Pan-Macedonian Association of Ontario: FYROM Petition

PETITION OF THE GREEK DIASPORA ABOUT THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA (FYROM)
Please read the petition and sign your name at the bottom of the page.

We, the undersigned, wish to state the position of the Greek Diaspora and our friends on the issue of the FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA (FYROM):

The Government of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) has, even before the NATO Summit in Bucharest in 2008, displayed unprecedented political hostility and irredentist nationalism against Greece. It continues to hijack Greek historical symbols and creates doubts about the territorial status quo in the southern Balkans.

The Greek Government has sent in the last few years numerous protests to the Government of FYROM indicating that such actions blatantly violate the spirit and letter of the Interim Accord, and undermine the friendly relations between the two countries. Also, in these representations Greece has requested that the Government of FYROM abandon its irredentist aspirations and demands and refrain from illegal activities against Greece, and to participate in good faith in negotiations to resolve the issue of the name under the auspices of the United Nations. This should be a pre-condition to the invitation of FYROM to join NATO in accordance with the decision of the NATO Summit Conference in Bucharest.

The FYROM government has ignored these calls and instead of focusing on good faith negotiations under the auspices of United Nations, is engaged in an effort to discredit Greece and to avert attention from the international community to resolve the dispute over the name. This conduct seriously undermines the stability of the whole region.

If you would like to sign the petition, please click here: http://panmacedonian.ca/petitions/

The NHSA Convention and Our Sponsors

OFFICIAL STATEMENT:

The Greek Students’ Association at the University of Toronto would like to extend a public notice of gratitude towards the sponsors of the National Hellenic Students Association (NHSA) Spring Convention.  The NHSA Spring Convention was held from Friday April 27th through Sunday April 29th of this year at the University of Toronto St. George campus and Ryerson University. The Convention brought 150 Hellenic Students together in one place to exchange knowledge and link university students of Greek and Cypriot descent to stimulate Hellenism and enrich our culture on campuses in Canada and the USA. The convention had a total cost of $42,200. Raising $42,200 was no easy task, and the GSA commends everyone that was a part of making this convention possible.

The GSA would like to sincerely thank our Event Sponsor, The Hellenic Heritage Foundation and our Premium Sponsor, The BIA GreekTown for their extremely generous financial commitments. We would also like to thank all of our Platinum Sponsors:  Pan Arcadian Federation of Canada, Signature Productions, Pan Macedonian, Philoptochos Board of Canada, Society of Epirus, Chariman’s Brands; Gold Sponsors: Mr. Ted Manziaris & Mr. Louis Agnostasakos, Achaen Society of Toronto, MGM Mechanical Ltd, Mazda of Toronto, Hellas News; Silver Sponsors: The Local Company, PASOK Toronto, Athenians of Toronto, Mr. John Berdoussis & Mr. George Vasilopoulos, Ms. Irene Keroglidis; Bronze Sponsors: Ms. Hara Androutsou, Ouzeri Restaurant, Christina’s Restaurant, Pan Restaurant, Gravity Wireless, Mr. Ken Lioutas, Mr. Paul Nitsotolis for their generous financial support.

Unfortunately, the GSA was revoked one of it’s Silver Sponsorships from Trapezzi Kafe&Bar located at 505 Danforth Ave. A verbal agreement was made between the ownership of Trapezzi and the Greek Students’ Association confirming a $500 (Silver) Sponsorship level.  The agreement included Incorporating Trapezzi Kafe&Bar into the NHSA Convention weekend schedule as the dedicated “Greek Night” on Saturday April 28th and advising all attendees of this information through our itinerary and schedule and to promote/advertise Trapezzi as a Silver Sponsor on our website and Convention booklet. After the Convention, the ownership of Trapezzi Kafe&Bar expressed to the GSA that they would not be fulfilling the promised funding of $500. This has stifled our Association and has limited reimbursements for students that attended from the United States. It is unfortunate that a local Greek business assured student organizations a sponsorship for a non-profit event and has thus taken it back, even after promoting and bringing them business.

Nevertheless, we are grateful for everyone that supported us morally and financially. We will continue to work hard to promote Hellenism throughout youth across North America and to bring the Modern Greek Course back to the University of Toronto. We sincerely thank everyone that helped us bring the NHSA Convention to Toronto.

—

U of T Greek Students’ Association Executive Council

NHSA Convention Recap

After months of planning, fundraising and hard work the NHSA convention has come to an end! It was an immense success with over 130 students travelling to Toronto from across Canada and the United States. The weekend started off on Friday, April 27th with a welcome dinner at Brennan College. Students then went to the Yiannis Ploutarhos concert, for a night of song and dance and a tribute to Dimitrios Mitropanos. Those who didn’t attend the concert went to explore the Danforth and experience what Toronto Greeks had to offer. Saturday started early with breakfast and the day continued with morning panels: New Models: Sustainability and Development and Developing Modern Hellenic Studies Programs. After breaking for lunch and the ‘Student Professional Development Mentorship Luncheon’ we returned to the afternoon panel session: Taking the Initiative: Education, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation. After a day of enlightment and discussion all the students headed to the Danforth for a crazy night, Greek style, at Local Co, Trapezzi Cafe & Bar and ending at a bouzoukia. Sunday took place at Ryerson university for another day of conference but this time directed towards the NHSA as a whole. Elections for the 2012/2013 NHSA Coucil took place with Erini Schlosser and Erini Veliou becoming next years co-presidents and UofT’s own Kelly Kefalianos becoming the vice-president. The convention ended on a high note and the attendees headed home with a lot to think about. We would like to thank everyone who came out and especially the panel speakers and luncheon mentors.

