By: Alexandros Balasis, PhD Candidate in History, York University.
In 1922 Hercules Papamanolis, in his Greek-Canadian Guide describing Canada to potential immigrants from Greece, wrote that “the Greeks in Canada are mostly engaged in confectioneries, restaurants, cinemas, billiard halls, small restaurants, and hat cleaning businesses.” Indeed, from the early 20th century, Greek immigrants were active in various sectors, with the restaurant industry being particularly dominant. From the attacks on Greek restaurants in 1918 to the shared history of postwar immigrants, who worked as “dishwashers” to earn their first dollars in Canada, restaurants were the dominant Greek business in the city. However, does the above extract fully capture the history of Greek entrepreneurship in Toronto?
The “Greek Businesses in Toronto Mapping Project” highlights the history of Greek business activity in Toronto from the 1910s to the 1960s. This project is part of the research program “Greeks in Canada: A Digital Public History,” a Partnership Development Grant funded by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council with the Hellenic Heritage Foundation as the partner and belongs to the digital collections of York University’s HHF Greek Canadian Archives.
The project created an interactive map that displays Greek businesses in the city, categorized by decade and business type. Additionally, when possible, it displays contemporary photos of the businesses, and oral testimonies from owners, employees or customers, drawn from the interviews housed at the HHF Greek Canadian Archives Oral History collection.
Using modern Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools, the project records, maps, and displays over 900 entries of Greek stores, restaurants, entertainment venues, garages, travel agencies, and many other businesses, covering seven decades. The entries are placed on base maps from the corresponding periods, ensuring the highest possible historical accuracy in the mapping. The addresses and names were gathered from Greek business directories, the first yearbooks of the Greek Community of Toronto, newspapers, and archival material that has been donated to the Hellenic Canadian Archives by Mr. Michalis Mouratidis.
This mapping provides for the first time a detailed picture of the professional activities developed by Greek immigrants in Toronto. Furthermore, it offers valuable data for researchers, students, and anyone interested in exploring the Greek history of Toronto. However, its significance extends beyond the Greek community, as it highlights the broader contribution of immigrants in shaping the urban landscape of Toronto.
This project is not just a historical record; it aims to serve as a tool to strengthen the memory of the Greek community in Toronto and promote the preservation of its cultural heritage. At the same time, this project continues, aiming to collect and present more data to cover the entire 20th century. We invite you to participate in this effort by providing photos and historical information from businesses we have or have not yet identified.