The Polish Combatant's Association (SPK London, Ontario) is discussing the sale of the Polish Hall - a decision that would weaken the Polish community in London in terms of tradition, historical remembrance, and sense of community. An open letter has been sent to SPK to implore that they do not sell the hall.

The letter is below:

An open letter to SPK

Dear SPK London,

I’m disappointed and furious to know that you are considering selling your branch on Ann street. Despite my visceral reaction to this news, I’ll try to keep this letter relatively professional. There are three reasons why the news of the potential sale of the SPK London branch, to me, is a terrible and irresponsible decision.

1.      A personal connection. First, and of least importance here, is my personal connection to the SPK. It’s quite possible that none of the executives at the SPK know of me, but I know the SPK. I have performed poems here as a child as a student at the Polish school. More significantly, I have danced as a member of Cracovia multiple times annually, every year of my 17-year tenure as a dancer to commemorate various important achievements in Polish history. I am not exceptional in this regard, as many of my friends and colleagues have done the same, and many others have contributed or experienced the SPK in other ways (serving jobs, wedding receptions, etc).

2.      Memory. Second, and the most important point is memory. The SPK has a mandate to commemorate and promote the memory of some of the bravest individuals of the twentieth century (as well as earlier Polish heroes). This isn’t something that ‘would be nice to do’. This is a mandate. We as a Polish community (especially the SPK) has a responsibility to the many brave individuals that have, in the name of God, honour, and fatherland, to protect their memory and their achievements. Rather than shamefully surrendering without bearing arms or joining the German Nazis (as did the French, Belgians, Dutch, and most other countries during WWII, i.e., Waffen-SS), our ancestors (many of whom are still alive today) decided to walk towards almost certain death and fight for a free and independent Poland. Despite their efforts and achievements on almost all fronts of WWII, they were betrayed by the allies and left with a Soviet occupant which no longer welcomed these brave warriors home. We have a responsibility to the individuals who were willing to sacrifice everything for a greater ideal (the greater ideal that all of us profit from today). In a time of when the memory of these individuals is most under attack, for reasons of national and international politics, propaganda, and sheer ignorance, the SPK and the Polish community must protect this legacy at all costs. This is especially important in Canada, where high school history classes fail at teaching the role of Poland in history (when I was in high school, many teachers taught lies about Poland. For example, some teachers were taught that Poland was taken over in a day or three days. Personally, my teacher asked me if he was teaching correctly whenever he mentioned Poland because he knew I was more knowledgeable than he was). Our heroes deserve to have their legacies remembered at all costs. Selling the hall is the first major step in failing to preserve their memory.

3.     Effort. This may be the most disagreeable of all and you have every right to be offended by this. The claim of SPK is that membership is in decline and thus, selling is needed, even despite solid financials. Before, I get to my point, I must clarify the following: I have been a very involved member of the Polish community in London for my whole life.  I have danced in Cracovia for 17 years, went to Polish school from kindergarten to grade 12, played soccer for the White Eagles both as a child and as an adult, I’m a regular church-goer at Our Lady of Czestochowa, and I was an active member, VP of finance, and President of the Polish Students Union at Western. I understand that many of the executives of the SPK have been doing this for decades and I applaud them for their years of service. However, selling the SPK is the proverbial nuclear option, which if used at all, should only be a last resort. At the current moment, there has not been enough effort to bolster membership. In fact, as an active member of the Polish community here, I have not seen any discernable effort to bolster membership and neither has anyone in my immediate family. We were not even aware that non-combatants are allowed to become members (and truthfully, I’m still not confident that it isn’t the case). Moreover, I cannot find the SPK London on any medium that has any real chance of being found by a younger audience (for example, an audience younger than 40 years old); I have searched and failed to find a moderated facebook page (I did find a non-moderated SPK page that has most recently promoted a drag show and a non-public facing facebook group that does not saliently invite new members), or even a website or email address. How can we justify closing a branch of something that has served the Polish community and the memory of those who have knowingly fought impossible odds for our freedom, when basic efforts to adapt and promote membership have not been taken. The combatants made every effort for us and I think it’s a shame that we’re giving up on their memory so easily, at a time when their memory is under constant attack.

I hope this finds you well. I understand that the Polish community in London is no longer as integrated as it used to be, but it’s the duty of organizations like the church, SPK, and PSN, to adapt and offer the Polish community an opportunity to be integrated and to take part in your mandate.

Sincerely,

Christopher Marcin Kowalski