetto.

Renata Skotnicka-Zajdman was 14 years old when she escaped German forces and was eventually rescued by the famed Irena Sendler. Mrs Skotnicka-Zajdman was the keynote speaker. Now, after many years she is still going from place to place and presents the testimony about this time. She is the co-editor of Shards of Memory: Narratives of Holocaust Survival.

Norman Conard, educator and director of Life in a Jar, the Irena Sendler Foundation, was the special guest speaker. In 1999, Mr. Conard's students in Kansas discovered Irena Sendler's story, which soon gained international recognition.

A book signing and reception followed the presentation.

We were saddened to hear of Renata's passing away on November 27, 2013. It was a privilege to have had her and her family here in Halifax.

Ambassador Marcin Bosacki presents his credentials to the Governor General, Ottawa, October 30, 2013.

Polish Ambassador Marcin Bosacki presents his credentials at Rideau Hall to the Governor General David Johnston on October 30, 2013 during an official ceremony in Rideau Hall, Ottawa.

The Consuls General and Honorary Consul Jan Skora met with the Ambassador in his residence later in the afternoon for an unofficial visit and a discussion of future initiatives to promote Polish - Canadian bilateral cooperation.

Dieppe Veterans Association commemorates Battle of Britain on September 15th, 2013

The Battle of Britain, which started in the fall of 1940, involved the British Royal Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force and also airmen from the following countries: Poland, Australia, Barbados, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, France, Ireland, Jamaica, Newfoundland, New Zealand, Rhodesia, South Africa and the United States.

International delegates arrived in Dieppe for the ceremony. The Polish delegation was led by Hon. Consul Jan Skora who laid a wreath to commemorate 145 Polish pilots who fought in the battle. The last Polish pilot from the Battle of Britain, Brigadier General Tadeusz Sawicz, died in October 2012 in Toronto. See Pictures

Mayor Cecil Clarke proclaims Sunday, September 8th, 2013, as
"St. Mary’s Polish Parish Day 100 Birthday" in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality

This proclamation date is significant: It is 100 years to the day since the founding of the parish. The Proclamation emphasizes the parish’s special place in the region and the contributions it continues to make.

Approximately 700 people took part in some or all of the day’s activities to celebrate the anniversary. See Pictures. Nova Scotia’s Lieutenant Governor, the Honourable J.J. Grant, was a special guest this year. The festival featured tasty Polish food, tours of the historic church, as well as entertainment by Cape Breton’s "Pogoria" and Halifax' "Pomorze" Polish Folk Ensembles.

2013 September 07 - Polish Picnic, Oakfield Provincial Park.

Halifax - Dartmouth Polish Association organized a picnic in Oakfield Park on September 7, 2013. It was open to everyone. The participants enjoyed their time spent together.

2013 July 06 - "The Men of the Deeps" Concert at Cape Breton University, Sydney.      Watch Video     See Pictures

North America's only Coal Miners Choir The Men of the Deeps together with the choir of St. Mary’s Polish Church performed at a concert honouring the 100th anniversary of St. Mary's Polish Parish in Sydney, Nova Scotia. The concert was attended by over 300 representatives of the local Polish community and invited guests.

During the concert, two ceremonial Polish Miners uniforms , specially sewn in Poland for this event, were presented to "The Men of the Deeps" by the Consul General in Montreal, Andrzej Szydło. The concert was also attended by the Hon. Consul Jan Skora. After the concert the uniforms will be displayed in Cape Breton Miners' Museum.

2013 July - Ambassador Zenon Kosiniak-Kamysz ends his diplomatic mission in Canada.

On July 02, 2013 the Consulate General in Montreal held the farewell night for the Ambassador. Many Polish community members in Montreal had come to thank and say goodbye.

2013 June 15-16 - Consul General in Montreal, Mr. Andrzej Szydło visits Halifax.

The Consul's visit was very successfull and full of events.

First, he met with the Hon. Consul to discuss current affairs. He visited the "Odyssey of the Wawel Treasures" exhibit at Pier 21. The exhibit was opened during the commemoration of the 222nd anniversary of the Constitution of May 3.

The Consul officially opened the 13th Polish Heritage Festival. During the festival the Consul met with several government officials and members of the Polish community in Nova Scotia. In the evening he had an opportunity to speak with the representative of the Halifax-Dartmouth Polish Association.

The Consul also attended a meeting with the Atlantic Jewish Council to discuss the opportunities for the co-operation in future cultural events. After the meeting, a well known musician Shimon Walt and his quintet Rhapsody performed for the Consul.

