Refugees Who Won

Janis Bunkis was born in Latvia in July of 1926. His life and views of the world have been shaped by the history of Latvia—from a free nation, through a devastating world war, years of oppression under Soviet rule, to a newfound freedom and regained independence.



Janis was educated as a teacher, but after the outbreak of World War II, he fought the Soviet invasion of his homeland as a soldier. He escaped from Latvia and the clutches of Communism and became a refugee in Germany, where he met Jadviga. They gained strength from each other as they fell in love and united in marriage.



Together, they ventured to Canada for a fresh start. This new country gave them hope, freedom, and a chance for a better life for their family. Janis began his working career in Canada as a miner and retired as Chief Research Engineer for a large mining company. He never lost his zeal for education and his passion for helping others, as he served for many years as chairman of his region’s school board as well as chairman of his community’s hospital.



The book details Jadviga and Janis’s life story—how two refugees refused to give up, and won!