List of Canadians of Polish descent

This is a partial list of notable Canadians of full or partial Polish ancestral or national descent.

Business

Moses Znaimer, broadcasting executive
Mik Kersten, computer engineer
Piotr Szulczewski, founder of Wish

Science and engineering

Casimir Gzowski – engineer who worked on Welland Canal, New York & Erie Railway (first Commissioner of the Niagara Parks Commission)
Leon Katz, FRSC (1909–2004) – Officer of the Order of Canada, Professor University of Saskatchewan, physicist
Karol Józef Krótki, FRSC – demography professor, statistician
Witold Rybczynski – architect, professor and writer
Lucas Skoczkowski – founder and CEO of Redknee
Adam Skorek – professor of electrical and computer engineering
Nicole Tomczak-Jaegermann, FRSC – mathematics professor
Janusz Żurakowski – Battle of Britain fighter pilot

Education

Isaac Hellmuth – from Warsaw, via England; one of the founders of the University of Western Ontario
Conrad Swan – descended from Polish noble family, Swiecicki; first Canadian appointed to the College of Arms in London

Politics

Leon Crestohl – former Liberal MP, Cartier, (1950–1963)
Bonnie Crombie – former Liberal MP, Mississauga—Streetsville (2008–2011), Mayor of Mississauga, Ontario (2014–present)
Jan Dukszta – former Ontario NDP MPP, Parkdale (1971–1981)
Gary Filmon – former Premier of Manitoba (1988–1999), Manitoba PC MLA, River Heights (1979–1981) and Tuxedo (1981–2000)
Jesse Flis – former Liberal MP Parkdale—High Park (1979–1984; 1988–1997)
Casimir Gzowski – Acting Lieutenant Governor of Ontario (1896–1897)
Stanley Haidasz – former Liberal MP for Trinity (1957–1958) and Parkdale (1962–1978); Minister of State for Multiculturalism (1972–1974); Senator (1978–1998)
Andrew Kania – former Liberal Member of Parliament for Brampton West (2008–2011)
Irek Kusmierczyk – Liberal Member of Parliament for Windsor-Tecumseh (2019 - )
Stan Kazmierczak Keyes – former national chair of Liberal Party of Canada (2002–2004); Liberal MP Hamilton West (1988–2004); Minister of National Revenue, Minister of State (Sport), Minister Responsible for the Canada Post Corporation and Minister Responsible for the Royal Canadian Mint (2003–2004)
Alexandre-Édouard Kierzkowski – former Liberal MP St. Hyacinthe (1867–1870), First MP of Polish Descent
Tom Kmiec – Conservative MP, Calgary Shepard (2015–present)
Chris Korwin-Kuczynski – former Toronto city councillor (1981–2003)
Ken Kowalski – former Deputy Premier of Alberta (1992–1994), former Alberta Government Minister, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta (1997–2012), Alberta PC MLA (1979–2012)
Wladyslaw Lizon – former Conservative MP for Mississauga East-Cooksville (2011–2015) and former president of the Canadian Polish Congress (2005–2010)
Thomas Lukaszuk – former Deputy Premier of Alberta (2012–2013), former Alberta Government Minister (2010–2014), and PC MLA for Edmonton-Castle Downs (2001–2015)
Gary Malkowski – former Ontario NDP MPP, York East (1990–1995), Canada's first deaf parliamentarian
Don Mazankowski – former Deputy Prime Minister for Brian Mulroney (1986–1993), former federal government Minister (1979–1980; 1984–1993), Progressive Conservative MP Vegreville (1968–1993)
Peter Milczyn – former Member of Toronto City Council (2000–2014), current Liberal MPP Etobicoke—Lakeshore (2013–2018)
Ted Opitz – former Conservative MP for Etobicoke Centre (2011–2015)
Fred Rose – former Labor-Progressive (Communist) MP Cartier (1943–1947); only MP ever convicted of spying for a foreign country, his capture as a Soviet spy helped to start the Cold War
John Yakabuski – Ontario Progressive Conservative MPP Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke (2003–present), son of Paul Yakabuski
Paul Yakabuski – former Ontario Progressive Conservative MPP, (1963–1987), father of John Yakabuski
Ed Ziemba – former Ontario NDP MPP, High Park—Swansea (1975–1981), brother-in-law of Elaine Ziemba
Elaine Ziemba – former Ontario NDP MPP, High Park—Swansea (1990–1995), sister-in-law of Ed Ziemba

