Calgary woman was planning to leave husband when he killed her and her father, brother says

WARNING: The following story concerns a potential victim of domestic violence and may be upsetting to some readers. For those who have been impacted by domestic or gender-based violence, supports are available here.

The brother of a Calgary homicide victim is speaking out after his sister's tragic death.

Ania Kaminski was shot to death on Dec. 29, 2024.

Police found Kaminski's father, Stanislaw Wardzala, dead at a separate location that same day.

"She was such a caring mother for her children," Peter Wardzala said of his sister. "She was an unbelievable daughter to my mom and my dad. She was an amazing sister to me.

"If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be the man I am today," he said. "She helped me a lot in my life. Without her I was lost."

Police believe Benedict Kaminski was responsible for the deaths.

He was Ania’s husband and Stanislaw's son-in-law.Benedict Kaminski, 38, is seen in an undated photo. (Supplied/Calgary Police)

Police said both deaths are believed to be targeted and domestic in nature.

Peter Wardzala says he is still trying to make sense of the deaths.

He has taken in the family’s three children, who are six, four and two years old, and he plans to raise them.

Peter says that a family fight on Christmas was the last straw for Ania, who planned to leave Benedict.

Peter described the relationship between Ania and Benedict as “rocky.” 

“She comes from an old-school mentality, seeing how my mom was with my dad. If you made a commitment with someone to marry, you’re going to stick through thick and thin, and try and make things work.

“But I don’t know. Violence? I wouldn’t say violence. But the dude (Benedict) never had respect.

“My sister did everything and I feel it was never good enough,” he said. “If there was any violence, I don’t know because my sister never said anything.”

He said the killing happened because Ania went to the house where Benedict was staying to drop off their three children so they could visit their father.

“My sister was just supposed to drop the kids off and come back to our house,” Peter said. 

“There was no separation or anything. She was being respectful.”

Overwhelmed by support

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched by a family friend that has already raised close to $200,000.

Peter said he is overwhelmed by the support he has received from Calgarians, the Polish community, old friends and random strangers who have been reaching out to offer whatever support they can.

“You have no idea how unbelievable the support in Calgary has been and also through our Polish community,” he said.

Peter said his mother and father, who he said worked for Spruce Meadows, moved from Poland to Canada when he and Ania were born to provide a better life for them.

He described his father as “an awesome man.”

“He was an outdoorsman. He used to hunt and camp,” Peter said.

“He just retired – it was this year -- because there was problems a few years ago with getting flesh-eating disease. He had multiple strokes in his life. He had back surgery, got his disc removed.

“Still – even after all the things that have gone through his life, he was the most loving, supportive father, husband -- and especially grandfather to the three little ones.

“He absolutely loved them.”

'Scared'

The family’s three kids have moved in with Peter, along with his now-widowed mother.

He said his mother plans to retire from her job to raise the children.

“I’m not gonna lie, I’m scared when we go home, just me and my mom and the three kids," Peter said. "It’s just hearbreaking because I don’t know how we’re going to explain this to the kids."

Haunted

Peter says he remains haunted by the events that unfolded during the holiday season, a time when police say incidents of domestic violence skyrocket.

“I feel like maybe I could have done something,” he said.

In retrospect, Peter offered one piece of advice for anyone concerned that someone they know may be at risk.

“If this ever happens, when a parent has to drop off a kid to the other parents' house or something like that, please bring somebody else with them," he said. "Someone else has to be present as a support system, as defence, as anything – because you honestly never, never know.”

'Huge impact'

Ania was an elementary school teacher in the Rockyview County school system, where she taught Grade 1 and 2 students.

“She had a huge impact anywhere she went, whether it was the Polish community, whatever school she was teaching at in the Rockyview area, she would do anything for her children,” Peter said.

“She was the most caring, loving mother in the world,” he added. “She was never ever upset at anything. If she had problems, she wouldn’t show it.

“She was always just such a positive, charismatic person – and super strong. A very, very strong woman.”

Autopsies for both are scheduled for Friday.

For more information about the GoFundMe campaign, go here.

For more information about domestic violence supports in Calgary, go here.

With files from CTV's Michael Franklin and Damien Wood and Mason Depatie