Honouring Eight Decades of Service: CPHS at the 80th Anniversary of the Polish Combatants’ Association in Canada

On October 3, 2026, the Canadian Polish Historical Society joined the Polish community in Edmonton to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Polish Combatants’ Association in Canada (SPK). Bringing together representatives of SPK branches, Polish organizations, visiting dignitaries and members of the community, the occasion honoured eight decades of service, remembrance and commitment to Polish heritage.

For our Society, participation in the full day of celebrations was an opportunity to honour the people whose lives and achievements we work to document and preserve. Alongside our attendance at the commemorative ceremonies and anniversary banquet, CPHS prepared a substantial historical exhibition, contributing to the celebration through the sharing of history.

Founded in 1946 by Polish soldiers facing the challenges of life after the Second World War, SPK helped veterans establish themselves in Canada while maintaining the bonds formed through their wartime service. Over the decades, its work grew to include community support, the preservation of military traditions and the passing of historical knowledge to younger generations. The anniversary celebrated both this enduring contribution and the individuals who made it possible.

The commemorative programme began at Holy Cross Cemetery in Edmonton, where participants gathered to lay wreaths and honour deceased veterans and members of SPK. The ceremony provided a meaningful beginning to the day, placing remembrance at the heart of the anniversary.

Participants then attended a celebratory Mass at Holy Rosary Church, offered for living and deceased veterans and members of the Association. The evening programme followed at Dom Polski, where the anniversary banquet brought the community together for speeches, presentations and recognition of longstanding service.

Among the visiting guests were Lech Parell, Head of Poland’s Office for War Veterans and Victims of Repression, and Aleksandra Kucy-Kropiwnicka, Consul General of the Republic of Poland. During the gala, the Consul General read a letter from the President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, addressed to those celebrating the anniversary. The presentation of medals to SPK branches and individual community leaders recognized their dedication to remembrance and Polish community life in Canada.

Our historical exhibition formed an important part of CPHS’s contribution to the occasion. Preparing it gave us an opportunity to bring historical research into a shared community setting and to connect the anniversary with the personal histories behind it.

For CPHS, preserving these histories is central to our mission. The story of Polish veterans in Canada encompasses wartime service, displacement, the challenges of settlement and the determination to build a new life while remaining connected to Poland. An anniversary such as this offers a valuable opportunity to revisit those experiences and consider how they continue to shape our community.

The evening also celebrated the cultural traditions that successive generations have sustained in Canada. Performances by Łowicz Dance Ensemble, Polonez Dance Ensemble and Polonia Choir brought Polish dance and song to the programme, complementing the formal commemorations with a celebration of living heritage.

We were honoured to take part in this milestone and to contribute our exhibition to the celebrations. CPHS extends its congratulations to the Polish Combatants’ Association in Canada and its appreciation to the Head Executive Board, Edmonton Branch No. 6, and everyone whose work made the anniversary possible.

The photographs below document our participation throughout the day, including the commemorative ceremonies, the CPHS exhibition and the anniversary gathering. Together, they preserve a record of an occasion devoted to honouring the past and carrying its legacy forward.