Without the efforts of many people, the Kashubian Heritage would not be where it is today.
Our greatest hero is Father Al Rekowski. He was the first person who went to the homeland in Kaszebe to find out about our ancestors. He wrote the book “ The Saga of the Kashub People in Canada, the USA and in Poland” This was the first time we were introduced to the word Kashub and what it meant. To the Kashub people it is the bible of the Canadian Kashub people.
Shirley Mask Connolly another Kashub giant. She wrote many books on the Kashubs - their churches, their journey from Kaszebe to Canada. She is an award winning author and a gifted artist with a passion for her heritage. One of her most famous books is called “Cashubia to Canada”.
Martin Szulist passion for his heritage was strong. He was the first person to start promoting heritage back in the early 1960’s . He was the person who got our area recognized as Canada’s First Polish Kashubian Settlement. It was through his efforts that the Ontario government erected a historical plague to announce his findings.
David Martin Shulist a man with a passion for the Kashubian culture that burns deep within him. God blessed him with the gift of promotion and a passion for heritage. He is the founding President of the Canadian Kashubian Heritage Park in Wilno. Created Kashub Day, initiated the Kashubian Embroidery classes in our local schools. Created the Opeongo Heritage Cup Multicultural hockey tournament and the Canadian Multicultural Golfing tournament and the Canadian Curling bonspiel where the Kashubian Griffins compete against different cultures. Started the radio show called RADIO KASEZBE with the help of Ray Chapeskie. Created the newspaper column Glos Kaszebsczi in the Barry’s Bay This Week newspaper. At present he is working on a English - Slavic ( Kashubian, Polish, Slovak, & Wendish) dictionary. He brought a Kashubian teacher to Canada to teach the language in school and hopefully the modern day music of the Kashubs in Kaszebe as well as dance.
He worked with the Kaszubs in Kaszebe to transport two Canadian Kashub heritage buildings to Museum in Symbark with owner Daniel Czapiewski. He believes that building bridges between all Kashubian communities will help preserve the Kashubian culture.