Around & About BC
by Dimitrios & Katerina Angelatos
A SUMMER
REVIEW
As always many Greek-Canadians made the trip to Greece during the summer. However, those that remained behind had not forgotten the home of their ancestry. They tried to bring a part of Greece to Canada. The beginning of summer always arrives with a flutter of activities within the Greek communities and organizations around Vancouver as they prepare to share their culture with others here through their annual summer festivals.
HELLENIC
CULTURE MONTH / BROADWAY GREEK DAY
The Greek Day on West Broadway, which for many reasons hit its demise in 1988, was revived in 2005 by the Hellenic Canadian Congress of BC. It has now evolved in to a month of cultural activities culminating in the final event ”Greek Day on Broadway”. The list of sponsors has also grown over the years. Of course all of this would also not be possible without the help of the numerous volunteers.
The kick off to the Hellenic Cultural month was the Hellas Expo event held at the downtown branch of the Vancouver Public Library on June 2nd from noon until 2pm. This featured a display of books, icons, Greek foods and medicinal herbs, performances by the Alexander the Great dancers and the Xastouki band, tavli lessons and storytelling of Greek myths and legends. On display for the month was a glass showcase of Greek costumes, embroidery, pottery and other items. The coordinator for this event was the librarian Sophia Karasouli-Milbar.
The Canadian Western Bank on Broadway (formerly the Greek bank) also had a display of art throughout the month of June, as did many other business in the area.
A Greek film festival was also part of the month’s activities. On June 7th the film “You Will Regret It” was shown at the 5th Avenue Cinema on Burrard Street. This was followed on June 19th with two more films, “The Canary Yellow Bicycle” and “Fading Light”.
On the evening of June 15th the featured event was “Laiki Vradi”, a night of music and dance at the main hall of the Hellenic Community Centre of Vancouver. The music was provided by the group “Selinounda” consisting of Laura Blumenthal (percussions/vocals), Evie Katevatis (vocals/baglamas), Dan Dittrick (guitar), Tim Koutsandreas (bass), Thomas Makris (vocals, baglamas), John Mavrogeorge (guitar/vocals), Bill Vlahos (vocals) and George Yioldassis (bouzouki). As well there were select dance performances by Dimitri’s Dance School. The admission fee of $50 included a meze plate.
The final event of course was the Greek day on Broadway on June 24th, the first Sunday of the summer. This year the event’s main host was Krinos. West Broadway, between MacDonald and Blenheim was closed to traffic. The area was fenced off with only a few points of entry to ensure that cars could not make their way into the area. The day dawned with the threat of rain and with fears that it would be a “wash-out” but by noon the sun was out. Several rain showers throughout the day did not dampen the spirits of those in attendance as the crowd was at least equal, if not better than last year.
There were two stages, one towards either end of the festival grounds where dance performances were held throughout the day. The Krinos main stage also featured the opening ceremonies and the evening concert. Children had a special area dedicated to them, with slides, games, crafts, face painting and balloons. A baby change station was also provided. There were street performers throughout the grounds. Food booths were set up by various societies and businesses. The Hellenic Experience tent featured samplings of Greek tea, coffee, honey, visinada, vanilla mastic and olive oil. As well one could get a lesson on Greek herbs and their medicinal values. The Krinos tent also featured food sampling of their products. The Boutari Wine Culinary stage featured a varied selection of regional cooking styles. One could also purchase “Amphora” pottery or watch it being made. There was also a display of paintings and photography from Greek artists as well as an icon display. Greek Day merchandise and raffle tickets were also available. While the organizers of the Greek day should be commended for their efforts in staging this event they should also be aware of its major fault, namely the lack of tables. The booths were far apart and very selective in their sales so people had to stand in numerous line-ups but once they got
2.
their food there was no place to put it down. You needed to be an octopus or a juggler to manage a beverage in one hand, a souvlaki or gyros in the other while trying to push a baby in the stroller and keep hold of a toddler or hold on to a purse or camera. As people had no place to put their food a number of them were using the top of the garbage containers. The only other recourse was to sit down on the dirty street curb which was wet from the rain showers during the day. People who hard a hard time juggling their food this year will be reluctant to return next year. Without an increase in food sales the organizers face the possibility of losing more of the food booths and the revenue these generate. Perhaps they should go and have a talk with the organizer of the past Coquitlam Greek days who can fill them in on the importance of the tables and chairs. The extra money spent on tables and chairs for a day would result in better overall sales and increased crowds. If the organizers don’t provide the proper amenities, namely tables, they are only shooting themselves in the foot.
