 History and Heritage
Nestled in the hills and valleys of the Wilno Pass, Wilno was once a bustling community on the all-important railway line. Now the village and surrounding hills are dotted with the homes and studios of artists and craftspeople and the abandoned rail-line is a four season recreational trail. Although the original train station now exists only in photographs and paintings, the pioneer spirit is being renewed at Wilno Heritage Park with its authentic log buildings recreating a pioneer homestead where the original station stood.
Stroll along the park paths and flower beds where you will see rocks engraved with the names of some of the founding families of Wilno.
You can visit our museum at Heritage Park for a look at pioneer farming & logging tools, displays of Wilno furniture, Polish folk costumes and colourful Kashubian ceramics and porcelain dishes. Other highlights include antique Wilno Furniture made in the Polish Kashub tradition by Wilno furniture makers. See a traditional panelled storage chest (skrzynia) a painted Wilno table (stol) and a wardrobe (szafa).
Across the highway from the park is the village general store with the original Polish sign over the verandah. Inside are the old wooden postal mail slots where mail can be stamped with the distinctive Polish Eagle postmark that commemorates Wilno as the first Polish settlement in Canada. The general store is also the informal information centre of the Village where... if you don't know, you Wilno...
Just outside the general store is the colourful village information kiosk with its European style shingle roof and storybook style map of the village streets. Its the place to check for accomodations, special gallery events and the location of all our artists and craftspeople.
 Polish Constitution Day
When the Kashubs emigrated to Canada, they brought with them many
traditions including the celebrations around Polish Constitution
Day on May 3. After the long hard dreary winter, families
would come by horse and buggy and wagon from miles around for special
church services and concerts and entertainment centred on the church.
In Wilno, this day of cultural and national pride is still commemorated
each year on the first Saturday in May with music & food at
Heritage Park on Saturday and special concerts and Masses at St.
Mary's. Polish flags fly proudly in the village and the young girls
don their traditional Kashubian costume,antique cars are shined
for the occassion and a good time is had by all.
 Faith and Shrines
The impressive twin spired church of St. Mary, dedicated to Our Lady Queen of Poland, stands high on a rise overlooking the Wilno hills. Built mostly by hand with local labor the church was completed in 1937 and replaced the earlier chapel of St. Stanislaus Kostka which burnt to the ground in 1936. The parishioners of Wilno, then as now, were dedicated to their church and the original cemetery although no longer used for burials is proudly maintained by descendants of the original Kashub settlers
The beautiful stone grotto dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes which is built into the side of the churches terraced lawn is a lovely spot and attracts many visitors.
Behind the church, on gently sloping rise with views over the valley, are the lovely wooden rustic Way of the Cross designed and built by Wilno craftsman Don Burchat. The walk begins at the bottom of the field marked Jasno Gora (Bright Meadow) and as you visit each of the fifteen Stations the route gently rises up the hill by flower beds and statues of Saints along a backdrop of gently rolling hills.
Beside the imposing sentinel of St. Marys stands the 25 foot high Jubilee Cross which marks the occasion of the year 2000 Jubilee celebration... a celebration which happens every one hundred years and which in early Christian times granted freedom to slaves, reconciled households and forgave sins.
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