The UBC Polish Club, formally known as the UBC Polish Students' Society ŻAK, is a cultural student club officially functioning under the University of British Columbia's Alma Mater Society (AMS). The Polish Club is an affiliated member of the Canadian Polish Congress of British Columbia, a recognized member of the UBC Intercultural Alliance, and part of PISK (Polska Inicjatywa Studentów w Kanadzie)'s network of Canadian Polish student organizations. 

 

The mandate of the club is to promote Polish tradition, culture, and language through events involving Polish cuisine, film, as well as dialogue, social gatherings and other activities. The Polish Club also collaborates with other clubs to host and participate in larger, intercultural events and festivals. 

 

Some past and reoccuring UBC Polish Club events include:

 

Socials: 

- Pub nights

- Club nights

- Group dinners

- Annual Polish Club party ("diskoteka") 

- Glow-in-the-dark bowling nights

 

Cuisine:

- Kielbasa / pierogi-roasting beach campfires

- Baking and cooking events (pierogi, pastries, pączki)

 

 

Culture: 

- Polish film nights 

- Vancouver Polish Film Festival group gatherings

 

Adventures: 

- Snowshoe hikes

- Skiing and snowboarding trips

- Ice-skating nights

- Scavenger hunts

 

The UBC Polish Club is open to all individuals, thus one does not have to be a UBC student, nor does one need to be Polish or know the Polish language to participate. Annual membership is available. Membership perks include event discounts, member-only events, and benefits such as VIP for Polish Club parties.

 

The UBC Polish Club is also the primary host organization of the Quo Vadis Vancouver International Young Polonia Leadership Conference, happening in 2014. Quo Vadis is an annual, weekend-long gathering of young adults, students, and professionals of Polish heritage, aimed to foster leadership skills, reflect on one's roots, and to sustain a world-wide network of like-minded individuals. The age range of delegates is 18-40 years of age.