The island of Crete is known for spawning some of Europe’s longest-standing advanced cultural innovations, dating back to the ancient Minoans of Crete five millenniums ago.
Montrealers with roots in Greece’s most-populous island have lived in their adopted country a long time, and are celebrating their 100th anniversary this year.
The 7,000 Montrealers of Cretan heritage are hoping to perpetuate those time-honoured customs for many more generations to come.
One young person at the celebration Sunday told CTV Montreal that the anniversary is an important milestone in preserving a unique culture with deep roots in antiquity.
“We feel proud to continue our culture,” said Georgia Revelakis, of the Cretan Association Youth Group.
To her, that means remembering “Everything that our parents have taught us as well as our grandparents and our ancestors and everything that they’ve been through.”
The contribution of the hardworking Montreal Cretans includes not only building a strong community, but also building Greek Orthodox churches, Greek schools, and of course countless restaurants and other businesses and organizations that everybody can enjoy.
“We’re very strong for our traditions of Crete and our heritage,” said Emmanuel Revelakis of the Cretan Association. “And we try very hard to maintain them and to promote them here in Canada and in Montreal.”
(source:CTV News Montreal)
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