The Greeks of Toronto, Canada
The Greeks of Toronto, Canada
We often say that “Greeks are everywhere,” and this couldn’t be more true than it is about the Greeks of Toronto, Canada, where the Greek Canadian community is thriving.
The Greek community of Toronto is a great example of how this Canadian metropolis embraces its rich multicultural background, with Greeks being an integral part of the city’s proud historical and cultural landscapes.
The Greeks of Toronto go as far back as the early 19th century. With roots stretching back to the 1800s, the first wave of Greek immigrants arrived in the area right after Greek independence was attained.
From the bustling streets of Greektown on Danforth Avenue to the quieter neighborhoods scattered throughout the ever-expanding city, Greek-Canadians have made themselves an integral part of Toronto’s proud multicultural identity.
When did the Greeks arrive in Toronto, Canada?
The story of Greeks in Toronto is one of successive and multiple waves of immigration coupled with perseverance and a sheer determination for success.
As Konstantinos Kasekas, a board member of the Greek Community of Toronto, explains to Greek Reporter, “Greeks have been part of the Toronto and Canadian culture since the 1800s.” The community grew significantly in the early 1900s between the two world wars and again after World War II. Many fled the military junta in an attempt to live in freedom of which they had been deprived in their motherland by the brutal dictatorship between 1967 and 1974.
Understandably, newcomers faced significant challenges upon arrival, as is true of most new immigrants in just about any country.
In the early 1900s, the anti-Greek sentiment escalated significantly and resulted in riots that saw Greek-owned restaurants destroyed by locals, who accused the Greeks of “stealing their jobs.”
However, the community’s resilience proved strong in the face of adversity. The Greeks eventually dominated the restaurant and hospitality industries of Toronto, gradually establishing themselves as integral contributors to Toronto’s economy and culture. This is the foundation upon which the history of the Greeks of Toronto was established.
The Danforth: A Greek Canadian Cultural Jewel
Today, the heart of Toronto’s Greek community is centered in Greektown around Alexander Square on Danforth Avenue.
Chris Kyprianou, a Greek-Cypriot who runs the “Helios” cleaners on Pape Avenue, represents the typical Greek immigrant success story. Having arrived in the 1970s after the invasion and llegal occupation of his village in Cyprus, Chris joined his sister in Canada, connecting with the thriving Greek community in pursuit of a better future.
The Danforth area, now known as the largest Greektown in North America, is understandably home to numerous businesses owned by members of the community.
Tony Pethakas is the owner of Mezes restaurant on Danforth Avenue as well as the Chairman of the local Business Improvement Association (BIA). He is continuing a family tradition that was started by his grandparents who immigrated in the early 1970s.
“Greeks came as immigrants, were successful, and flourished in the food business,” Pethakas says, echoing the sentiments of many in the community who share similar family stories.
This success is proudly exemplified by the Takas family, which moved to Canada in 1994 and opened a small bakery that has since expanded significantly.
“We try to promote Greece,” Nikos Takas explains, highlighting the efforts of the Greeks of Toronto to keep their cultural identity alive by maintaining Greek schools and Orthodox churches across the city and the country.
Greeks in Canada are not just about the food industry
As Konstantinos Kasekas notes, “After COVID, the pride has skyrocketed amongst the members.” This renewed sense of pride for their shared Greek heritage is also evident in the community’s vibrant social scene that offers great entertainment opportunities to both its members and the wider community of Toronto.
Greek dance groups have up to 800 children who are members, while events like the Greek International Film Festival, Toronto Economic Forum, and the Hellenic Heritage Foundation Gala draw thousands of attendees each year, keeping the spark of Hellenism alive in this corner of North America.
Perhaps the most visible displays of pride are the two major parades held annually on March 25 and October 28. On March 25, Greeks around the world celebrate the beginning of the War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire. On October 28, otherwise known as OXI Day, Greeks celebrate the proud and resounding “No” iterated by Greece’s government in addressing fascist Italy in 1940, thus entering World War II.
During these parades, the Greeks of Toronto shut down a four-kilometer stretch of avenue and attract both Greek and non-Greek Torontonians alike, who experience this rich Greek cultural event.
“Being Greek is something that unites us” is what summarizes the experience of the Greeks of Toronto.
Greek Canadian community in Toronto not a secluded group
However, the Greek community in Toronto is far from monolithic. It spans multiple generations from recent arrivals to fourth and fifth-generation Greek-Canadians. Attorney Dora Konomi, who moved to Toronto at 14, describes herself as a “hybrid – best of both worlds!”
This diversity within the community reflects Canada’s welcoming nature to all. As Konomi puts it, “Canada allows you to be who you are.”
The exact number of Greeks in Toronto is a matter of debate, as noted by a Greek historian who moved to Canada in 2009. Greeks in Toronto are not concentrated in a single area any longer, as the community is now spread throughout the diverse neighborhoods of Toronto.
This dispersion, however, has not impacted the community’s spirit of mutual support. The spirit of community is beautifully exhibited by Eftychia Taka, a grandmother who moved to Canada to support her children’s successful pastry shop.
Her pride in the achievements of her family along with her gratitude towards their customers both Greek and Canadian show how warm Toronto’s Greek community in fact is.