Photos from the weekend can be found here: https://utgsa.com/nhsa/gallery/

NHSA Convention Spring 2012: Toronto

The Greek/Hellenic Students’ Association at the University of Toronto, Ryerson, and York Univeristy are proud to be hosting the NHSA Spring 2012 here in Toronto, Canada! As the capital of Ontario, Canada’s largest city, and home to a Greek Community with a population of over 100,000, the city of Toronto promises to be an outstanding locale for the upcoming convention. The convention will take place over the weekend of April 27-29.

The theme of the convention, as decided by the local organizing committee, is “Hellenic Youth: The Cornerstone of Hope” . The purpose of the convention is to bring together Hellenic student representatives from universities across North America along with esteemed members of the Hellenic community with the goal of empowering students to make a positive impact on their lives and their communities. In addition, students will make lifelong friendships and connections through their shared experience over the course of the weekend.

For more information, please click here:  http://www.utgsa.com/nhsa

 

Greek Film and Foto Week

The Greek America Foundation is proud to present the second annual Greek Film & Foto Week (GFFW) – an event featuring work of talented photographers and filmmakers of Greek descent from throughout North America.


As part of Toronto’s CONTACT Photography Festival, and building on Greek Foto Week 2011, GFFW 2012 includes a film component showcasing work by international filmmakers who share a passion for sharing stories of Greece.
GFFW is hosted in The Burroughs Building – a historic landmark revival, and one of Toronto’s most unique event spaces in the vibrant Queen West neighborhood. The photo exhibit is on view between May 6 – 12, 2012. Opening reception, May 5, 5PM.

 
For more information: Click Here
Our Facebook Page: Click here

Introducing ‘Trojan Women’ – Beyond the Ruins of Troy

“Introducing ‘Trojan Women’ – Beyond the Ruins of Troy”

Location: Greek Community of Toronto (30 Thorncliffe Park Drive, Toronto) Date: Sunday, April 22nd, 2012

Time: 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Presentations on:

  • “The Archaeology of Troy and the Troy of Legend” Dr. Spencer Pope, Assistant Professor, Department of Classics, McMaster University .
  • “Trojan Women: The Enduring Tragedy of Troy” Dr. Kathryn Mattison, Assistant Professor, Department of Classics, McMaster University .
  • “Theatre, Heritage and Society” Dr. Michael Vitopoulos, Assistant Professor, Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics-Modern Greek, York University

A short open discussion will take place after each of the speeches between speakers and audience. Concluding the day’s activities will be a preview of the theatrical production by the Theatre Nefeli group. Please join us on an expedition to a destination not found on any current map… however, its existence is absolutely undeniable.

We hope to see you there!

Kalamata Summer Program 2012

Panmessenian Federation of USA and Canada, the University of Peloponnese, the TEI Kalamatas and the Peloponnese Prefecture (Messenia) present:

Hellenic School for Youth of Hellenic Descent to learn about Hellenic history, culture, civilization and study the Greek language

For students 18-24 years old and teachers
July 9th – August 3rd

Submit an application by April 27th, 2012 – Click Here

Independence Day Parade March 25, 2012

On Sunday March 25th the GSA marched alongside the York, Ryerson, and U of T Scarborough’s Greek/Hellenic Students in the annual Greek Independence Day parade.  It was a beautiful sunny March afternoon and the GSA brought out a record attendance of 20 students, the most from any other University. Afterwards we went for lunch to Megas Restaurant with Scarborough and York’s HSA.  Thanks to everyone that came out and walked! Zhto Ellas!

Greek Week

For the week of March 19-22 the GSA turned U of T Greek! This was the first time ever that the GSA expanded its famous Greek Day to Greek Week.  Greek Week was made up of two bake sales, an electoral debate, Greek Day, a Lamb roast, and the GSA Executive Elections. This was by far the hardest, most exhausting, and most successful event the GSA has ever pulled off.

On Monday March 19th we held our first bake sale at the Galbraith Atrium on the St. George side. A quite venue, we attracted many engineers with our homemade tiropita/spanakopita and fresh Frappes. On Tuesday March 20th we held our second bake sale in Sidney Smith Hall.  We sold homemade baklava, loukoumades, Greek Cookies and many more. Tuesday night we held an electoral debate between our two Presidential Candidates and Secretary-General candidates. Both pairs were asked questions by the current executive council, GSA members, guests, and the debate mediator, George Gretes.

On Wednesday March 17th we hosted our annual Greek Day at Sidney Smith Hall. We served a $5 dinner plate (Free for GSA members) of either Astoria Souvlaki or Messini Gyros with rice, potatoes, and salad. We also sold more homemade baked goods along with Frappes. With record breaking warm temperatures, we moved Greek Day outside to the patio of Sidney Smith and sold our dinner plates to passerby’s. This was also the first day of GSA voting.  Thursday marked our second-ever Lamb roast.  From 7:00 Dimitri Kyriakakis, Kostas Katsanevas, and George Anastasakos set up a 34lbs lamb on a spit and over a charcoal souvla. Throughout the day we watched as the lamb roasted. We served ice cold Frappes, bbq souvlaki on a bun, homemade baked goods. The weather was absolutely perfect as everyone waited for the lamb to finish roasting. Voting also continued as it was conducted by Kelly Kefalianos from UTSC’s GSA, Despina Versallis from Ryerson’s HSA, and Despina Ritsakis from York’s HSA.

Overall Greek Week was a huge success. Please visit our online album to check out all the photos! The GSA would like to thank all the executives, directors, associates, and friends of the GSA that helped make the week possible and all of the members that came out to enjoy all the Free food and vote. A special thank you to our event sponsors/donators: Astoria, Messini Authentic Gyros, Markham Station Restaurant, Select Bakery, Serano Bakery, and Ellas Meat Market.