According to the Foundation’s president, Dr. Yiannis Chatzinikolaou, the scholarships of the Foundation aim at awarding the efforts of those “who will excel in the scientific, academic and business fields and will represent and preserve the Hellenic heritage in future society”.

This year’s recipients were: Demetrios Koutsinos (postgraduate Medicine student at McGill University), Josh Debs (undergraduate Law student at the University of Montreal), Katerina Fragos (undergraduate Economics student at Concordia University), Aggelos Georgiou (undergraduate Philosophy student at the University of Montreal), Constantine Kapsis (postgraduate student at the Construction Department of the Concordia University), Aggeliki Makri (postgraduate Medicine student), Markos Maniakas (undergraduate student of Music at Concordia University) and Audrey Olin Sotiriades (undergraduate Communications student at Concordia University).

The key speaker of the event was Alexandros Argyris, a former Hellenic Scholarship recipient, who called on the new grantees to always remember the award ceremony and the Hellenic Scholarhips Foundation for awarding their excellent performance and investing in their national sentiment of pride.

Two additional scholarships have been announced to be awarded in the next academic year: a scholarship in memory of the late academic Constantina Fragkouli, which is open to female students from Greece studying in Montreal, and a scholarship by the Public Bill Committee announced by Mrs. Eleni Christodoulou.

The event was accompanied by the music of young violinist Markos Maniakas and attended by the provincial MPs of Laurier-Dorion, Gerry Sklavounos, and of Laval, Guy Ouellette.

President of the Evaluation Committee was Mr. Roussos Demetrakopoulos and Masters of the Revels for the evening were Mrs. Eva Kechaja and Dr. Yiannis Chatzinikolaou.

Born to a Greek father and a Ukrainian mother in Ontario in 1972, Stroumboulopoulos is the host of one of the most popular evening talk shows in Canada.

Although his name seems too long and complicated to Canadians, Stroumboulopoulos was never tempted to alter it or shorten it for his career. On the contrary, he has turned it into his own motto for all the shows he has hosted both on TV and the radio.

His talk show on CBC Television is called “George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight” and his radio show “The Strombo show”. The Greek TV persona started his career in 1993 as a TV producer and the host of a reality show.

Stromboulopoulos has interviewed Larry King, Zack Galifaniakis, as well as several politicians and other actors over the years. With his very lively and vigorous personality, he did not hesitate to seat the former PM of Canada next to a porn-star on his plateau.

However, the reason why he is so popular in Canada is his humanitarian work. Through his show he has become the official sponsor of the internet campaign “One million acts of green” calling on all Canadians to become active in saving the environment.

Stroumboulopoulos is also famous for his philanthropic activities, such as presenting the “Hip Hop Africa” show, aimed at raising money for the Nelson Mandela institution for children in Africa, or by shooting a documentary film in Zambia on the International Day against AIDS. Stroumboulopoulos is also supporting the Make Poverty History Foundation.

Moreover, Stroumboulopoulos has become a UN World Food Program representative against hunger and visited Pakistan and Haiti. He additionally fervently supports the action of FreeRice.com, a campaign helping millions of children gain access to food.

Although he and his channel have been criticized for hosting the International Film Festival of Toronto in a luxurious hotel, Stroumboulopoulos has so far received six Gemini awards as the favorite TV host of the Canadian people.

Among others, George Stroumboulopoulos will be presenting this year’s Genie 2012 (equal to the Oscar Awards) along with comedian Andrea Martin.

The focus this year will be the Giant Steps Foundation, which was founded in order to offer financial support to the Giant Steps school; the only educational and therapeutic institution in Quebec that caters exclusively to teaching children with autism.

The Giant Steps Foundation is a source of pride for many Montrealers and we are happy to announce that this event is being generously supported and held under the auspices of Senator Leo Housakos and the honorary Chairmanship of Tony Lofredda, Executive Vice president at the Royal Bank. Senators Jacques Demers, Jim Munson and Francis Fox are also assisting this great effort and are lending their support for this worthwhile cause.

“We are proud to partner with the AHEPA Family and thank them tremendously for their continued support of our school. We congratulate them for their continuous efforts in improving the lives of everyday citizens of Montreal” said Nick Katalifos, Chairman of the Board, Giant Steps Foundation.

AHEPA is the largest Greek-American association in the world with chapters in the United States, Greece, Canada, Cyprus and with sister chapters in Australia, New Zealand, Bulgaria, the UK and Constantinople. AHEPA was established in 1922 by visionary Greek Americans to protect Hellenes from prejudice originating from the KKK, and in its’ history, AHEPA joined with the NAACP and B’Nai B’rith International to fight discrimination. The AHEPA Family includes the Order of AHEPA, the Daughters of Penelope, the Sons of Pericles and the Maids of Athena.

For more Information on this event:

Eleni Hiotis
514-213-5849
Nicholas Katalifos
514-816-9641

Mr. Peck noted that Greece may be going through difficult times, but there are investment opportunities on behalf of Canadian businessmen, stressing that Canadian businessmen have already made a huge investment in goldmines in Halkidiki, while they are preparing for other major investments in Greece too.

The Canadian ambassador was informed on the business activities of significant Greek Community members and noted that the Canadian Embassy of Athens wishes to celebrate the 70-year friendship between the two countries in the most festive manner.

On his part, the Ambassador of Greece, Eleftherios Angelopoulos, noted that Greece is rapidly and creatively heading towards reforming the legal framework regarding the possibility of quick investments, inviting Greek – Canadian businessmen to invest in the homeland.

The host of this meeting was Greek – Canadian businessman Daniel Argyros, who owns a major investment firm in Toronto, while many of the other businessmen are dealing with renewable energy sources and other sectors of the Canadian economy.

