Maria Adamowska-Panaro (1902-1989), social activist. In 1911, she arrived in Canada. Here she completed primary school and higher education - St. John's Technical High School. She later studied accounting and administration. She began her professional work as a stenographer in a law firm. She then became a manager of various departments of labour and commercial firms in the Winnipeg area. She also served as secretary of the Polish Consulate in that city from 1920 to 1925. After thirty-six years with Arenovitch and Leisic, she retired from the firm, devoting herself to community service. She was appointed director of the International Centre. During this time, Maria Panaro was also very active in the Catholic Women's Leaque organisation, the Polish Women's Federation of Canada and the Canadian Polish Congress, Manitoba District. In 1973, she became a member of the Copernicus Committee in the province of Manitoba. In 1983, she was awarded the Order of Canada (Member), the highest honour in the 'land of the maple leaf', for her work.