Polonia Restituta

Local reporter for The St. Catharines Standard and former Museum Board member, Elizabeth Ascher, had a particular tie with the Polish. She became a tireless advocate for the Polish Relief Fund, raising money, clothing, and hospital supplies for the Polish soldiers in Europe, and the civilians living in a war-torn country. The quantity raised in Niagara-on-the-Lake was second to that of Montreal in all of Canada. Mrs. Ascher, who assisted as a nurse during the influenza outbreak, was also nicknamed the “Angel of Mercy” by the men. The Polish government later awarded her with the Order of Polonia Restituta (seen here), the first for a Canadian civilian and a woman to be honoured.