Calgary Teacher and Dad Killed by Estranged Husband

What started as a tense holiday dinner escalated into a nightmare, leaving three lives lost and a family shattered. A Calgary teacher, her father, and her estranged husband were all found dead in a horrifying series of events that have left a Canadian community in shock. Just four days after a heated argument during Christmas dinner, beloved teacher Ania Kaminski and her father, Stanislaw Wardzala, were both killed in a horrifying act of domestic violence. Police later found the body of Ania's estranged husband, Benedict Kaminski, whom they suspect was responsible.

A Christmas Dinner Turns Volatile

The events that led to the tragedy began during a Christmas dinner at the Wardzala family’s home in the Kincora neighborhood in northwest Calgary. Tensions flared after Benedict reportedly criticized Ania for the way she was preparing vegetables. Later, during the meal, Benedict became upset when his son chose to sit next to his grandfather rather than next to him, said Ania's brother, Peter Wardzala.

"He kept antagonizing his kid," Peter told the Calgary Herald. "He started to push my sister away forcefully. I almost got into a fistfight with him." Peter added that the argument escalated to the point where Benedict challenged him to fight, but Peter declined, saying he didn't want to cause a scene in front of the children.

Ania later announced she was done with the marriage and said she was planning to leave Benedict and file for a protective order.

Two Lives Taken

Then on the evening of Dec. 29, 2024, tragedy struck. Police discovered Stanislaw's body at his Kincora home after his wife returned and called the authorities. Peter said he believes Benedict ambushed his father, who was disabled, and might have killed his mother too if she had been home at the time.

Shortly after, police found Ania dead of a gunshot wound in her Tuscany home. Her children were inside the house when the murder occurred. "I believe the kids saw what happened to my sister," Peter told the Calgary Herald. "I'm shocked he didn't take their lives, too."

Benedict reportedly fled the scene with the children in his SUV, dropping them off at a relative's home before disappearing.

Although Wardislaw's body was discovered first, Peter believes his sister was the first to be killed.

The next day, after an intensive manhunt and emergency alert issued by police, Benedict was found dead from an apparent suicide near Water Valley.

A Community in Mourning

Ania, an elementary school teacher at Elizabeth Barrett Elementary School in Cochrane, was remembered for her compassion and dedication. "She was the absolute best mother to those three kids; she went out of her way for everybody," Peter told the Calgary Herald.

Five days later, a candlelight vigil was held outside Ania's home in the Tuscany community, where friends, neighbors, and strangers gathered to pay their respects. Flowers and mementos were left on her doorstep as the community mourned the loss of two lives to domestic violence.

Fighting Domestic Violence

This tragedy has reignited calls for increased awareness and resources to address intimate partner violence. Experts stress the need for preventative measures, including support systems for abusers and resources for victims.

Ania's three young children are being cared for by their relatives. The family's resilience in the face of such profound loss remains a testament to their strength. While Calgary continues to mourn, the case underscores the urgent need to address domestic violence and ensure no other family suffers such a devastating loss.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to The Hotline. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

References: 'So heartbreaking': Woman killed by husband planned to leave him after Christmas Day fight, says her brother | Dozens brave frigid conditions in vigil for murdered Calgary mother of three and her father | Funeral for slain Cochrane teacher set for this weekend | Woman Said She'd File Protective Order Against Husband After Nasty Christmas Fight. Then He Killed Her and Her Dad