Piotr “Pete” Nowak (Grant Aleksander), 56 - Father
Pete was born in Warsaw, Poland and along with his parents, he moved from Warsaw to Canada when he was 16 years old in hopes of going to school. His parents were both doctors back in Poland and were very, very religious. Pete struggled to find something he was passionate about in the medical field, and though he wanted to become a cardiothoracic surgeon like his father, he eventually found his passion in becoming a cosmetic surgeon instead. Piotr’s parents died when Niko was a child, and as they had moved back to Poland, he never knew them. He has a very rocky relationship with Niko, and while they don’t outright verbally disapprove of his life choices, he knows Piotr believes homosexuality is a sin.
Julia Nowak (Sophie Marceau), 52 - Mother
Unlike Pete, Julia was born to Quebecois-Polish immigrants. She was raised for most of her life in Krakow, but her parents finally immigrated to Canada permanently when she was 7 years old. Her parents, Niko’s only remaining grandparents, were also members of the Roman Catholic church, and when they met Piotr’s family, they knew instantly that their children would be married when they were old enough. Luckily, Julia and Pete fell in love without the need for their parents meddling, and once they were married (Julia was just 18 when they got engaged). They moved to Gatineau, and that’s when Julia found out she was pregnant with Niko. Niko was very close to his grandparents growing up, though Julia’s father was the one who ordered other members of their church to “set him straight” and so he doesn’t speak to them anymore. His relationship with his mother has been rocky since he ran away and moved to New York, but they’re trying.
Niko Nowak (Antoni Porowski), 32
Natalia Nowak (Vanessa Marano), 25 - Sister & Chloe Nowak (Not pictured), 1 - Niece
Natalia is probably the only member of Niko’s family who he hasn’t drifted away from. She was only 11 when he moved away from home and while he didn’t understand it and at first, his parents barred him from seeing her, he’s still grateful that despite his father’s protests, his mother let them stay in contact. When Nat was 18, she moved to New York and continued to crash with her brother until she found a place of her own. She met and was briefly engaged to a man who was then arrested for fraud, and she was left carrying his child.
