Pierogi fried with onions in a pan
Guide Poland → Canada · community · checked 1 Nov 2026

The Polish community in Canada

How many Polish people live in Canada, where Polish Mass, schools and festivals are, and how to keep a piece of home close.

Photo: Pexels
In numbers

How many Polish people live in Canada?

In the 2021 census almost a million Canadians gave Polish as an origin. Most live in Ontario, and the biggest community is in the Toronto area.

982,815Canadians with Polish roots
137,605born in Poland
181,380in the Toronto area
176,010with Polish as their mother tongue
1858the first Kashubians in Canada

2021 Census of Canada (Statistics Canada); 1858 via Canada's History.

Where people live

Where Polish people live in Canada

Almost half of Canadians with Polish roots live in Ontario. After Toronto, the biggest communities are in Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Montréal and Calgary.

ON
Ontario461,090 people of Polish origin, including 181,380 in the Toronto area and 39,055 in Hamilton.
AB
Alberta169,925 people: 68,750 in Edmonton and 49,540 in Calgary.
BC
British Columbia134,635 people, 58,505 of them in the Vancouver area.
MB
Manitoba78,860 people, 54,450 of them in Winnipeg.
QC
Quebec63,505 people, 49,970 of them in the Montréal area.
Community life

A piece of home, close by

Fest
Roncesvalles in TorontoEvery September Roncesvalles Avenue holds the Roncesvalles Polish Festival; the 20th was on 19 and 20 September 2026. The Polish credit union has its head office on the same street.
Mass
Mass in PolishSt. Maximilian Kolbe in Mississauga, founded in 1979, has five Polish Masses every Sunday. Oblate Polish parishes are also in Toronto, Brampton, Ottawa, Hamilton, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Vancouver, among others.
Sch
Polish schoolsPolish schools at the consulates in Toronto and Montréal, and community Saturday schools; elsewhere the Polish Teachers Association in Canada can help.
KPK
The Canadian Polish CongressThe national voice of Polish Canadians, bringing together more than 100 organisations.
May
Polish Heritage MonthMay. In Ontario it is set in law since 2021; in February 2024 the House of Commons adopted motion M-75, which calls for May to be Polish Heritage Month and 3 May Polish Constitution Day.
Wilno
Wilno, OntarioThe first Kashubian settlers arrived in 1858; an Ontario plaque marks 1864 as the start of Canada's first Polish settlement.
CU
A Polish credit unionSt. Stanislaus-St. Casimir's Polish Parishes Credit Union has served the community since 1945, from 220 Roncesvalles Avenue.
PL
Embassy and consulatesThe embassy in Ottawa and consulates general in Toronto, Montréal and Vancouver. Passports are applied for in person after booking on e-Konsulat (C$226); Polish ID cards are only issued in Poland.
TV
Polish TVThe channels from home, live in Canada.Read the TV guide →
A cosy living room in the evening with a TV and warm shelf lights
Miss home?

The channels you grew up with, here

The news from home, your series, the big matches and the kids' cartoons in Polish. Live in Canada, on your TV.

How to watch Polish TV in Canada →
Advertisement: almost 400 Polish channels live with VOLTIX →
Photo: Pexels
Online

Where Polish people in Canada meet online

Much of the community talks on Facebook: jobs, flats, advice and events, in Polish.

FB
Your town's groupSearch Facebook groups for “Polacy w Toronto”, “Polonia Mississauga” or “Polacy w Kanadzie”.
PL
The embassy's pageThe Polish embassy in Ottawa: consulates, passports, schools.gov.pl →

Stay safe: groups are great for jobs and flats, but never send money or photos of your ID to someone you only know from a group.

Quick answers

Questions people ask

How many Polish people live in Canada?

In the 2021 census 982,815 people gave Polish as an origin, and 137,605 people living in Canada were born in Poland. Polish is the mother tongue of 176,010 people.

Where do most Polish people in Canada live?

In Ontario (461,090 people of Polish origin), above all in the Toronto area (181,380). There are big communities in Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Montréal and Calgary too.

Is there Mass in Polish in Canada?

Yes, in Polish parishes such as St. Maximilian Kolbe in Mississauga (five Polish Masses on Sundays) and the Oblate parishes in Toronto, Brampton, Ottawa, Hamilton, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Vancouver.

When is the Roncesvalles Polish Festival?

Every September on Roncesvalles Avenue in Toronto. In 2026 the 20th festival was on 19 and 20 September.

Where do I get a Polish passport in Canada?

At the consulate for your province (Toronto: Ontario, Manitoba and Nunavut; Montréal: Quebec and the Atlantic provinces; Vancouver: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Yukon and the Northwest Territories) or at the embassy in Ottawa for the Ottawa region. You apply in person after booking on e-Konsulat; the fee is C$226.

Are there Facebook groups for Polish people in Canada?

Yes. Search Facebook groups for “Polacy w Toronto”, “Polonia Mississauga” or “Polacy w Kanadzie”.

Can I watch Polish TV in Canada?

Yes. Our Polish TV in Canada guide shows every option, from the free TVP Polonia app to all-in-one subscriptions.

More for Polish people in Canada

Guides for you

Polish TV in CanadaEvery Polish channel, live, and how the official options compare.The Polish community in CanadaHow many, where people live, Polish Mass, festivals and where people meet online.Moving from Poland to CanadaA plain checklist: before you go and your first weeks.
Sources