GLACE BAY, N.S. — A month-long calendar of events celebrating the first-ever Polish Heritage Month in Nova Scotia concluded in Cape Breton Wednesday with the unveiling of an illustrated outdoor information plaque.
“This represents so much positive energy and community building,” said Tom Urbaniak, a driving force to helping create the special month.
The plaque was unveiled during a morning ceremony at the Dawe Street recreation field near Holy Cross Church in Glace Bay.
Urbaniak, a Cape Breton University political science professor, played host for the event which included representations from the three levels of government along with a strong showing by community youth from Glace Bay Elementary School.
The plaque was sponsored by individual donors through the efforts of the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society and the Glace Bay Polish Heritage Project.
The first major Polish settlement in Glace Bay was created around 1900 and by 1920, Polish families had built homesteads and developed small farms on Douglas Avenue near the Caledonia coal mine where the majority would have dug out a living.
Dr. Ed Michalik led the project for the memorial and told his audience Wednesday that the early immigrants to Cape Breton were steadfast in maintaining their traditions and customs.
He said these immigrants arrived entrenched with three attributes passed down from generation to generation: discipline when it came to work, education and craftsmanship; hope in wanting and working towards a better life, and an irrepressible capacity for joy. Michalik noted that while Scottish settlers were known for their kitchen ceilidhs, Polish celebrations were equally as jovial and featured a variety of musical instruments (not just a fiddle) along with a wide assortment of food.
The project has resulted in a more long-term effort between the Polish community and the Beaton Institute at Cape Breton University.
Michalik said the end goal is to create a special Polish collection for the institute featuring photos, interviews and other measures to record and preserve the community’s history.
The final event for the month was held Wednesday night at Pier 21 in Halifax where immigrants to Canada from all over the world first arrived before taking up residency in various locations across the country.
