The Kmieciks
Irena Kmiecik (nee Kaluzny)
Irena Kmiecik was born in the farming village of Jozefow, district of Turek, province of Lodz, Poland on January 4, 1931. When the German army invaded her homeland in September 1939, Irena's small community was ravaged, farms were burned, and many of her family members were executed, including her father and a brother. Irena met her husband Kazimierz in 1946 while staying in a displaced persons camp at Meierwik in the district of Glucksberg, Germany. Several years later, the couple immigrated to Canada, arriving at Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia on May 20, 1950. They moved to Madsen, Ontario in 1951. Irena was a devoted member of the Red Lake Polish Alliance and Polish Hall and well-known for her delicious cabbage rolls and perogies.
Irena Kmiecik was born in the farming village of Jozefow, district of Turek, province of Lodz, Poland on January 4, 1931. When the German army invaded her homeland in September 1939, Irena's small community was ravaged, farms were burned, and many of her family members were executed, including her father and a brother. Irena met her husband Kazimierz in 1946 while staying in a displaced persons camp at Meierwik in the district of Glucksberg, Germany. Several years later, the couple immigrated to Canada, arriving at Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia on May 20, 1950. They moved to Madsen, Ontario in 1951. Irena was a devoted member of the Red Lake Polish Alliance and Polish Hall and well-known for her delicious cabbage rolls and perogies.
Kazimierz Kmiecik
Kazimierz Kmiecik was born in the farming village of Falkow, district of Konskie, province of Lodz, Poland on December 11, 1918. At the age of 22, he was forced by the German Schutzstaffel (S.S.) to work as a farm labourer in the Schleswig-Holstein province of northern Germany. Kazimierz married Irena in a displaced persons camp in March 1948, and they immigrated to Canada two years later. He was the only one of his eight siblings who left Europe. Kazimierz worked at the Madsen Red Lake Gold Mines until its first closure in 1976, then at Campbell Gold Mines as a hoist operator until his retirement in 1984. He was a very sociable, community minded, and motivated individual, who always aimed to improve himself and do the best for his family.
Kazimierz Kmiecik was born in the farming village of Falkow, district of Konskie, province of Lodz, Poland on December 11, 1918. At the age of 22, he was forced by the German Schutzstaffel (S.S.) to work as a farm labourer in the Schleswig-Holstein province of northern Germany. Kazimierz married Irena in a displaced persons camp in March 1948, and they immigrated to Canada two years later. He was the only one of his eight siblings who left Europe. Kazimierz worked at the Madsen Red Lake Gold Mines until its first closure in 1976, then at Campbell Gold Mines as a hoist operator until his retirement in 1984. He was a very sociable, community minded, and motivated individual, who always aimed to improve himself and do the best for his family.