The Polish Scouting Association (ZHP pgk) established outside of is an extension of the ideology of the pre-war Polish Scouting movement started in 1910 in Poland by Andrzej Małkowski and Olga Drahonowska-Małkowska. The Polish Scouting promise is based on service to God, Poland and helping others. The birthplace of the Polish Canadian Scouting movement was Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Prior to World War II, the Canadian Polish scouting movement existed within the ranks of Scouts Canada. At the end of 1939, there were 31 organized clusters and scout troops. The outbreak of World War II interrupted the development of the movement.

With the influx of Poles to Canada after WWII came a large number of young people from India, Africa, the Middle East and Europe, all with scouting experience. Between 1948 and 1951, the first Polish scouting troops were established in the cities of Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto.

The Canadian Polish Girl Scouts Headquarters (Komenda Chorągwi Harcerek) was established in September, 1952 and the Canadian Polish Boy Scouts Headquarters (Komenda Chorągwi Harcerzy) was established in August, 1953. In May 1955, a District Convention (Zjazd Okręgu) was held and the first District Board (Zarząd Okręgu) was elected.

By 1955, the Polish Scouting movement in Canada had united within a formal organizational structure called the Polish Scouting Association in Canada. The Association brought together four organizations: The Organization of Girl Scouts; The Organization of Boy Scouts; The Organization of Senior/Rover Scouts; and, The Organization of Parents’ Auxiliaries.

The Polish Scouting Association (Harcerstwo) in Edmonton was established in 1954 by Jerzy Golas (from Toronto), Reverend Doctor Tadeusz Nagengast and Jozef Lesniewicz. The three men organized the first Boy Scout team and named it after Marshal Jozef Pilsudski. Shortly thereafter, Janina Jankowska-Zygiel began scouting activities with Polish girls. The Boy Scout troop, “Pomorze” (Pomerania), was formed in 1959, and the Girl Guide troop, “Mlody Bor” (Young Forest), in 1966. Three prominent leaders of the Boy Scouts were: Antoni J. Andrzejewski, Lechoslaw Gruszczynski, and Jozef Lesniewicz. Following Andrzejewski’s death in February, 1995, Ryszard Kruszelnicki became Boy Scout leader. Four prominent leaders of the Girl Guides were: Janina Jankowska-Zygiel, Janina Grocholska, Jadwiga Nowosiad, and Krystyna Dembowska.

The Scouting movement offered a variety of activities; in addition to meetings during the school year, scouts participated in summer camps. Since 1972, the Alberta camp has been located at “Stanica Kopernik” at Garner Lake. Polish Scouts from Alberta also participate in national and world “Harcerstwo” Jamborees.

In 2012, the Polish Girls Scouts Association celebrated 60 years of activity in Canada. The Polish Boy Scouts Association in Canada celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2013.

The Polish Scouting Association is a member of the Canadian Polish Congress.