The year 2021 is the 80th anniversary of the existence of the Association of Polish Engineers in Canada (SIPwK), one of the oldest organizations within the Canadian Polish Congress (KPK).

The history of the Association of Polish Engineers in Canada dates back to the first years of World War II, when, after the end of the September campaign, many Polish engineers found themselves abroad. As in other Polish diaspora organizations around the world, the first years brought together people with common interests, to survive World War II, and after it ended, to make their way home and to return to their free homeland.

In the fall of 1939, the Association of Polish Engineers and Technicians in France was established, and at the end of 1940, the Association of Polish Technicians in Great Britain was established.

In the early years of World War II, Canada was expanding its defense industry and felt a lack of trained technical staff. During his visit to London, Canadian Minister of Military Supply C. D. Howe became interested in the possibility of bringing Polish specialists to Canada. Soon, an agreement was concluded under which Polish engineers and technicians were allowed to come to Canada on temporary visas. On February 17, 1941, an STP meeting was held in London, at which it was decided that the members, upon their arrival in Canada, would organize a circle of the Association of Polish Technicians from Great Britain.

The first group of Polish engineers, about 20, landed in the port of Halifax in March 1941. In accordance with a resolution made in London, the engineers who found themselves in Canada convened a meeting in Ottawa on June 15, 1941. A historic decision made during this meeting was to accept a proposal to create an independent Association of Polish Technicians in Canada with an independent management and audit committee, and not as previously planned, UK STP circles in Canada.

The meeting in Ottawa on June 15, 1941, with the participation of 29 members, is recorded in the chronicle of the Association as the First General Convention.

For over two decades, almost all general conventions were held in Montreal, where the Polish community flourished. In the following years, the burden of the Association’s activity moved to Toronto.

There were different stages in the life of the Association. Over the course of 80 years, Polish engineers, thanks to their high professional qualifications, have rendered great services to the Canadian industry, which raised the opinions of the Canadian authorities about Poles.

This first group, arriving in 1941, made great contributions to the Canadian war industry. In the years 1944 and 1945 the Association published its own quarterly under the name “The Polish Engineering Review”, transformed in 1946 into the “Bulletin of the Association”, which has survived to the present years as “The New Link”.

In the first post-war years, there was a critical period in the Association. The disturbing news from Poland did not make the members return. Most of the STP members chose to stay in Canada. They faced many family and professional difficulties. Canadian industry began to change from war to civil and peaceful, which for many meant the loss or change of jobs, and often a change of residence. The association ceased to be an organization gathering people for whom their stay in Canada was only a stage waiting for the possibility of returning to Poland.

On the initiative of the Toronto Branch, efforts were made at the Immigration Office to bring colleagues from all over the world to Canada. As a result of these efforts, several hundred engineers and technicians came to Canada, guaranteed by the Association.

In the 1950s, former soldiers of Polish military formations in the West began to arrive in Canada, who, after demobilization, found themselves in Great Britain and began their studies there, with the help of the government.

The 1960s and 1970s were a period of lower immigration flows and increased STP activity in Canada. Social life was flourishing. There were lectures, regular meetings of the so-called “teas” and annual carnival balls, with the participation of the governor of Canada and important political figures.

After August 1980, the largest immigration wave since the end of the Second World War began. STP in Canada has reacted actively to the situation. Apprenticeship courses for newly arrived engineers and technicians were organized with the financial support of the Ministry of Immigration and Employment. There were computer courses conducted by lecturers from STP in Canada and monthly lectures on topics related to job search and adaptation to life in this country. Many newcomers found shelter and food with members of the Association, whose situation in Canada was already stabilized.

As a result of changes and Poland regaining sovereignty in 1989, the Association faced new tasks. In 1990, the Committee for Technological Cooperation with Poland was established under the supervision of STP in Canada. Cooperation with Canadian companies was also of particular importance.

In October 1996, the current name, the Association of Polish Technicians, was changed to the Association of Polish Engineers in Canada (SIPwK), which corresponds to the official English and French names.

Polish engineers held important positions in Canada. Profiles of outstanding Polish engineers were presented on various occasions. You can refer to the old newsletters “The New Link” https://www.polisheng.ca/k/the-new-link/ .

In addition to the three branches in Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto, existing from the early years of the Association, in the 60-80’s Sarnia branch operated. In the following years, branches were established in other Polish communities: Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, London, Niagara, Peterborough, Oshawa and Hamilton. There have been attempts to establish branches in several other places. Most of these branches have not fully developed their activities.

Currently, SIPwK has branches in seven Canadian cities: Edmonton, Hamilton, Kitchener, Mississauga, Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto.

SIPwK has a website at https://www.polisheng.ca and publishes the printed magazine “The New Link”, which is also posted on the website. The seat of the SPK is at 206 Beverley St. in Toronto, ON.

The 80th anniversary faced an unexpected challenge brought to the world by the coronavirus pandemic. The forms of activity that had been opened so far have closed. Virtual connections have replaced face-to-face contacts and meetings.

The association is currently working on the organization of the 80th anniversary in healthy and normal conditions in 2021.