Kazimierz J. Mazurkiewicz

He was born on February 22, 1895, in Podol and finished elementary school in Skala Malopolska, Poland. He arrived in Canada in 1911 and immediately became interested in Polish organizations. He met Alfons Staniewski, the founder of The Progressive Polish Union, and participated in the meeting at which the Union joined the PAC, although he was never one of the Union’s members. From that moment on, Kazimierz Mazurkiewicz, a member of PAC Branch 5 in Toronto, was one of the main Alliance volunteers, fulfilling a series of social functions.

He was most interested by educational affairs of the Polish community: expanding Polish schools, organizing theatrical performances, and popularizing Polish culture. Between 1929 and 1939, he was President of the PAC Head Executive Board. When it was decided to publish a monthly newspaper called The Alliancer at the PAC General Assembly in September 1932, Kazimierz Mazurkiewicz became its spokesman. During the first two years of the weekly’s existence, he edited it with the help of M. Nedza and A. Piekarz. Meanwhile, he expanded the printing-house, purchased machines, learned how to use them, and became a professional printer.

In 1934, Alfons Staniewski, a close friend of Mazurkiewicz, became editor-in-chief of The Alliancer, and their collaboration until Staniewski’s death in 1941 was exemplary. The printing-house became Kazimierz Muzarkiewicz’s second home. Even when he retired in January 1966, he spent time in the office of The Alliancer, advising new employees and participating in management meetings.

In 1971, he was again chosen as a the Board of Directors’ chairperson, but his worsening health and extended hospital stays made him resign from the position two years later.  He died on May 15, 1979.

Kazimierz J. Mazurkiewicz was one of the most distinguished, most generous and most dedicated PAC volunteers.  After his death, editor W. Krajewski wrote the following in The Alliancer:

“Mazurkiewicz belonged to The Polish Alliance (Branch 5) – however, his spirit was a part of the entire Polish community and, through The Alliancer, he contributed to the Polish character and to Poles around the world. His memory remains with Polish-Canadians.  He was one of those people who assure the well-being of Polish communities through their work.  They are the pillars on which Polish communities in different countries rest.  K.J. Mazurkiewicz was that pillar for the Polish community in Canada.”