On September 24th, a recognition plaque was unveiled in the common garden of Copernicus Lodge, honouring Victoria Malec – a woman whose life and story are close to the hearts of many Polish Canadians.
My mother was born in 1909 in Poland. She came to Canada in 1930, like so many of her countrymen at the time — full of hope for a new and better life. Four years later, she married Jozef, and together they made their home on Dufferin Street, where warmth and family filled the house for decades.
When Jozef passed away in 1983, my mother stayed in that same house for nearly 14 more years. She was very independent and strong-willed — she refused to even consider moving. But as time went on, her health began to decline. Climbing the stairs became impossible, and eventually she could stay only on the main floor, unable even to step outside.
My brother Henryk and I did everything we could to help her. Still, she kept saying she would never go to a seniors’ home, that she would “stay in her own house to the end.” Yet we knew how difficult her everyday life had become.
In 1997, we came up with a solution. We suggested that she move to Copernicus Lodge just for one month. She would keep the house — and if she didn’t like it, she could always return. I don’t remember exactly what arrangements we had with Copernicus, or how much money we might have lost if she stayed only a month, but we both felt it was worth trying.
To our surprise, after only a few weeks she said, “I’m staying. Sell the house.”
The two years she spent at Copernicus Lodge were truly good ones for her. She no longer had to worry about stairs. She lived in a self-care apartment, still able to do many things on her own, with help nearby whenever she needed it. Every day she enjoyed meals and conversations with friends — both old and new — and best of all, everyone spoke Polish. It gave her great joy and a sense of belonging.
When Henryk passed away in 2022, he decided in his will to honour the wonderful time our mother had spent at Copernicus Lodge. Out of gratitude for the care, kindness, and dignity she had experienced there, he made a significant bequest to the Copernicus Lodge Foundation.
And so, in September, the plaque dedicated to Victoria Malec was unveiled in the common garden of Copernicus Lodge. It stands as a symbol of love, gratitude, and remembrance — of a woman who found peace there, and of a son whose heart was deeply touched by her happiness.
Henryk’s wife, Wendy, and I are deeply moved and grateful for this beautiful tribute. The plaque is more than just a marker — it is a story of our family, a testament to a son’s love for his mother, and a lasting bond between our family and Copernicus Lodge.
