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Stanislaw Godzisz has been retired for the last 6 years. He has been active in the community and in Polonia for over 33 years. Stanislaw Godzisz was also the President of the Polish Alliance of Canada (ZPwK) – Head Executive from 1989 – 1993.
He was born in 1942 in Rozlopach near Zamosc, Poland. He is married with three children and grandchildren. He immigrated to Canada with his family in 1959 and lived in Galt (today known as Cambridge) until 1970 when they moved to Grimsby where he currently lives.
He started working for Stelco in Hamilton in 1962 and worked there for 40 years until he retired. He finished his studies at Mohawk College acquiring the necessary qualifications. He was accepted as a Senior Engineering Technician by The Ontario Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologies. And for the last 18 years with Stelco worked in a managerial position in the electro-mechanic department.
In 1959 while he was just establishing roots in Canada he joined the Youth Association Group 4 ZPwK in Kitchener. In 1975 he became a member of Group 22 ZPwK in Grimsby. He fulfilled various functions in that organization helping to manage the Place Polonaise.
At the General Assembly of ZPwK in 1989 in Brantford he was chosen as the President of the head executive of the Polish Alliance of Canada (ZPwK). This was the start of an intensive period for Mr. Stanislaw Godzisz’s social and volunteer work as president of the biggest Polish organization in Canada.
1989 was the year that dreams started of a free Poland. The Head Executive- ZPwk announced in “Zwazkowiec” (a Polish newspaper owned and operated by the Polish Alliance) a fundraising campaign for the Wyborczy Solidarity Foundation. A sum of ,000.00 was gathered in Toronto for the former President of the Poland – Lech Wałęsa who came to Canada on his first official visit on November 12 1989.
The Head Executive of the Polish Alliance of Canada (ZPwK) was also responsible for helping in building Chronic Care Centre for Children with Special Needs in Glogow, Poland (Dom dla Dzieci Szczególnej Troski w Głogowie) where it gathered money for this important cause. Another great accomplishment from Polish Canadians was the creation and maintenance of the Chair of Polish history at the University of Toronto which was supported by organizing a lottery.
Being the president of ZG ZPwK, Stanisław Godzisz supported the cultural activities of the Place Polonaise in Grimsby. Concerts and theatrical presentations were organized, where many known Polish artists performed. There were poetry and musical evenings, anniversary parties, picnics and banquets.
The main ZP in Kitchener under the leadership of Stanisław Godzisz became the host of a farm in Port Hope, which in the future was intended to be used as a recreation/relaxation facility for the organization and Polish Scouts. The head executive under Stanisław Godzisz’s term undertook plans for the re-construction of the Polish Alliance building on Bloor Street (at Indian Grove) in Toronto.
In 1996 he became a member of Polish National Union-Branch 17in Burlington. At the moment he is a director of the Head Executive of the Polish National Union, as well as, secretary of Canadian Polish Congress –Hamilton Branch.
Since 1992 he has fulfilled many functions with the Canadian Polish Congress such as Vice-Chair of the Rada, the Grievance Committee, the Audit Committee n, the Charitable Foundation, as well as, the Millennium Foundation.
For the past seven years he has been active with the administration of the Maria Curie-Skłodowska Senior’s home in Hamilton, and is currently the Treasurer. He has been active in helping with fundraising for this building cause which will soon serve the people of Hamilton and its surroundings.
From 2006 he has served as Secretary General of the Head Executive of the Canadian Polish Congress.