Video Biography

Cecile Aurini was born in Canada. Her parents immigrated to Canada before WWII from a region in Slovenia called Prekmurje. They settled on a small six-acre farm in Stoney Creek, Ontario. Even though she was born in Canada, she was always considered a foreigner. She received her degree from the University of Toronto and became a teacher in the Toronto School Board. She started as a primary school teacher and eventually became a resource teacher for children with exceptionalities, including blind and visually impaired children. During COVID, she spent a lot of time on genealogy and researching her family roots.

Jože Balkovec is from the Belokranja area of Slovenia. He was a young boy after the war ended, and attended school when it was controlled by the communist regime. He did not join the communist party, and, as a result, realized that there was no future for him in Slovenia. He explained in detail his escape out of the country and the activities in the displaced persons camps. Eventually, he immigrated to Toronto, Ontario, Canada. When he arrived in Toronto, the Slovenians he encountered assumed that he was a communist since he had been educated under their rule. Many Slovenian immigrants arriving in the 1950s were unfairly labelled as communists. He eventually proved that he was not a communist infiltrator.

Fr. Jože Božnar was born in Slovenia. His father left for Canada in 1949 and served his one-year contract in the mines of Timmins. He talked about the confusion in Slovenia during WWII and the impact of communism, which resulted in the exodus of Slovenians to Austria, and then their immigration to Canada. The rest of his family came to Canada in 1954. He completed his primary and secondary education in Timmins, and then decided to become a priest, continuing his studies at St. Augustine’s Seminary in Scarborough. Eventually, he became the pastor of St. Vitus parish in Cleveland. He speaks highly of his family in Canada, discusses the establishment of the Slovenian community in Timmins, and talks about the Slovenian community in Cleveland.

Frank Brence was born in Slovenia. His family fled to Austria in 1945 to escape communism. They eventually came to Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was always involved in the Slovenian community and volunteered with many organizations and activities, such as the Baraga Theatrical Group, Slovenia Parishes Credit Union (now Moya Financial), Dom Lipa, Slovenian independence, VSKO and the Canadian Slovenian Historical Society. He is proud of his achievements, especially his involvement with the Planica Fishing and Hunting Club.

Čekuta
Peter Čekuta came to Canada with his parents after WWII. He grew up in Toronto and graduated from the University of Toronto. He then held many positions with the municipal, provincial and federal governments. He was involved in many Slovenian organizations such as SAVA, Dom Lipa, The Canadian Slovenian Congress, and did some lecturing at the University of Ljubljana. Peter also talked about the commemorative cross at the Martyr's Shrine in Midland which his father designed to honour the fallen domobranci of WWII.

Nell’s father came to Canada before WW2 and worked in the gold mines of Kirkland Lake. When the mine closed, he moved to BC and bought a farm in the Okanogan Valley. In 1948 he married and Nell was born in Osoyoos, British Columbia in 1949. After completing university she was editor for a stock market publication. Then, in the 1980s, she formed various prospecting companies. She founded Corona Explorations Ltd. which discovered the Hemlo gold deposits in Northern Ontario. International Corona Resources Ltd., the little guy, took giant Lac Minerals Ltd., one of Canada's most aggressive mining operations, to court to complain about being misused. After one of the biggest judgments in Canadian history, Corona walked out of a Toronto courthouse with a $3 billion gold mine. It is ironic that she ended up buying the gold mine in which her father worked when he came to Canada.

Polde Jakopin was born in Slovenia during WWII. At the end of the war, Leo was still a young boy and his parents left as did so many Slovenians. The communists took over Slovenia and Yugoslavia and it was not safe for those who opposed the communist regime. The family went to Austria and after a few years in the camp, they came to Canada. Leo talks about his experiences growing up in Toronto, Ontario.

