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 […]
By: Christine Rose Cooling, MA Candidate in Communication & Culture My name is Christine Rose Cooling. Nothing about my name sounds, for lack of a better descriptor, stereotypically Greek. That’s probably the first reason why my cultural identity resides in a liminal space of in-betweenness—floating between worlds that I can never fully inhabit. I’ve often […]
By: Yiorgos Anagnostou The project of interconnecting Greek people worldwide is now in full swing. A staple in the politics of the Greek state, this desire for forming a global Hellenism proliferates today in the mission statements of many diaspora organizations. It is expressed, as we will see, in online media platforms, conferences, fundraising initiatives […]
"Diasporic Identity: Performance and Practice." On May 9-10, 2024, the Hellenic Heritage Foundation Chair of Modern Greek History and the HHF Greek Canadian Archives at York University will host the 3rd Greek Canadian Studies Conference. The central theme of this year’s conference is “Diasporic Identity: Performance and Practice.” Participants will discuss how Greek Canadian identity […]
An Event to Commemorate Mr. Michalis Mouratidis' Landmark Donation On May 9, 2024, the Hellenic Heritage Foundation Chair of Modern Greek History, the HHF Greek Canadian Archives at York University, and the Greek Community of Toronto will host "From Press to Preservation: Building the HHF Greek Canadian Archives at York University." Join us at the […]
By: Vasilis (Bill) Molos First published on Vasilis Molos' personal blog on March 20, 2024. "Sunny Ways" "Sferazza—bit of a hard name to pronounce," remarked comedian Sam Sferrazza, adding, "I refuse to change it for show business." Having built the audience's anticipation, the comedian delivered his punch line: "This country got real warm and cozy with Stroumboulopoulos." A […]
Engaging friends and neighbours through a lecture on Toronto’s Greektown or a rebetiko performance prompts reciprocal obligations. Sharing dolmades leads to trying a dosa. A hasapiko dance lesson begets a Haida basket-weaving workshop. These exchanges strengthen our attachment to our diverse society. And in learning about our similarities and differences, we nurture a sense of belonging to a shared Canada, blurring the contours of our vibrant mosaic.
By: Vasilis (Bill) Molos First published on Vasilis Molos' personal blog on January 17, 2024. The 2019 Federal Election By 2019, the enthusiasm that carried Justin Trudeau into power had waned. The Liberal Party of Canada (LPC) won that year's federal election but lost the popular vote by a wide margin. Bruised but resilient, they […]
By: Iason-Nikolaos RodopoulosPolitical ScientistPhD Candidate, Department of History, York University The results of the double Greek elections surprised most people who were closely watching opinion polls between July 2019 and May 2023. All recent surveys seemed to agree that the governing center-right party, New Democracy, would win by a small margin—especially after the anger the […]
Description: The student uprising of November 17, 1973, was pivotal in recent Greek history. The protest against the dictatorship reverberated through Greek communities abroad, especially the Greek community in Toronto and York University, in particular. Andreas Papandreou, a York faculty member in the Department of Economics, founded the most organized resistance movement (Panhellenic Liberation Movement) […]