Thank you to everyone who has signed the petition. The issue is important to so many that we’ve passed 2000 signatures sooner then expected. Today we will deliver the signatures on the petition to the three levels of government representing Roncesvalles (Parkdale-High Park riding), with the letter below.

Continue to share the petition and encourage people to sign as our fight is not finished until the name change is reversed and the likelihood of that increases with every signature.

Best Regards,

Save the Roncesvalles Polish Festival committee  

Dear (name of Member of Government)

Please see attached a petition that has been created in response to the Roncesvalles BIA’s decision to remove the word “Polish” from the title of the Roncesvalles Polish Festival. At time of writing, over 2100 people have signed and more are expected as news if the issue spreads.

For 15 years this well loved festival has attracted over 350,000 annual visitors from across the World. It is the largest celebration of Polish culture in North America and a testament to Toronto’s unique diversity. Representatives from all levels of government have attended the Festival and celebrated the Polish-Canadian character of the event.

Those who have signed this petition value Canada’s multiculturalism and the recognition of the Polish-Canadian community in shaping the unique character of Roncesvalles and feel that this must be preserved in the name of the festival – the Roncesvalles Polish Festival.

I ask that as a representative of Parkdale-High Park, your office make a statement affirming its commitment to Multiculturalism and ask the BIA to correct their name change decision by putting the word “Polish” back in the Roncesvalles Polish Festival.

Sincerely yours,