Thousands Join Greek Independence Day Parade in Montreal
Thousands Join Greek Independence Day Parade in Montreal
The Greek Canadian community in Montreal came out on Sunday to celebrate the anniversary of Independence Day with a parade in the streets of Park Extension.
The parade showcased Montrealers of all ages celebrating their heritage. “I have such a great time coming here every year,” said Naomi Kyriakopoulou of the Messinian Brotherhood of Canada told CityNews. “It’s a beautiful tradition, and I love keeping it alive. I’ve made close friends here—it’s always a joy.”
For many, the day was a tribute to the sacrifices of their ancestors. “It’s about a little island in Greece where the Messinians were the first to break free from the Turks,” parade participant Christina Koubarakos to CityNews. Victoria Kokkinakis added, “We’re here to cheer for those who fought for us.”
Tsoliades costumes at Greek Independence Day parade in Montreal
The parade featured striking traditional attire, like the Tsolia costume worn by Emmanuel Orfanos. “My skirt, the Fustanella, has 400 folds—one for each year of slavery under the Ottomans,” he said. “Living in Canada, where we can share and preserve our culture, is what makes us Canadian.”
Amalia Markakis, a Greek teacher at Socrates-Demosthene School with 45 years of experience, reflected on the flag’s symbolism. “The nine lines stand for the word Eleftheria—freedom,” she said. “The white stripes mean ‘freedom or death,’ and the cross reflects our faith.”
Quel bonheur d’avoir retrouvé la communauté hellénique du grand Montréal cet après-midi pour leur parade annuelle!
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What a joy to join the Hellenic community of Greater Montreal this afternoon for their annual parade! pic.twitter.com/1SZJypstE6
— Carlos J. Leitão (@CarlosJLeitao) March 23, 2025
Chris Adamopoulous, executive director of the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal, offered a broader message: “Work hard but enjoy life too. Take care of your families and each other—that’s what it’s all about.”
#WATCH: Montreal celebrates Greek Independence Day with parade
READ: https://t.co/5JF88haXtJ pic.twitter.com/TngJRXbFP3— CityNews Montreal (@CityNewsMTL) March 23, 2025
Last year the prime minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and Canadian ex-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took part in the celebrations. A mix of Greek, Canadian, and Quebec flags waved above the crowd on Jean-Talon Street.
The celebrations for the anniversary of the 1821 Greek Revolution in Montreal and other Canadian cities coincided with similar events in Australia.
The Greek community in Canada
The Greek community in Canada has made significant contributions across various fields. According to the 2021 Canadian Census, approximately 262,140 individuals in Canada reported Greek ancestry, representing about 0.72 percent of the nation’s total population. This reflects a slight decrease from the 2016 Census, which recorded 271,410 Greek Canadians.
Montreal hosts around 64,790 individuals of Greek ancestry. Toronto is home to approximately 90,400 Greek Canadians, making up 1.47 population of the metropolitan area’s population, and Vancouver is home to approximately 14,570 individuals.
Greek immigration to Canada has been notable since the late 19th century, with substantial waves in the mid-20th century. Greek Canadians have enriched Canadian society through cultural contributions, entrepreneurship, academics, and politics. They’ve also left their mark in areas such as cuisine, arts, and community development.