Fonds 20-011 - Imrich Stolárik fonds

Imrich Stolárik was born on January 16th, 1899 in the village of Turzovka, Žilina (Slovakia). During World War I, the Stolárik family suffered from terrible want and deprivation, but in 1919, Imrich Stolárik pursued his education, winning scholarships and taking part in the emerging literary and cultural life of Slovakia. He graduated from the Ján Palárik in Žilina in 1928. For two years he taught school in the villages of Divina and Dlhé Pole in the former Trenčin county and later became a notary. He served in the Czechoslovak army where he reached the rank of sergeant, and after his discharge, he worked for the Czechoslovak and Slovak Department of Taxation.
As World War II ended, Imrich and his wife Margita (Vavro) fled with their six children to Austria where they lived in refugee camps until 1951. In that year, the Stolárik family immigrated to Canada. Living in Hull, Québec (Canada) and working as a labourer, Mr. Stolárik supported his family, studied at night and learned the English language and the Canadian system of accounting. Finally, in 1959, he passed the Civil Service exams and obtained employment at the Dominion Bureau of Statistics in Ottawa, where he worked until his retirement in 1974.
As a strong Slovak nationalist, Imrich Stolárik championed the right of the Slovaks to their independence until they achieved it in 1993. In 1951, he founded the Ottawa Branch of the Canadian Slovak League (CSL) and was its president from 1954 to 1997. In 1963, he was elected to the national Executive Board of the League, rose to Vice-President in 1974 and President in 1978. In 1987, Stolárik was elected Honorary President for Life. He also supported the Slovak World Congress (Svetový Kongres Slovákov (SKS)) and the Slovak Studies Association (SSA)
A prolific writer, Imrich Stolárik participated in the literary of Slovakia while at home and abroad. In Žilina, he served as Secretary of the Anton Bernolák Literary Society. After he emigrated, he contributed hundreds of political and literary articles to the newspapers Kanadský Slovák, Jednota, Slovák v Amerike, Katolícky Sokol and was for many years, the Chair of Kanadský Slovák’s Editorial Board. He was also one of its most prolific contributors of articles and a generous contributor of financial support. Furthermore, he contributed to Kalendár Kanadskej slovenskej ligy to Jednota katolícky kalendár and to Národny kalendár.
Mr. Stolárik also produced several books on the Canadian Slovak League (CSL), on Canadian Slovaks and on Slovak life in Canada. His enthusiasm for Slovak traditions and his spirit of multiculturalism also inspired Mr. Stolárik to launch the monthly Slovak spectrum television program, still being broadcast monthly on Rogers Cable Television. In 1980, he helped set up a Slovak school for young members of the community, which also continues. He was a major sponsor of the Chair in Slovak History and Culture at the University of Ottawa.