2013 May 04 - Polish National Holiday, commemoration of the 222nd anniversary of the Constitution of May 3, 1791 at Pier 21.

This was the first democratic Constitution in Europe. A year after its adoption, the surrounding countries Russia, Austria and Prussia acted quickly to occupy a portion of the territories of Poland, and by 1795, Poland had ceased to exist.

This document inspired the next generations of our nation and after many tragic years it finally created our free independent and democratic Polish state in 1918.

During the ceremony, (see pictures), the honorary Consul Jan Skora officially opened the "Odyssey of the Wawel Treasures" exhibit commemorating the exceptional journey of the Polish royal treasures during the Second World War. The treasures reached the American continent in the port of Halifax in 1940, to find a safe refuge for twenty years.

The event was a huge success, long awaited by the Polish community. Over 60 guests from the municipal, provincial and federal government, as well as representatives of local business and members of the Polish community attended.

Speaker of the House, Hon. Gordie Gosse 2013 May 03 - Speaker of the House, Hon. Gordie Gosse congratulates St. Mary’s Polish Parish in Cape Breton on its 100 anniversary.

On behalf of the Speaker of the House, Hon. Gordie Gosse, the Nova’s Scotia’s Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage, Hon. Leonard Preyra, introduced Resolution 1189 in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly to acknowledge the contributions of St. Mary’s Polish Parish as it celebrates its centenary year.

The resolution was proposed on May 3rd to coincide with the Polish Constitution Day, which serves as a holiday for people around the world who are connected in whatever way to the Polish heritage.

Hon. Gosse wears a special pin and Polish white and red ribbon on the lapel of his Speaker’s uniform as a way of showing that the whole House of Assembly honours Nova Scotians of Polish heritage as well as the centenary of St. Mary’s Polish Church.

Consular session in Halifax Consular session in Halifax Consul Joanna Walasek meets with Polish citizens applying for Polish passport.... Honorary Consul of Chile in NS Honorary Consul of Chile in NS (From left) Honorary Consul of Chile in Nova Scotia, Mr. Marcos Zentilli and Mrs. Armgard R. Zentilli, Consul of RP from Montreal, Ms. Joanna Walasek . Estonia in Pictures Estonia in Pictures (From left) Honorary Consul or RP in Nova Scotia, Mr. Jan Skora, Consul of RP from Montreal, Ms. Joanna Walasek, Chargé d’Affaires of Estonia in Canada Mr. Riho Kruuv and Honorary Consul of Estonia in Nova Scotia Mr. John Soosaar . Honorary Consul of Turkey in NS Honorary Consul of Turkey in NS (From left) Consul of RP from Montreal, Ms. Joanna Walasek, Honorary Consul or RP in Nova Scotia, Mr. Jan Skora, Honorary Consul General of Turkey, Mr. Ali Vehbi Cinar. 2013 February 23 - Consulate General of RP in Montreal completes the first consular session in Halifax with great success.

Consul Joanna Walasek provided consular services to 19 Polish citizens from the Halifax area, as well as Cape Breton and New Brunswick. She also had an opportunity to meet with Polish community in St. Anthony's Church Parish Hall.

Ms. Walasek participated in the "Estonia in Pictures" photo exhibition organized on the occasion of the 95th Anniversary of the Republic of Estonia by the Honorary Consul of Estonia on February 24, 2013.
Consular annual session in Ottawa Consular annual session in Ottawa 2013 February 18 & 19 - The Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Ottawa had the pleasure of hosting all Honorary Consuls and Consul General from around Canada for the Annual Consular meeting in Ottawa.

Marek Ciesielczuk, Director of the Consular Department and Grzegorz Kozlowski, Director of the Americas Department from the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs joined this event.

The Consular meeting focused on consular affairs of Polish-Canadian relations. More information in Newsletter February 2013.
2013 February - Honorary Consul Jan Skora receives recognition from the Province of Nova Scotia.

Diana Whalen, MLA, Halifax Clayton Park adopted Resolution 2403 in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly and handed in a recognition certificate to Jan Skora for his diplomatic appointment and inclusion in the Honorary Consular Corps of Nova Scotia.
2013 January - Nova Scotia Consular Corps Meeting.

The Nova Scotia Consular Corps is made up by 30 Consuls that meet regularly. Scope of their monthly meeting attended last night by 13 members at the Halifax Club is not only social but also to see how they could more effectively serve the countries they represent and as a group how they could assist to enrich and promote trade and to improve other relations with Nova Scotia.

2012 Events

(c) Consulate of the Republic of Poland
14 Samuel Terrace, Halifax, NS B3N 3A2, Canada
Phone: 902-219-0408