Stanislaw Rogoz

He was born into a wealthy farming family on April 12, 1924, in Borzęcin, previously the Cracow Voivodeship. His parents hoped that their son would receive fundamental education and a good profession in the technical domain. Unfortunately, the outbreak of World War II thwarted their ambitious plans and destroyed their dreams. Sixteen-year-old Stanislaw was arrested and expatriated to Germany, where he worked on a farm during the entire war period.

Liberated by the American Army, he found himself in the Achafenburg camp with other Poles. While there, the Poles organized various types of schools and courses. Stanislaw Rogoz participated in one of them, obtaining general technical knowledge.  As a result, he was hired by the Guards’ Companies organized by the Americans and began working with electro-communication equipment.

In 1948, he voiced his desire to go to Canada via the UNRA, in order to work in a gold mine.  He worked there for a few years. He also quickly made contact with the only Polish organization in Timmins called White Eagle and became involved in its work.

Over the next two years, he was its President. As President, he attempted to form a Polish-language radio broadcasting station and, for many years, Polish programs were aired.

In 1952, he moved to Toronto with his wife Wladyslawa. He began a three-year telecommunications course at Ryerson Institute of Technology, after which he was hired by Northern Telecommunication and Bell Canada. He worked there for many years in very important positions.

Work and education did not interfere with Stanislaw Rogoz’s work in community and sports organizations. He joined the ranks of PAC Branch 5 in Toronto, in which he filled many positions, including Branch President.

As PAC Branch 5’s delegate at the PAC General Assembly in 1959, he became a member of the newly-elected Head Executive Board. From then on, Stanislaw Rogoz was elected into the PAC Head Executive Board at almost every Assembly, filling the positions of Organizer, Vice-president and President. He was chosen for this last position in 1985.

One cannot forget his fondness of sports.  He joined the White Eagle soccer club. As an athlete, he solicited help for his club and for Polish athletes taking part in the Olympics.  He organized the Polish Olympics Committee, which donated several thousand dollars to the Olympics Fund account.

Thanks to Stanislaw Rogoz’s initiative, Polish soccer players and their coach Kazimierz Gorski, who had won the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Munich, were invited to Canada. This was a great event for soccer fans in Canada.

Stanislaw Rogoz was also one of the initiators of bringing the “Mazowsze” National Song and Dance Ensemble and the “Slask” Song and Dance Ensemble to Canada. Both groups’ concerts were enthusiastically received by the Polish community and other Canadians.

The construction of the Place Polonaise Pavilion, where summertime parties and organized picnics would take place, was also President Rogoz’s idea. He also organized trips to Poland, while chairing the management of PAC Travel and Tours Ltd.

In 1987, the PAC’s 80^th anniversary was very ceremoniously celebrated.  The banquet took place at the Sheraton Hotel in Toronto and was attended by many important guests, representing the federal and provincial governments, as well as all Polish organizations, including the Canadian Polish Congress President.

Stanislaw Rogoz proudly remembered the period of the establishment of The W. Reymont Foundation, when he joined other known Alliance volunteers in signing the Foundation’s establishment Act and became one of its first directors.