The Roncesvalles Business Improvement Association (BIA), a local association of commercial property owners and tenants, has decided to reinstate the word ‘Polish’ in the name of the largest Polish festival in North America, the ‘Roncesvalles Polish Festival’, after strong protests from the Polish community and a sharp reaction from Magdalena Pszczółkowska, Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Toronto.

Mike Ostrowski, the initiator of a petition to the local government in which the Polish community in Toronto demanded the restoration of the festival’s original name, told CBC News that “Toronto is unique as a city in North America because we can be truly multicultural here. When you see an element of that multiculturalism disappear, people are upset about that,” he added.

In his social media post, Ostrowski said that while the Roncesvalles BIA’s decision is a good first step “in correcting the hurt and anger that the attempt to change the name of the festival has caused, it is important to emphasise that Polish culture and heritage is not an inconvenience, but a source of celebration that attracts people from the neighbourhood”.

The matter was also addressed by Toronto Mayor John Tory, who wrote on social media: Thank you @RoncesVillage for restoring the name of the Roncesvalles Polish Festival. It was the right thing to do. We look forward to celebrating the Polish community in our city in September.”

“The Roncesvalles Polish Festival has been taking place for 15 years. In past events, it has attracted up to 350,000 people to watch parades and performances by top Polish bands and dance groups from Canada and the United States over the two days.

Events along Roncesvalles Avenue in Toronto include not only Polish music, folklore and live dancing but also Polish dishes and culinary demonstrations, handicrafts and special attractions prepared for families and children.

Adrian Andrzejewski