Wilno, Ontario: Difference between revisions

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The community of Wilno, Ontario is situated on the border of Killaloe, Hagarty and Richards and Madawaska Valley townships in Renfrew County, Ontario.

Geography

Wilno is nestled in the rolling, picturesque terrain of the Madawaska valley which was largely shaped during the demise of the Laurentide ice sheet at the end of the last North American Ice Age.

History

Wilno is the first and oldest Polish settlement in Canada. The original settlers in this area circa 1858 were mainly of Kashubian origin from Kaszebe - the then Prussian area of Poland. One of the reasons they chose this area to settle was because of the landscape which reminded them of their original homes.

At one time, John Rudolphus Booth's Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway ran through the town mainly serving the lumber industry. The former train route has now been redeveloped into a recreational path. Where former train station used to sit, an early settler building and museum that presents the early history of the town has been built. The museum and open air wodden skansen contain the history of the first Kashubian people as well as their immigration to Canada, freedom and eventually, after many hardships, their settlement journey to the Wilno area.

Wilno's namesake was the city of Vilnius (Wilno in Polish), then in a Russian-occupied area of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, now capital of Lithuania, the birthplace of Reverend Ludwik Dembski, who was a prominent community spiritual leader and town founder, who would not have wanted the town named after himself. Therefore, the townsfolk, grateful for his contributions to their town, may have suggested the name of Wilno.

Other noted Kashubes include the Kashubian-Canadian priest and historian, Rev Aloysius Rekowski (1921-2006) who was born and raised in Wilno and, Martin Shulist,^[1] who talks of the traditions behind The Holy Crosses of Wilno and their significance to the settlers of this area. Every August in Wilno, Canada's Kashubian community celebrates their heritage.

In September 2015 three women; Carol Culleton, 66, Anastasia Kuzyk, 36, Nathalie Warmerdam, 46 were murdered in a mass shooting that took place in Wilno.

Annual Chicken Supper on the Labour Day Weekend

This supper has been an annual event for over 65 years. Approximately 2500 people are served each Labour Day Weekend. The food is authentic Kaszebe–Polish fare that is historically accurate, original settler cuisine, with a strong remembrance of a long-ago home.

References

^ Makowski, William. The Polish People in Canada: A Visual History. “V: Ontario: A Century of Courage and Tenacity.” Montreal: Tundra Books, 1987. 53-73

1. Source: Makowski, William. The Polish People in Canada: A Visual History. “V: Ontario: A Century of Courage and Tenacity.” Montreal: Tundra Books, 1987. 53-73

External links

45°30′41″N 77°33′37″W / 45.5114°N 77.5602°W / 45.5114; -77.5602

See http://www.interment.net/data/canada/ontario/renfrew/hagarty/stmary/index.htm to See Saint Mary Cemetery Wilno, Hagarty Township, Renfrew County, Ontario, Canada @ www.interment.net/Canada/Ontario recorded by Marty C Byzewski, Apr 30, 2009. Home of Polish Pioneers and also see http://www.interment.net/data/canada/ontario/renfrew/hagarty/ststan/index.htm Saint Stanislaus Pioneer Cemetery Wilno, Hagarty Township, Renfrew County, Ontario, Canada The original Polish Pioneer Cemetery

[1] Makowski, William. The Polish People in Canada: A Visual History. “V: Ontario: A Century of Courage and Tenacity.” Montreal: Tundra Books, 1987. 53-73

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 [[File:Rollingmadawaska.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Rolling Madawaska Hills Hwy 60]]
-At one time, [[John Rudolphus Booth]]'s [[Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway]] ran through the town mainly serving the lumber industry. The former train route has now been redeveloped into a recreational path. The former train station has likewise been converted into an early settler building and museum that presents the early history of the town.  The museum and open air wodden skansen contain the history of the first Kashubian people as well as their immigration to Canada, freedom and eventually, after many hardships, <!--[http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/grosse-ile-immigration/index-e.html [[Grosse Isle, Quebec]]] --> their settlement journey to the Wilno area.[[File:WelcomeWilno.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Wilno, Folk Dancers Aug 3 2008]]
+At one time, [[John Rudolphus Booth]]'s [[Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway]] ran through the town mainly serving the lumber industry. The former train route has now been redeveloped into a recreational path. Where former train station used to sit, an early settler building and museum that presents the early history of the town has been built.  The museum and open air wodden skansen contain the history of the first Kashubian people as well as their immigration to Canada, freedom and eventually, after many hardships, <!--[http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/grosse-ile-immigration/index-e.html [[Grosse Isle, Quebec]]] --> their settlement journey to the Wilno area.[[File:WelcomeWilno.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Wilno, Folk Dancers Aug 3 2008]]
 [[File:Wilno Settlers Renactment Polanie Dance group .jpg|thumb|250px|right|Wilno, Folk Dancers Aug 3 2008]]