Wilno Heritage Society

Types

Cultural

Type

About Wilno Heritage Society

Wilno is the oldest Polish settlement in Canada and is also known as Canada's Kashub Heartland.

The area was initially settled in 1859 by Polish immigrants arriving from the Kashubian region of Poland. Over a century and a half, these strong-willed people and their descendants have laboured and thrived in this still distinctly Kashubian region of Canada. The Wilno Heritage Society applauds the efforts made by these pioneers and commemorates and celebrates Canada's unique Polish Kashub cultural heritage.

Although the Polish Kashub culture can also be found in other parts of Canada, Renfrew County and in particular Wilno, Ontario (Canada's First Polish Settlement) are recognized as the "central core" of this culture.

The little hamlet of Wilno is located just 150 kilometers from the Nation's Capital (Ottawa, Ontario) and 50 kilometers from world renowned Algonquin Provincial Park. This pristine area of the northern part of Central Ontario, is a beautiful location rich with Polish Kashubian cultural heritage.