Malgorzata (Margaret) P. Bonikowska
20927 Main Street
Caledon, ON
L7K 1R6
Tel: (416) 907-3225
Mobile: (416) 262-0610
mbonikowska@gazetagazeta.com
EDUCATION
1990
1985
1981
Ph.D., Linguistics, University of Warsaw, Poland
M.A. (Distinction), Language Studies, Lancaster University, UK
M.A., English, University of Warsaw, Poland
EMPLOYMENT
1998200319921999-2004
1992-1997
1994-1997
1992-1994
1991-1992
1990-1992
1981-1990
1980-1981
Gazeta Gazeta (Polish-language newspaper)
Toronto, ON
Publisher, Columnist, Culture and Toronto News Editor
www.gazetagazeta.com (Polish-language online newspaper) Toronto, ON
Web Editor
Gazeta Gazeta (Polish-language newspaper)
Toronto, ON
Columnist (“Odczarowac Angielski” ESL column)
FENIKS Polish Film Promotion
Toronto, ON
Vice-President
Gazeta (Polish-language newspaper)
Toronto, ON
Freelance Journalist
LINC, Polish Immigrant and Community Services
Toronto, ON
Lead Teacher
MENTOR Language School
Toronto, ON
Founder, Director, and Teacher
Echo (Polish-language weekly)
Columnist
Department of English and Communications, Seneca College Toronto, ON
Professor
Department of English, University of Warsaw
Warsaw, Poland
Assistant, Senior Assistant, Assistant Professor
M. Rej Secondary School
Warsaw, Poland
English Teacher
AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
1/
6
Canada
2012
2012
2005
2003
2000
Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal Award
Ontario Volunteer Service Award
Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, awarded by
the President of the Republic of Poland
Canadian Ethnic Journalists' and Writers' Club 25th Anniversary Award in
Journalism
Parkdale-High Park Millennium Achievement Award
2/
6
Poland
1988
1987
Minister of Education Award for textbook in linguistics
University of Warsaw Presidential Award for Achievements in Teaching
United Kingdom
1988
1984-1985
Oxford Hospitality Scholarship for Polish Scholars, Oxford University,
Great Britain
British Council Scholarship, M.A. in Language Studies, Lancaster
University, UK
PUBLICATIONS & CONFERENCES
Canada
19922010
2010
1998
1996
1994
1992
Author of hundreds of columns and news articles for Gazeta Gazeta (Polish
language newspaper)
“Social and Political Response to ‘Solidarity’ in Canada.” Presentation at
the International Conference “The World towards Solidarity”, University of
Wroclaw, Poland
“What Can We, the Ethnic Press, Do for the Immigrant English Language
Learner?" Presentation at the National Language & Cultural Expo 2010,
Toronto, ON
“Crime Prevention in the Polish Community.” Presentation at the
conference “Creating Safe and Healthy Communities: What Can Be
Done?" Mississauga, ON
Workshop on Language Awareness as Professional Development for ESL
Teachers, Polish Immigrant Community Services, Toronto, ON
Odczarowac Angielski (translated title Demystifying English). Mentor
Language Press, Toronto, ON (Book on ESL for Polish immigrants to
Canada)
“Language Awareness.” Presentation at Ontario College Conference,
McMaster University, Hamilton, ON
Poland
1980-1990
1980-1990
Published over a dozen academic publications in linguistics and language
teaching in Polish and British peer-reviewed journals
Presented academic papers at international conferences
3/
6
INTERPRETING AND TRANSLATION
1997-
2011
2010
2006
2003
1987
Provided freelance interpretation (Polish-English and English-Polish) for
press conferences of filmmakers, directors, actors, and other public figures
at various cultural events
Translated legal documents for Strype Barristers, Toronto, ON
Provided simultaneous interpretation during visit of Righteous Among
Nations from Poland, Toronto, ON
Provided simultaneous interpretation for the Government of Poland
delegation, OECD International Conference, Toronto, ON.