Part 1. Stane Kranjc was born in Slovenia and grew up during WWII while Slovenia was under fascist occupation. After WWII, Stan did not want to join the communist party so his options were limited. Because the borders were closed, he chose to escape to Italy. As a refugee, he applied to immigrate to Canada. Because of a lack of funds, he relied on the IRO for help. He signed a contract and agreed to work anywhere in Canada, wherever he was needed. After crossing the Atlantic, he arrived at Pier 21 and was sent to Edmonton to work to fulfill his contract. Part 2 deals with Stan’s many accomplishments in Canada.

Part 2. After completing his one-year contract in Edmonton, Stan moved to Toronto to join the Slovenian community that was being established there. He started working in a cheese factory and was later hired by General Mills and worked as a fork lift driver. In 1955, he married Elsie and they settled in Etobicoke where they raised a family. Stan was very successful at General Mills and quickly worked his way up to management. He became very involved with the Slovenian community and joined various organizations including the church committee, scouts, the Slovenian Summer Camp, and was an active participant in Toronto activities related to Slovenia obtaining its independence.

Matt Lebar was born in Slovenia in the Prekmurje region. After the war, his family did not leave for Austria during the Slovenian exodus of 1945 as other Slovenians had, but remained in Slovenia where Matt attended the local school. Then, in 1956, the family decided to leave the country and lived in a refugee camp in Austria until they were accepted by Canada, travelling by ship which they boarded in Bremenhaven in Germany. It was in Canada that he learned how to play the accordion, since the family while in Slovenia, did not have enough money to buy an accordion. Matt took lessons from various musicians and then made a career out of playing the accordion. He played for many nationalities and various clubs, and was also successful playing for various television programs.

Henry was born in Ambrus, Slovenia in 1945. Even though the family experienced poverty, it was the disappointment of the communist regime that made him decide to escape. With his brother Joe, they managed to reach France as refugees and obtain work visas. After working for a while they obtained the necessary paperwork to emigrate to Canada. In October 1967, Henry and Joe joined their brother Tony in Prince George. Soon the three Novak brothers started their own logging company, Novak Brothers Contracting Ltd. By 1977, due to their hard work ethic and determination they were able to buy Dunkley Lumber Ltd. Then in 1985, they rebuilt the mill and are now one of the largest mills in the world.

Walter Ostanek was born in Duparquet, Quebec and moved with his family to St. Catherines when he was four years old. He started his first band in 1951 and recorded his first album in 1963. His first grammy was awarded in 1992. Walter appeared on many radio and TV shows and also had his own TV show called “Polka Party” on CHCH-TV Hamilton. He appeared in many concerts, played with various artists and is very proud to have played at the Grand Ole Opry. Walter has won many awards, but the one he cherishes the most is the “Order of Canada”.

Part 1. Jerry Ponikvar’s parents were born in Slovenia. His father came to Canada in 1926 with plans to earn some money and then return to Slovenia. After working in various mines in Kirkland Lake and Timmins, he went back home for a holiday where he fell in love. He then returned to Timmins and soon thereafter, his girlfriend Lucia followed, and they married. Because of WWII, they remained there and started a family. Jerry was the oldest of four children and worked in his parents’ variety store while going to school in Timmins.

Part 2. After completing high school, Jerry attended North Bay Teachers’ College. Upon graduating, he accepted a teaching position in Sault Saint Marie. Four years later, he was promoted to principal at Holy Family High School. A few years later, he joined the staff at London Teachers’ College. He continued his studies and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western University and his Masters Degree from the University of Toronto. Eventually, he was appointed director of the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic School Board. He attributes much of his success to his wife Lillian and credits his parents for providing a strong religious background and instilling a solid Slovenian work ethic.

Agata Žoldoš was born in 1945 in the Prekmurje region of Slovenia. After WWII, the family stayed in Slovenia and life was very difficult. Since their future was not promising, many people left Slovenia even though the borders were closed. So, when she was 18 years old, Agata escaped with her cousin. She talks about her challenging escape to Austria and the hurdles she had to overcome in order to come to Canada. A few years later, her boyfriend also escaped. They got married in Canada and eventually started a business. Her husband was accident prone and she was always there to comfort him. They had five children and her children and grandchildren are the pride of her life.