List of Canadians of Polish descent explained

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

Notes and References

1. Web site: Fialkowska, Janina . 2022-02-14 . 2006-08-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060824195448/http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0001204 . dead .
2. http://biblioteka.info/archive.htm#5 Archival Sources for the Study of Polish Canadians
3. News: An interview with 'Hannibal' star Lara Jean Chorostecki . Holly . Storrow . The Daily Quirk . March 23, 2013 . February 14, 2022 . October 30, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151030000604/http://www.thedailyquirk.com/2013/03/23/an-interview-with-hannibal-star-lara-jean-chorostecki/ . dead .
4. News: Teen actor's career catapults into Hollywood overnight . https://web.archive.org/web/20120605033501/http://www.theprovince.com/entertainment/movie-guide/Teen+actor+career+catapults+into+Hollywood+overnight/6722110/story.html . 2012-06-05 . Glen . Schaefer . . June 3, 2012.