1. (1001) Jarek age 5 under a Christmas tree

(Jan 01, 1968) Klodzko, Poland - Poland, before coming to Canada in 1973

Me at the age of 5 in Klodzko, Poland standing under a Christmas tree. Rather than Santa Clause , in Europe an equivalent character by the name of St....

2. (1002) Jarek age 6 at a school desk

(Jan 01, 1969) Klodzko, Poland - Poland, before coming to Canada in 1973

Me at the age of 6 in Klodzko, Poland sitting at a desk in school located a couple of blocks from my home. Back then, everyone was required to wear s...

3. (1003) Jarek age 6 at Christmas with Babcia, Dziadek and Ciocia Wanda

(Jan 01, 1969) Klodzko, Poland - Poland, before coming to Canada in 1973

Me at the age of 6 in Klodzko, Poland during the Christmas holidays sitting with one of my grandmothers (or Babcia as she is called in Polish), my gra...

4. (1004) Jarek age 6 driving a go-cart

(Jan 01, 1969) Klodzko, Poland - Poland, before coming to Canada in 1973

Me at the age of 6 in Klodzko, Poland driving a go-cart in the outskirts of town. Klodzko was a small city where we didn't get many traveling circus a...

5. (1005) Jarek age 6 in a studio photo

(Jan 01, 1969) Klodzko, Poland - Poland, before coming to Canada in 1973

Me in Klodzko, Poland at a photo studio where my mom would take my sister and I periodically for a photo shoot. Prior to the Internet and a video came...

6. (1006) Jarek age 6 with a toy pistol

(Jan 01, 1970) Klodzko, Poland - Poland, before coming to Canada in 1973

Me at the age of 6 in Klodzko, Poland showing off my holster and my new toy pistol. During my childhood, much of our entertainment came largely via o...

7. (1007) Jarek age 7 in a studio photo with Mom and Renata

(Jan 01, 1970) Klodzko, Poland - Poland, before coming to Canada in 1973

Me at the age of 7 in Klodzko, Poland in a portrait studio with my mother and sister, Renata. At the time, the portrait photos seemed cumbersome and ...

8. (1008) Jarek age 7 with Mom and Renata

(Jan 01, 1970) Klodzko, Poland - Poland, before coming to Canada in 1973

Me at the age of 7 in Klodzko, Poland with my mother and my baby-sis, Renia. I don't recall the occasion but if I was to guess, it would probably be u...

9. (1009) Jarek age 8 at First Communion

(Jan 01, 1971) Klodzko, Poland - Poland, before coming to Canada in 1973

Me at the age of 8 in Klodzko, Poland posing in my First Communion outfit. Over the years, religion played a large part in my family's life and major ...

10. (1010) Jarek age 9 in suit with Renata

(Jan 01, 1972) Klodzko, Poland - Poland, before coming to Canada in 1973

Me at the age of 9 in Klodzko, Poland posing in another studio photo with my sister, Renata. I was never a big fan of suits but my mother always went ...

11. (1011) Building where aunt Zosia and uncle Rysiek lived

(Jan 01, 1973) Klodzko, Poland - Poland, before coming to Canada in 1973

The building where my aunt Zosia and uncle Rysiek lived when I was growing up. Their house was only a few blocks away from my grandma's house and jus...

12. (1012) Church cemetery

(Jan 01, 1973) Klodzko, Poland - Poland, before coming to Canada in 1973

The cemetery located next to the church where my family and I attended church every Sunday. At one time the cemetery was so ingrown with weeds and tal...

13. (1013) Church where Jarek served as an Altar Boy

(Jan 01, 1973) Klodzko, Poland - Poland, before coming to Canada in 1973

The church where my family and I would attend mass every Sunday. Once old enough, I would become an alter boy and serve not only during the regular ma...

14. (1014) City view from castle ruins

(Jan 01, 1973) Klodzko, Poland - Poland, before coming to Canada in 1973

City view of Klodzko, Poland where I grew up before coming to Canada in 1973. Overlooking the skyline from the city castle ruins, one can see the spar...

15. (1015) Coffin Maker Shop behind my grandma's house

(Jan 01, 1973) Klodzko, Poland - Poland, before coming to Canada in 1973

The coffin maker shop behind my grandma's house where I would frequently visit to see the handy work of the craftsmen. Often, I would leave the shop w...

16. (1016) Colorful buildings in town square

(Jan 01, 1973) Klodzko, Poland - Poland, before coming to Canada in 1973

In the middle of the town of Klodzko, Poland were the colorful, clustered blocks of residential buildings and shops stitched together with cobble ston...

17. (1017) Elementary school

(Jan 01, 1973) Klodzko, Poland - Poland, before coming to Canada in 1973

The small building where I would first attend my elementary school classes. The school was just down the street from our house where I would often be ...

18. (1018) Garden and chicken coops behind my grandma's house

(Jan 01, 1973) Klodzko, Poland - Poland, before coming to Canada in 1973

The garden and chicken coops behind my grandma's house where my friends and I would spend many hours a day playing. Behind the garden was a large fiel...

19. (1019) Highrise building where aunt Wanda and uncle Edek lived

(Jan 01, 1973) Klodzko, Poland - Poland, before coming to Canada in 1973

The high-rise building where my aunt Wanda and my uncle Edek lived. My mother and I would often visit her brother on the weekends and as a child I al...

20. (1020) Hospital next to the church

(Jan 01, 1973) Klodzko, Poland - Poland, before coming to Canada in 1973

Attached to the back end of the church was the hospital we passed every Sunday morning on our way to mass. The hospital served the local people of the...

21. (1021) House where Jarek grew up in

(Jan 01, 1973) Klodzko, Poland - Poland, before coming to Canada in 1973

The house in Klodzko, Poland where I grew up as a child. Although my school was just down the street, I would often head down to my grandma's house af...

22. (1022) Pastry shop in town center

(Jan 01, 1973) Klodzko, Poland - Poland, before coming to Canada in 1973

In the middle of town was the pastry shop that I would frequently visit to buy some delicious fresh-baked treats using the few zloty I was given by my...

23. (1023) Planting fields behind my grandma's house

(Jan 01, 1973) Klodzko, Poland - Poland, before coming to Canada in 1973

Behind my grandma's house and her small garden was a large field with various crops planted throughout the season. My friends and I would often play i...

24. (1024) Road-Bridge leading to town square

(Jan 01, 1973) Klodzko, Poland - Poland, before coming to Canada in 1973

Just past the pastry store was a road-bridge leading up to the town square. My mother and I would often cross this bridge either on our way to a visi...