AHEPA
Visits Canadian Parliament
Ottawa,
Canada
April 19, 2007
Left
to right: James Giannoulis, Danielle Phaedra Efraim, AHEPA Canada
President Frank Antoniou, The Right Honorable
Stephen Harper – Prime Minister, Supreme President Gus James, Emmanuel Revelakis, Nikos Hatzitheodosiou, Nick Aroutzidis.
The
American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), North
America’s largest association of American citizens of Greek heritage and
Philhellenes, arrived in Ottawa, Canada to participate in Parliament Hill
Day.
Canadian
President Frank Antoniou led the visit and its purpose was to strengthen
the voice of Hellenism on Parliament Hill for AHEPA to reassert itself as
the leading organization for all North Americans of
Hellenic
descent. Supreme President Gus J. James II was a key member of this
delegation.
“We
want to build a solid network of supporters and to create an informational
pipeline with the Canadian Federal Government and thus provide a critical
avenue for AHEPA to voice concerns,” said President James.
“By
visiting Ottawa, AHEPA is acting as the ambassador for Hellenes of the
Diaspora,” said Canadian President Frank Antoniou. “It was a pleasure
to visit with our nation’s leaders and we were pleased by the
warm
reception extended to us.”
AHEPA
met with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Minister of Health Tony Clement
and Foreign Affairs Policy Advisor Keith Fountain.
Discussions
focused on the Cyprus problem, religious freedom for the Ecumenical
Patriarchate, the reopening of the Holy Theological School of Halki in
Turkey, funding for Cooley’s anemia and strengthening relations with
Greece.
