How to Join the Canadian Polish Congress
The Canadian Polish Congress has stood as the national voice of Polish Canadians since our founding, uniting over 100 member organizations and the communities they serve across 14 districts from coast to coast. We exist because the work of preserving Polish heritage, supporting Polish-Canadian organizations, and advocating on behalf of our community is stronger when it is done together. Whether an organization gathers around culture, faith, veterans' service, youth, professional life, or simply the shared bond of Polish descent, the Congress is built to stand alongside it.
Membership in the Congress means joining a network with a voice in Ottawa and in provincial legislatures, access to shared resources and district support, and a role in shaping the direction of Polonia in Canada through a vote at our Annual Members Meeting. It also means something less tangible but no less real: becoming part of an institution that has carried Polish memory and Polish pride forward for generations, and that intends to keep doing so for generations to come.
For organizations considering that step, the path is clear and the conditions are set out plainly, because we take seriously who we represent. Here is what the journey looks like:
Confirm eligibility. Before applying, an organization should review itself against Section 2.04 of the Congress's governing documents. This means at least 15 individual members resident in Canada, a purpose consistent with the Congress's Purposes, a head office located in Canada, and no propagation of communist ideology or totalitarianism, among other conditions. Any gaps should be addressed before an application moves forward.
Hold a membership meeting and pass a motion. An organization must call a duly convened meeting of its own membership and pass an official motion directing its Board to apply for membership in the Canadian Polish Congress. This motion must be certified and included with the application, so accurate minutes matter from the start.
Gather the governing documents. An organization's current by-law or constitution, as approved by its members, along with a current list of directors and officers, must be assembled. These documents confirm that an organization is properly constituted and self-governing, the foundation on which membership rests.
Secure a district support letter, where applicable. Organizations that fall within an established Congress District should obtain a letter of support from that District. Where a District applies, this letter is a required part of the documentation package.
Submit the complete application. The full package, including full legal name, head office address, complete contact information for the president or chair and secretary, the certified motion, the governing documents, and the officer list, should be sent to general.secretary@kpk.org.
Board review. The Board of the Canadian Polish Congress reviews every application within 60 days of receipt. The Board may reach out during this period if any documentation is incomplete or if further clarification is needed.
Approval by Ordinary Resolution. Admission as a member requires an Ordinary Resolution of the Board. Once approved, an organization becomes an official member of the Canadian Polish Congress, with the rights and responsibilities that come with membership.
A complete application also includes a description of activities showing how the organization was established to bring people of Polish origin or descent together in Canada around a purpose consistent with the Congress's Purposes, written confirmation that the organization does not propagate communist ideology or totalitarianism, written confirmation that it supports and will further the Congress's Purposes, written confirmation that it agrees to, respects, and submits to the Congress's Governing Documents, and evidence that it has been actively carrying out programs or activities, or did so in the 12 months before applying.
We have kept these conditions clear because membership in the Canadian Polish Congress carries weight, and every organization that joins adds its voice to a network that has represented Polish Canadians for generations. If your organization shares our purpose, meets these conditions, and is ready to add its voice to ours, we would be glad to welcome you.
🇵🇱 🤝 🇨🇦 Learn more or begin your application by contacting general.secretary@kpk.org.
