World War 2 Survivor Talks About Her Life in Poland During the War and Later Moving to Canada.

Preserving Our Past: Ursula Stapko Shares Her Story

The Schreiber Media Centre continues its important work of recording and preserving the history of our region. Early immigrants played a vital role in the development of this area, many of them arriving in Canada in search of a better life, escaping war and poverty.

Linda Williamson, host of the Community Connections program, recently sat down with Ursula Stapko, who was born in eastern Poland in 1940. Ursula grew up in a region once home to a diverse mix of Ukrainian, Polish, Czech, and Jewish communities. That changed dramatically with the outbreak of World War II and the subsequent Soviet invasion, which brought with it forced collectivization and mass starvation—a tragedy Ukrainians know as the Holodomor.

As a young child of just four years old, Ursula witnessed firsthand the harsh realities of life under communism and the brutal impact of war. During the Soviet occupation, her father—an office worker and athlete—was arrested for refusing to train Russian soldiers in skiing. Ursula and her mother were left to navigate an incredibly difficult time on their own.

After the war, Ursula became a teacher in Poland. She recalled the low wages, the constant pressure to push communist ideology in the classroom, and the widespread corruption that plagued the education system.

Nearly a decade into her teaching career, Ursula received an invitation from her uncle in Canada to come for a visit. That invitation turned into a life-changing journey. After a month-long boat trip and a two-day train ride from Montreal, she arrived in Terrace Bay. She remembers being struck—perhaps even a little horrified—by the endless "bush and water" landscape. But it was there that she met her future husband, Roman, and started a family.

A lifelong lover of travel, Ursula eventually returned to Poland for a visit and was heartened by the country’s progress. However, the outbreak of war in Ukraine brought back difficult memories. Ursula sees troubling parallels between the hardships of her youth under Soviet rule and the current suffering of Ukrainian civilians amid ongoing conflict and foreign aggression.

Despite the hardships she endured, Ursula considers herself blessed. She built a new life in Canada and is surrounded by loving family and friends, all of whom feel richer for having her in their lives. Her resilience, humour, and generous spirit continue to inspire those fortunate enough to know her.