On May 24, 2026, a commemorative ceremony marking the 82nd anniversary of the Battle of Monte Cassino was held at Ignacy Jan Paderewski Park in Toronto. The event was organized by the Association of Polish Army Veterans in America, Post 114, and brought together representatives of numerous Polish Canadian organizations, veterans’ groups, and members of the community to honour the courage and sacrifice of the soldiers of the Polish II Corps.
Among those in attendance were representatives of both national and local Polish Canadian organizations, including:
- Canadian Polish Congress (CPC) – President Dominik Roszak, Chairman of the CPC Council Andrzej Felińczak, and representatives from the Niagara, Hamilton, and Mississauga districts.
- Association of Polish Combatants (SPK) – Maryla Gondek, widow of the late Zbigniew Gondek, a Monte Cassino veteran and recipient of the Virtuti Militari, and Jan Wielgosz, President of Branch No. 20 in Toronto.
- Polish Canadian Women’s Federation (PCWF) – Alicja Kotynia of Branch No. 17 laid flowers at the Monument to the Fallen of Monte Cassino on behalf of the Federation.
- The Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Toronto was represented by Justyna Frelak, Consul for Polish Diaspora Affairs.
Representatives of the Polish National Union, the Association of Poles in Canada, the Association of Polish Engineers in Canada, the Eastern Borderlands Association, the “Nadzieja” Ladies’ Circle, and the White Eagle Motorcycle Club also participated in the ceremony.
During the Battle of Monte Cassino, 923 Polish soldiers were killed, 2,931 were wounded, and 345 were reported missing. A field Mass in memory of the fallen soldiers and veterans was celebrated by Fr. Jacek Cydzik.
As we gather to commemorate this historic victory, we remember with gratitude the soldiers of the Polish II Corps and all those who fought and gave their lives at Monte Cassino in the cause of freedom.
Honour and Glory to the Heroes.