Edited and translated Polish-language version of Official Souvenir Album World Youth Day in Toronto, published by Novalis and Gazeta (the only
non-official language version of the album)
Translated two chapters for a textbook in linguistics, University of Warsaw,
Poland
CULTURAL LEADERSHIP AND VOLUNTEERING
Organizational Work
19961997-1999
Co-founder, Head of Culture and Education, and Spokesperson for
“Polonia for the Future” (Polish community organization)
Board member, Community Folk Art Council of Metropolitan Toronto
Film and Performing Arts
2008
Organized and hosted a screening of British filmmaker Wanda Koscia's documentary “The
2004-2006
Selected films and hosted screenings at the Toronto European Film Festival
in Toronto “Eh! U - Meet the Europeans”
2005 & 2006 Hosted the Annual Polish Film Festival, Ann Arbor, Michigan
2004
Organized and hosted the Canadian visit and concerts of Polish choir
"Redemptoris Mater" from Torun, Poland
2003
Provided simultaneous interpretation for Polish director Marek Lechki at
the screening of his film "Moje miasto" ("My Town"), Toronto
International Film Festival, Toronto, ON
2003
Co-organized and hosted the North American gala premiere of A. Wajda's
“Zemsta” (“Revenge”), Odeon Theatre, Mississauga, ON
2003
Assisted the Cinematheque Ontario with film retrospectives of Polish film
directors Andrzej Wajda and Andrzej Munk
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6
2003
2000-2005
1995-2003
1999-2003
2001
2000
1999
1995-1998
Organized and hosted the Canadian visit and concerts in Toronto of Polish
youth choir “Scholares Minores Pro Musica Antiqua” from Poniatowa,
Poland
Organized a Polish Film Discussion Club, presented monthly screenings of
Polish films and conducted discussions afterwards, Mississauga, ON
Co-organized and hosted the annual Toronto Polish Film Festival, Toronto
and Mississauga, ON
Organized distribution of five Polish films in Ontario and Canada and
hosted the film screenings
Presented Polish film "Yellow Scarf" at the Rendezvous with Madness
Film Festival, Toronto, ON
Organized and hosted screenings and organized subsequent Canadian
distribution of documentary “A Forgotten Odyssey” by British filmmakers
Jagna Wright and Aneta Naszynska on the mass deportations of Polish
citizens to the Soviet Union during World War II
Hosted the North American gala premieres of two Polish historical
megaproductions: J.Hoffman's “With Fire and Sword” and A.Wajda's “Pan
Tadeusz” at the Hummingbird Centre for the Arts, Toronto, ON
Hosted classical music concerts of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra,
Toronto, ON
Media
2009-
Co-created and managed Polonium, a website featuring news about Poland
as presented in English-language media around the world
(media coverage of the project: 2011 “Poles Apart.” Article in the Ryerson
Review of Journalism on the Polonium online initiative; OMNI TV
program)
1998-1999
1994-1996
1992-1994
Hosted phone-in radio show "Studio PP", Radio 530 AM
Co-founded and hosted “Studio 530”, Radio 530 AM
Created and ran an ESL segment on “Radio Zet” weekly radio show,
Radio 530 AM
Polish History
2005
Organized and supervised organizing team for exhibit “The Birth of
Freedom: 25th Anniversary of Solidarity in Poland", hosted the opening
ceremony at Mississauga Central Library. Exhibit also presented at libraries
in Oshawa and Windsor, ON
5/
6
2005
Hosted the “Solidarnosc: A Musical Tribute in Honour of the 25th
Anniversary of Solidarity” concert by Toronto Sinfonietta with Maciej
Jaskiewicz, Toronto, ON
2003
Co-organized and hosted Polish Independence Day - 11th November
Commemorative Concert, Mississauga, ON
2001
Created the idea and supervised organizing team for exhibit “Attack on
Freedom - 20th Anniversary of Martial Law in Poland,” hosted the opening
ceremony with lecture by legendary Poland's opposition leader Kornel
Morawiecki (interpreted from Polish into English for his interveiw with
The Toronto Star), Mississauga Central Library
2000
Organized and hosted an event to commemorate the 20th anniversary of
Solidarity at the UofT with the lecture of Prof. Jerzy Holzer (historian,
Polish Academy of Sciences) and screening of documentary “Workers 80”,
Toronto, ON
1998- 2004 Co-organized (with Polonia for the Future) and hosted annual 3rd May
Polish Constitution Day on Roncesvalles outdoor events (concerts, exhibits,
children's activities), Toronto, ON
Polish-Jewish Dialogue
2011
2009
2009
2007
2007
2006
2005
Assisted actors in preparing for Canadian premiere of Polish playwright
Tadeusz Slobodzianek's play “Our Class”, Toronto, ON
Participated in five-member panel presentation and discussion on Emotive
Aspects of Polish-Jewish Relations, Lodzer Centre, Toronto, ON
Interpreted for a group of Polish Righteous Gentiles and Holocaust
survivors visiting Jewish school and nursing home in Toronto with Poland's
secretary of state Ewa Junczyk-Ziomecka and director of development for
the Jewish museum Ewa Wierzynska, Toronto, ON
Provided simultaneous interpretation at the University of Toronto’s lecture
of Prof. Romuald J. Weksler-Waszkinel (Catholic University of Lublin,
Poland) – a Catholic priest of Jewish origin and Holocaust survivor saved
by a Polish family, Toronto, ON
Provided simultaneous interpretation at the University of Toronto lecture
on Righteous among Nations by Ewa Junczyk-Ziomecka, Undersecretary
of State in the Office of the President of Poland.
