LANGLEY CELEBRATES MARCH 25TH
On Sunday, March 27th Greeks of Langley and Fraser Valley celebrated the Independence Day of Greece. A memorial service was held at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Langley. There March 25th was commemorated not only as the fight for freedom of the Greeks from the oppression of the Ottomans but also for the struggle of all Orthodox nations for freedom from their oppressors.
The Greek flag was evident in
the church, the hall and of course proudly flown outdoors. A sumptuous
free buffet provided by the Greeks and other parishioners was served in
the hall after the memorial service.
A LANGLEY HOTEL COMMEMORATES GREECE’S INDEPENDENCE DAY
The Traveller’s Hotel B&B, located at the famous 5 corners in Murrayville (Langley) proudly flew the Greek flag for two weeks in commemoration of March 25th, 1821 –Greece’s Independence Day.
The five-star four-bedroom hotel is BC’s oldest hotel, built by Bill Murray in 1887 to serve travellers heading for the Cariboo gold fields. It is now a heritage site destination for modern day travellers, a popular place to spend a romantic night and bask in the history and indulge in the luxury.
The owners of the hotel, Wally
and Sharon Martin are not of Greek heritage but are philhellenes who are
proud of what the Greeks, ancient and modern have contributed to western
civilization.
THE GREEK CIVIL WAR –PHAROS LECTURE
On Monday March 21st the Canadian Hellenic Cultural Society, Pharos together with the Simon Fraser University Hellenic Studies Program presented a lecture sponsored by the Onassis Foundation (USA) ‘University Seminars Program’.
The lecture took place in the main hall of the Hellenic Community Centre on Arbutus Street in Vancouver. Dr. John Iatrides was the guest speaker for the lecture, entitled ”The Greek Civil War as a Cold War Battle: The Truman Doctrine Revisited”. Dr. John Iatrides is a Professor Emeritus of Connecticut State University and professor at Southern Connecticut State University, Department of Political Science.
President Harry S. Truman
addressed a joint session of the US Congress in 1947, in response to an
urgent appeal by the Greek government for financial and economic
assistance. He stated that “assistance is imperative if Greece is to
survive as a free nation” His speech to Congress became known as the
Truman Doctrine. Professor
Iatrides discussed this initiative of the US in context of the political
landscape and events of that time.
VANCOUVER CELEBRATES MARCH 25, 1821–
INDEPENDENCE DAY-GREECE
The 184th Anniversary of the beginning of the uprising
that eventually led to the overthrow of the Ottoman yoke of oppression is
celebrated by those of Greek heritage all over the world.
In the Greater Vancouver area this event was commemorated by a
special memorial service on Sunday, March 27th at both of the
Vancouver churches, St. George Cathedral and Ss. Nicholas & Dimitrios
Church and also at Ss. Constantine & Helen Church in Surrey. This was
followed by a ceremony held at the cenotaph, outside St. George Cathedral
where the Consul of Greece, the Maritime Attache, representatives of the
Greek communities, Greek schools and other organizations laid their
wreaths in honour of all those who fought for freedom.
The celebrations then moved
into the community hall were a series of speeches were presented.
Addressing the people were the Consul of Greece George Aravositas, the
Consul of Cyprus Tassoula Berggren and the Honourable Stephen Owen –
Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State
(Sport). Poems were presented by a few students, Thalia Karapidaki and
sisters Christina and Anasatasia Kretsoti. The Hellenic Chorus led the
singing of the Greek and Canadian national anthems. The Cretan Society
dance group performed a series of ethnic dances. Appetisers, wine and
refreshments were served
The various Greek schools of Greater Vancouver also held their own
celebrations commemorating March 25th. The biggest of those,
the Greek School of the Hellenic Community of Vancouver held its
celebration on the afternoon of Sunday March 20th at the
Hellenic Community Centre. The program consisted of singing of the
national anthems, speeches, poems, skits, songs and dance. Many of the
children were proud to wear their national costumes, representing many
different areas of Greece. Proudly watching the children were Rev.
Dorotheos Partsafas, Consulate representative George Rougas, Peter Kletas
the president of the Hellenic Community, Janet Gnisios the president of
the Philoptochos Society of St.George-Hellenic
Community and representatives of other Greek organizations. Of course to
the children the most important guests were their family members and
friends. Sandwiches and refreshments were served to round out the
festivities.
GREEK FLAG AT VANCOUVER CITY HALL
For many years now the Hellenic Community of Vancouver has
presented a Greek flag to be put on display at Vancouver City Hall. The
flag is then put in one of the windows to commemorate March 25th.
This year the mayor was not
in attendance for the presentation but was represented by Vancouver City
councillor Tim Stevenson. The small group presenting the flag comprised of
Rev. Demetrios Partsafas of St. George Cathedral, Rev. Dorotheos
Tryfonopoulos of Ss. Nicholas & Dimitrios Church, George Rougas
representing the Greek Consulate, George Bonnis (president) and Peter
Capadouca (vice-president) of the Hellenic Canadian Congress of BC, Peter
Kletas, president of the Hellenic Community of Vancouver, Peter Dalahanis,
the secretary of the Gr. Orth. Community of East Vancouver and Evangelos
Graffos, a member of the Hellenic Community of Vancouver. In turn
Councillor Stevenson presented the group with a proclamation, signed by
the mayor to be taken back to the Hellenic Community of Vancouver.
The Hellenic Community of Vancouver does not seem to encourage
participation by anyone at this annual event but its own select little
group. They do not advertise this to the people at large. Even Patrides
has not been informed of the event for several years now.
More involvement by Greek organizations and Greek people in general
could be encouraged. Perhaps with more people involved this event could be
re-invented for the 185th anniversary next year. Greek children
should also be encouraged to participate at a ceremony featuring the
raising of the flag and the singing of the national anthems of Greece and
Canada. The flag should be proudly flown on a flag pole outdoors for all
to see and not semi-hidden in an upper storey window.
CONSUL OF GREECE HOSTS RECEPTION IN
GREATER VICTORIA
Over the years it has been customary for the Consul of Greece in
Vancouver to host an “open house” reception on March 25th,
commemorating Greece’s Independence Day. Usually this event is held in
Vancouver but occasionally it is held in other locations. This year for
the first time the event took place in Victoria, the capital of this fair
province of ours.
The Greek Community of Victoria and Vancouver Island is located on
the outskirts of Victoria, in Saanich. A new community center and church
were built there in the past few years, with the church only recently
having had its official opening. The community centre, located beneath the
church was the venue for this year’s reception.
The Consul of Greece, George Aravositas and the Maritime Attache,
Nicholas Spanakos welcomed the mayor of Saanich, Frank Leonard and other
distinguished guests from the area as well as the Greeks. Addressing the
people were the Consul, the mayor and the representatives of the Hellenic
Canadian Congress of BC, George Bonnis (pres.) and Peter Capadouca
(vice-pres.) who also journeyed from Vancouver. All those in attendance
enjoyed the gathering as well as the array of appetisers and refreshments
provided by the Consulate.