Music

Dan Bryk – singer-songwriter
Walter Buczynski – composer
Basia Bulat – singer-songwriter
Anna Cyzon – singer-songwriter
Janina Fialkowska – pianist, born in Montreal^[1]
Steve Jocz – drummer for Sum 41
Ben Kowalewicz – lead singer for Billy Talent
Geddy Lee – bassist, keyboardist and lead vocalist for Rush
Jan Lisiecki – pianist-virtuoso, born in Calgary
Margaret Maye – singer and actress
Andrzej Rozbicki – conductor
Daniel Wnukowski – pianist
Christina Petrowska Quilico - pianist

Culture and media

Andrzej Busza – poet
Bogdan Czaykowski – poet, translator, essayist
Alex Debogorski – veteran ice road trucker on the television series Ice Road Truckers
Peter Gzowski – broadcaster, writer and reporter
Wacław Iwaniuk – poet in Polish, literary critic and essayist^[2]
Jacqueline Milczarek – journalist, news anchor
Anne Mroczkowski – journalist, news anchor
Estanislao (Stan) Oziewicz – journalist, The Globe and Mail
George Radwanski – editor-in-chief of the Toronto Star
Chava Rosenfarb – novelist, poet in Yiddish, wife of Henry Morgentaler
Adam Smoluk – director, screenwriter and actor
Eva Stachniak – writer
Mark Starowicz – head of CBC Television Documentary Programming unit, journalist and TV producer
Alexandra Szacka – CBC/Radio-Canada correspondent
Jack L. Warner - film executive, co-founder of Warner Bros, born to Polish Jewish parents

Actors

Magda Apanowicz – actress
Lara Jean Chorostecki – actress^[3]
John Candy - actor, comedian; John's mother Evangeline Candy (née Aker), was of Polish descent
Henry Czerny – actor
Paloma Kwiatkowski – actress^[4]
Lisa Ray – actress
Devon Sawa – actor

Military

Andrew Charles Mynarski VC – Second World War airman
Walter J. Natynczyk – Chief of the Defence Staff of the Canadian Forces
Stefan Sznuk – Major General

Sports

Turk Broda – ice hockey goalie
Shane Churla – player, NHL
Peter Czerwinski – competitive eater and bodybuilder
Gabriela Dabrowski – professional tennis player
Adam Fantilli - ice hockey centre
Wayne Gretzky – hockey legend
Frank Jerwa - ice hockey left wing
Joe Jerwa - ice hockey defenseman
Michael Klukowski – soccer player for Club Brugge
Walter "Killer" Kowalski – professional wrestler
Joe Krol – Toronto Argonauts player
Tomasz Kucharzewski – martial artist
Stan Mikawos – Winnipeg Blue Bombers player, CFL
Ben Pakulski – professional bodybuilder
Jim Peplinski – Calgary Flames, NHL
Chris Pozniak – soccer player who currently plays for San Jose Earthquakes
Tomasz Radzinski – soccer player
Krzysztof Soszynski – mixed martial artist
Dave Stala – Hamilton Tiger-Cats player CFL
Trish Stratus – WWE Diva
John Tavares – ice hockey player for the Toronto Maple Leafs
Larry Trader – played for Detroit, St. Louis, Montreal, 1982–1988
Wojtek Wolski – player NHL
Aleksandra Wozniak – professional tennis player
Penny Oleksiak – Canadian National Team Swimmer
Jamie Oleksiak – NHL Player Dallas Stars

References

^ "Fialkowska, Janina". Archived from the original on 2006-08-24. Retrieved 2022-02-14.
^ Archival Sources for the Study of Polish Canadians
^ Storrow, Holly (March 23, 2013). "An interview with 'Hannibal' star Lara Jean Chorostecki". The Daily Quirk. Archived from the original on October 30, 2015. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
^ Schaefer, Glen (June 3, 2012). "Teen actor's career catapults into Hollywood overnight". The Province. Archived from the original on 2012-06-05.

[1] "Fialkowska, Janina". Archived from the original on 2006-08-24. Retrieved 2022-02-14.

[bibl-2] Archival Sources for the Study of Polish Canadians

[DQ130323-3] Storrow, Holly (March 23, 2013). "An interview with 'Hannibal' star Lara Jean Chorostecki". The Daily Quirk. Archived from the original on October 30, 2015. Retrieved February 14, 2022.

[prov120603-4] Schaefer, Glen (June 3, 2012). "Teen actor's career catapults into Hollywood overnight". The Province. Archived from the original on 2012-06-05.

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