Co-organized the 2006 Holocaust Education Week's program “PolishJewish Relations in Post-Communist Poland: Old Bigotries, New
Attitudes” by Andrew Rajcher from Australia (in collaboration with the
Polish-Jewish Heritage Foundation)
Participated in three-member panel presentation and discussion on PolishJewish Relations at Lodzer Centre, Toronto , ON
6/
6
2002-2004
2004
2004
Co-organized film screenings “Jewish Issues in Polish Film” with PolishJewish Heritage Foundation, including the premiere screening of Roman
Polanski's “The Pianist” (co-hosted the screening), Toronto, ON
Spoke on behalf of Polish-Canadian community at the inauguration of the
internationally renowned photo exhibit “And I Still See Their Faces,” BCE
Place, Toronto, ON
Spoke at event celebrating the life and writing of Polish-Jewish writer and
academic Symcha Symchowitz
Community Volunteer Work
2006200320022004
1999-2004
2002
2002
2000-2001
2000
1998
Promoted annual charity campaign in Canada for the Great Orchestra of
Christmas Charity in Poland
Organized activities for children at the annual International Children's Day
Cruise on Lake Ontario, Toronto, ON
Provided language consulting, proofreading and editing advice in Polish
and English to individuals and organizations
Co-organized charity concert to raise money for survivors of the tsunami in
Koh Phi Phi, Thailand.
Promoted charity campaign “Save A Life” run by Dr. Jadwiga Wojtczak of
the Charitable Foundation of the Canadian Polish Congress to diagnose and
treat sick children from the former Soviet Union in Polish hospitals
Designed, organized, and ran campaign “Adopt a Polish family in Georgia”
to help Polish families in the former Soviet Union
During World Youth Day in Toronto organized accommodation in Toronto
families of a group of pilgrims from Poland, Toronto, ON
Organized and promoted campaign to support the Sklarzyk family, a Polish
family deported to Poland from Canada
Co-organized and co-hosted the Canadian Polish Congress conference
“Polonia in the New Millennium”
Organized Polish contingent to participate in building the Adventure
Playground in High Park, Toronto, ON
MEDIA APPEARANCES
Television and Radio
2011
2010
2010
Interview about Polonium online initiative, OMNI TV
Live program on Smolensk plane crash, CTV
Interview about Smolensk plane crash, CBC TV
7/
6
2010
200920092000-2010
2000-2010
2007
2007
2005
2005
2003
2003
Interview about Ron Davis, a Canadian musician influenced by Polish
musical tradition, CBC TV “Tapestries”
Weekly commentaries, Radio Bis, Hamilton, ON
Occasional commentaries (Polish and English) on Canadian issues, CJAM
Radio, Windsor, ON
Multiple interviews on Polish-Canadian cultural issues and community
initiatives, OMNI TV
Multiple panel discussions on Canadian issues, OMNI TV
Interview about the Dziekanski case, CBC TV
Live reporting for Polish television on Queen's Park demonstrations
surrounding the Dziekanski case, TVN
Interview the about Solidarity movement – an hour-long phone-in TV
program “25th Anniversary of Solidarity in Poland”, Rogers Cable 10
(Daytime Peel)
Interview about Pope John Paul II, CBC TV
Interview about Polish Christmas Traditions, Canada AM
Interview about the Toronto Polish Film Festival, CBC Radio
Press
1997-2005
2004
Interviews with Polish-Canadian and Canadian press about Polish film
festivals, Polish film screenings, Solidarity exhibits, and other cultural
events
Letter of the Day and debate with Michael Coren, Toronto Sun
OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
1985-1990
1983-1990
1982-1990
Conducted examinations of the finalists in the national English Language
Olympiad, University of Warsaw, Poland
Designed and supervised entrance examinations at the Department of
English, University of Warsaw, Poland
Organized and supervised the annual Summer School for the faculty of
English departments at Polish universities.
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6