On the same evening, the consul general of Greece in Toronto, Demetris Azemopoulos, hosted a reception in honor of the ambassadors of Greece and Canada, E. Angelopoulos and Robert Peck, respectively, attended by representatives of the Greek Community in Toronto.

Among the guests was the first Greek – Canadian appointed to Supreme Court, Ms. Karakatsanis.

During the reception, businessman Ted Matziaris announced that, inspired by the Consul General’s activitity in Toronto, Demetris Azemopoulos, he will offer 250.000 dollars for three scholarships in Canada’s best private school for three Greek women who have never had the opportunity to study, due to high tuition fees.

The three scholarships will be provided annually, under the names of Consul General, Demetris Azemopoulos, the Ambassador of Greece, Eleftherios Angelopoulos and Canadian Ambassador, Robert Peck.

Lastly, the reception was attended by the Greek students of Toronto, who in late April, will be holding the Pan-American Student Conference in the city.

(Source: Express.gr)

The director of the Montreal World Film Festival, Serge Losique, stated: “Theo Angelopoulos was the filmmaker of the filmmakers. Greece must be very proud of Theo Angelopoulos, because he produced real cinema without making commercial concessions”.

In September 2010, Theo had gone to Montreal and attended with his wife and producer of his films Phoebe Angelopoulou the gala premiere, which screened the film “Voyage to Cythera” in the presence of many prominent members of the society of Quebec and of the Greek community in the theater La Cinematheque Quebequoise.

On her profile, Pandora agonizes about having opened the box. “I am so ashamed,” she writes, “I’ve opened the golden box and thousands of little lizard-looking creatures escaped! I am so worried.”

Zeus, who according to his profile was born in 1971 BC, “is loving, being king of all the Gods,” but Hades openly disagrees.

“Shut up about that,” said a comment that he left on Zeus’s wall. “Ruling the Underworld is so much better.”

That’s what happened to ancient Greek gods recently when students were asked to make Fakebook profiles for the mythological characters.

“It makes it interesting and exciting for them. It’s doing a research and report, but it’s doing it in a new format,” said English teacher Jack Fraser from Westwood High School’s Junior Campus in St. Lazare, who had students pull gods out of a hat and fill in the date of birth, list of friends, and comments on their walls.

“They are going to have to use their imaginations – it’s an English class after all,” Fraser said, adding that, in a way, he asked students to think about what Zeus’s Facebook page would look like if Zeus were real. “But it has to make sense, it has to fit with the character.”

The “k” is not a typo – he is using Fakebook, not Facebook.

To see a Greek mythology page on Fakebook, visit http: //www.classtools.net/fb/80/2kUabm.

(Source:MontrealGazette.com)

The resignations come a week before the findings of a management review are released, as the company fights a losing battle against rival smartphone manufacturers.

In place of Lazaridis (above) and Balsillie, Thorsten Heins, a former Siemens executive, has taken over as CEO.

Barbara Stymiest, who has been on the board of RIM since 2007, has been made chairman, a post Balsillie and Lazaridis had also shared. Lazaridis, who founded the company in 1984, will become vice chairman while Balsillie will retain a non-executive seat on the board.

Mr. Lazaridis told ‘Sky News HD’: “There comes a time in the growth of every successful company when the founders recognise the need to pass the baton to new leadership.

“Jim and I went to the board and told them that we thought that time was now.”

Mike Lazaridis is a Greek-Canadian businessman. He was born in Istanbul,Turkey to Greek (specifically Pontic) parents. Lazaridis was five years old when his family moved to Canada in 1966, settling in Windsor, Ontario.

At age 12, he won a prize at the Windsor Public Library for reading every science book in the library. In 1979, he enrolled at the University of Waterloo in electrical engineering with an option in computer science. In 1984, Lazaridis responded to a proposal from General Motors to develop a network computer control display system. GM awarded him a $600,000 contract. He dropped out of university that year, just two months before he was scheduled to graduate.

The GM contract, a small government grant, and a $15,000 loan from Lazaridis’s parents enabled Lazaridis, Mike Barnstijn, and Douglas Fregin to launch Research In Motion.

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)

Robert William Peck

High Commissioner of Canada to Cyprus Robert William Peck stressed Friday that his country recognises the Republic of Cyprus` sovereign rights and supports the efforts to reach a solution of the Cyprus problem based on the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

According to an official press release, the High Commissioner, who held a meeting Friday with Minister of Defence Demetris Eliades, said that he looks forward to further enhancing the cooperation between the two states in the fields of defence and security.

The Cypriot Minister expressed the gratitude of Cyprus towards Canada`s longlasting suppport for the solution of the Cyprus problem based on the UNSC resolutions, as well as for Canada`s participation in the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus – UNFICYP. The Minister briefed the Canadian official on the recent developments regarding the exploratory drilling for hydrocarbon reserves in Cyprus` Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
(source: cna)

According to the Canadian newspaper, Greece has become a scapegoat for Europe for the past years with politicians, experts and simple people describing the Greeks as being lazy and working fewer hours than people of the northern Member-States.

This stereotype has been dismissed as untrue time and again. The Financial Post refers to March Chandler, global head of currency strategy in NY, “who points out in his latest commentary that employment data shows Greeks are by far one of the hardest working nationalities in Europe”.

Presenting a chart with the employment data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the US expert shows that Greeks worked on average 2120 hours in 2008. “That was 48% longer than Germans, who worked 1429 hours. Surprisingly, even Italians, with 1802 hours spent at work, outworked the Germans” reported Financial Post.

The Canadian newspaper explains that despite their hard labor, the Greek and Italian economies are failing, while the Northern ones are thriving because they do not require that much hard work but rather, “smart” work.