Anton, Zofia, Ted and Bill Warelis

Anton Warelis was born on February 9, 1897 in Nataly, Poland to Vincenti and Ewa Warelis. Like many of the young men of his era he served in World War I and was hospitalized for nine months in Prague after sustaining severe injuries to his back and neck during the war. Zofia Warelis (nee Milcharek) was born on December 25, 1905 to Stephan and Mary Milcharek in Mlynow, Poland. Anton and Zofia were married on November 15, 1924.

Anton and Zofia lived in Poland for four years on a farm. During this time they applied for landing papers to Canada. When the applications were approved, Anton and Zofia left their homestead in Poland, as thousands had before them, to seek a new life. On August 17, 1929, they immigrated to Canada with their two children Tadeusz (Ted) and Boleslaw (Bill) aboard the Polish ship Oscar II. After a lengthy journey across the Atlantic Ocean they arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia on August 30, 1929 and landed at Pier 21.

After Anton and Zofia cleared customs they boarded a train to Ethelbert, Manitoba. They settled in the small rural community of Ukraina. When they arrived they had no home to live in. That winter they stayed with Frank and Jean Warelis (brother), who immigrated to Canada in July 1929. They lived with Frank and Jean until August 1933, after which they purchased a "homestead" at Ukraina.

The homestead, which was purchased from the Federal Government for $10, was 160 acres of land with bush, rocks, trees and swamp but no buildings. In the early stages life was difficult. The land had to be cleared manually and buildings had to be constructed. The hours were long and progress was slow with a lot of sweat, tears, frustration and suffering. Work on the homestead began in the spring of 1930. They worked to clear their land and build a home. This took some time. Anton, Zofia and family didn't move into their new home until the summer of 1933. Initially the new house didn't have any glass in the windows so the windows were covered with blankets to keep the cold out.

During this time Julian was born on February 16, 1930. Wanda followed on May 28, 1932. Now they had four children to feed and clothe. They received no assistance or medical care of any kind from the government. In 1930 the Depression came which added to hardships they faced. During the Depression, life was especially difficult but they were happy to be living in Canada.

Anton and Zofia continued to chop down trees, pull roots and stumps and pick stones to clear more land. On August 18, 1935, twins Edward and John were born. John lived for only six weeks. There was a doctor in the hospital at Ethelbert but it was too far away to get to the doctor using horses. They had no cars at the time. Zygmunt was born on September 17, 1938. Tragically, he died after being thrown from a horse on September 8, 1956.

As the children reached school age they had to travel 2½ miles to Taras School. Grandfather Stephan Milcharek built a caboose that was pulled by a sleigh and on horse to take the children to school in the winter. Before that, Anton had to take the children to school by horse and sleigh. It was very cold and there was plenty of snow. Wanda was so small she could not make it to school on her own sometimes and Bill had to carry her.

In 1944, Anton and Zofia bought a farm in Doroshenko district. The farm had 2½ quarters (400 acres) of land. The family moved in 1945. They worked the land with horses (no tractors). World War II had just ended and the only people that were able to buy a tractor were soldier returning from the war. Finally they were able to purchase a second hand Wallis tractor in 1947. Working the land with the tractor was easier than working with the horses.

In 1950 they purchased a second hand Pontiac that was shared by the whole family. In 1952 they got a brand new Ford sedan. Hydroelectric power also came in 1952. Things were beginning to get better. In October, Anton and Zofia, with Julian driving, went to Ontario to visit their son Boleslaw (Bill) and his family, Anton's brother Bolek in Hamilton and some friends in St. Catherine's and Niagara Falls. They traveled back to Manitoba via the United States. On the way they hit a deer but luckily no one was hurt and no damage was done to the car.

Anton and Zofia continued to work on the farm until 1962. They bought a house in the village of Ethelbert and retired from their life of hard work, in August 1962. November 15, 1984 they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

In 1973 they went back to Poland to visit their relatives whom they had not seen since 1929 when they left Poland for Canada.