Thousands of Greeks of all ages in Montreal on Sunday attended annual parade and events commemorating Greece’s Independence Day. The city’s mayor, Dennis Coderre was the master of ceremonies. Despite the freezing cold, students of Greek schools and members of Greek clubs paraded with pride and excitement along Jean Talon Boulevard.
The March 23 events were attended by the Consul General of Greece in Canada, Thanos Kafopoulos, and Nicholas T. Pagonis, president of the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal, as well as Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau, Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of Quebec Gerry Sklavounos, Montreal’s Deputy Mayor Mary Deros and other officials.
The Consul General emphasized that the Greek community of Canada is one of the most important across the world, maintaining its Orthodox faith and culture. Kafopoulos also referred to the great exhibition “The Greeks”, in which more than 500 exhibits of 22 Greek museums will be presented for the first time outside Greece, in Montreal, in December and then in Ottawa, Chicago and Washington.
Meanwhile, during a commemorative event held at the Greek Community Centre on Friday, March 21, in the presence of the mayor, Greek dentist Theodore Halatsis was honored with the title “Greek of the Year” for his long and continuous contribution to Hellenism.
The Greek community of Toronto also celebrated the occasion with a spectacular parade of 3,000 students and members of Greek organizations, in Danforth Avenue. The parade was attended by Metropolitan Sotirios of Toronto, Consul General of Greece Dimitris Azemopoulos, and president of the Greek community Antonis Artemakis, as well as other local and national politicians.
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