Edmonton’s Polish Enclave
The presences of ethnic enclaves play an important role in individuals’ identities and their representation within a culture. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, an ethnic enclave is “a geographical area where a particular ethnic group is spatially clustered and socially and economically distinct from the majority group.”
Growing up in a Polish household, the importance of cultural identity was always emphasized and made up a significant part of my life. As a child, I participated in Polish activities, such as cultural dance and scouts, all of which were located in a Polish school, St. Basil, in the Kingsway area. Overall, the Kingsway area is integral to Edmonton’s Polish community, often being referred to as “Little Poland.” This area houses several Polish stores, bakeries, a travel agency, and an event venue, Polish hall. It’s also where you can find a 1913 built cathedral, Holy Rosary Church, located just beside NAIT, with mass predominantly being held in Polish.
However, the aforementioned school, St. Basil, closed its doors in 2022. Once a vibrant opportunity for bilingual education, the school saw drastic declines and changes in its enrollment, as well as with transportation options. Though this may be viewed as a necessity, so as to not waste any funding, it does bring a sense of sadness to the community as the vibrance of Little Poland seems to be faltering. Once offering the only publicly funded Polish-English bilingual in North America, Edmonton’s Catholic school division will now save $989,000 annually.
Despite these social changes resulting from fewer and fewer people immigrating to Canada from Poland, Edmonton’s Polish community (you may also hear this be referred to as “Polonia”) still represents the importance of an ethnic enclave in contemporary society. Seeing as I no longer live with the majority of my family, I’m not really surrounded by my culture anymore. Being able to step into a Polish bakery, speak my language, and eat traditional treats really brings a unique joy that is hard for me to find anywhere else. The sense of community and belonging, while also being able to be part of a social network, is what makes me appreciate the ability to have access to an enclave within the city.
Of course, “Little Poland” is not the only ethnic enclave the city has. We also have a vibrant Korean District/K-Town south of the city, and Chinatown is undergoing major plans for renewal. Some other shops that I’m aware of, but am having trouble linking to any enclave, are K & K Foodliner (German foods and treats) and Yo Baba Ukrainian Foods. Though some people fear that these enclaves are exclusive to the minorities that created them, that is far from the case! I encourage you to check out some of the locally owned restaurants in the ethnic enclaves Edmonton has to offer. It’s a great opportunity to get out in the city, try new foods, and learn about cultures you may not otherwise know much about. I’ve listed some of my favorites below.
Baltyk Bakery
Little Bon Bon Ice Cream
Flurries Cafe
Written by GAPSS member Vanessa W. Cover photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
