Fonds 20-029 - Juraj (George) Megle fonds

Juraj Megles was born on March 29th, 1922 in Bažovce, th son of Juraj and María Megles. He completed his grade and commercial school in Slovakia. In 1938, the village of Bažovce was annexed by Hungary. Juraj Megles was drafted in the Hungarian army in 1943 and served as a sapper on the Russian front. His unit was captured during its retreat through Romania resulting in Juraj Megle’s imprisonment until his repatriation in 1945. Between 1947 and 1948, he was drafted in the Czechoslovak army.

Following the confiscation of the Megles' farm by the Communists in 1948, Juraj Megles decided to leave Czechosolovakia. With the help of friends some from Plzen, he first fled Czechoslovakia to the West through the Czech Lands. He then, crossed the border to West Germany prior to the Iron Curtain. Afterwards, he went to Oslo, Norway and finally settled in Toronto, Canada.

Upon his arrival in Toronto, Juraj Megles worked as a dishwasher in a restaurant, at a Polish bakery, an electrical/supply business and at a silver/gold plate store. He also chopped trees Northern Ontario. During the summer, he picked tobacco. In 1955, he worked as a roofer and finally, found work as a glazier in Scarborough for the next thirty years.

In 1975, Juraj Megles moved to Oshawa with his wife Anna Silvasa with her two daughters, Mária and Madgalena. Anna Silvasa passed away in 2013 followed by Juraj Megles in 2018.

Juraj Megles joined the Canadian Slovak League Branch 7 (Toronto) but transferred to the Branch 6 (Oshawa). He was president of the Branch 6 (Oshawa)’s president and contributed to the “Christmas tree” fund every year.