Wilno is the first and oldest Polish settlement in Canada, founded in the 1850s by Kashubian immigrants fleeing political and religious persecution in Prussia. Located in Madawaska Valley Township, the village’s identity is deeply tied to its cultural heritage, which is evident in its church, architecture, and traditions. The area still celebrates Kashub Day each spring, drawing visitors from across the province.

Early settlers engaged in subsistence farming and timber work, carving out small homesteads along the rugged terrain of the Opeongo Colonization Road. Over time, the village developed modest civic services, and today it remains a cultural anchor for Polish Canadians.

Surveyors in Wilno often work with complex title chains that may include original Crown patents, Polish-language deeds, and handwritten wills. The terrain causes frequent deviation from original surveys, and occupation often predates formal severance. Road allowances and fieldstone markers are common in retracement work.