GREEK
SUMMER FEST – EAST VANCOUVER COMMUNITY
The 10 day annual summer fest of the Greek Orthodox Community of East Vancouver (Ss. Nicholas & Dimitrios Church) took place from June 29th to July 8th. The community was prepared for rain or shine as most the grounds of the church, located on Boundary Road in east Vancouver were covered in giant tents to shelter the stage, the cooking and serving area as well as most of the dining area. During the week days it was mainly a large outdoor restaurant with taped music but on the weekends the place came alive with dance and live music performances. As well as the Greek dance groups a number of other ethnic dance groups also took part in the festival.
This is one of the major fund raising events for this community. Now after almost thirty years, with the property and church building paid off it is time to invest the money raised at this annual event back into the community, to ensure that the young carry on what their elders started all those years ago.
The first priority should be to get started on that community hall that has been talked about for some time. It of course would cover a large part of the existing parking lot but what use is a large parking lot if the young are not involved in the community. Or is the first priority to keep the parking lot for the annual Greek Fest? A community centre would not hinder the festival, it would just move more of it indoors where it is not as affected by inclement weather. The church basement could be devoted to providing space for Sunday school and children activities, a library and archives. It is not the proper place to be holding dinner dances. The community hall could fill that need as well as provide opportunities for indoor sports for the young, drawing them deeper into involvement with the community. After all those who started the community are aging and many are no longer able to carry on. It is up to the younger generation to carry on the torch that their elders are passing on. Let us make sure that the torch has plenty of fuel to carry it through to many more generations.
GREEK
FESTIVAL – SURREY
The 10 day annual festival this year was held in July 20th to 29th. For a number of years the Surrey festival, held outside the Ss. Constantine & Helen Church at the corner of 160 Street and 84 Avenue was the first one of the season, held at the beginning of June. It often was plagued with rain and cool weather in June so it was decided to move it this year to July, usually a much warmer and dryer time. However this year the long dry spell which usually hits around the middle of July did not materialize. Again the weather was cool and wet throughout a large part of the festival. However, the organizers were prepared for the weather, having covered almost the entire outdoor area with large tents. Entertainment was sparse, in part because many of those involved with the Greek dance groups were away on vacation. Therefore this festival also had to resort to other ethnic groups providing part of the entertainment.
After 18 years it is time for the Surrey community to get serious about trading in the old Fleetwood Hall, which has been used as a church, for a proper church and community center. The present property is too small and does not allow for future expansion.. They can not continue to rely on the community center and library across the street to provide them with parking.
3.
SPIRIT OF
THE SEA FEST- ZANY ZACK
This festival on the beach of White Rock is held every year on the August long weekend, this year from Aug. 3rd to 5th , with the climax of the festival being the electric light parade on the Sunday evening. For many years the festival has had a Greek component to it, with the Cosmos Greek Restaurant sponsoring a Greek Day, held on the street adjacent to the restaurant. Cosmos chose not to do the outdoor fest this year but just concentrated on serving their restaurant customers, among them many Greeks who had also come out for the Greek day in years past. However there was still another “Greek” element to it as Tony Kazolias, better known as “Zany Zack” was part of the festival this year. There were three stages set up along the beach and Zany Zack was featured on the stage on the east beach, by the Kid’s zone. There he put on several magic shows as well as musical shows geared for the children and those young of heart. Zany Zack specializes in magic shows for kid’s parties, adult events, festivals, corporate and special events throughout Vancouver, the lower mainland and all over British Columbia.
VICTORIA
COMMUNITY GREEK FEST
The Greek Orthodox Community of Victoria and Vancouver Island held its annual Greek Fest from Aug. 29th to Sept. 3rd . The church and community hall is located on Elk Lake Drive, in Saanich on the outskirts of Victoria. Many Greeks made the trip from the mainland in support of this island community.
Greeks settled in Victoria at the beginning of the 20th century. As they were not large in numbers it took them a long time to get their church. In recent years a beautiful church with a community centre was built. The completion of the community hall took first priority as a means of gathering the people together. Now that that they have a full time priest it is time to finish the church. The proceeds from this annual festival will go towards providing icons and an iconistat for the church.
The people of Vancouver Island came to the festival to enjoy the Greek food, music and entertainment. At the same time they opened their hearts to the plight of the people in Greece who have lost their homes or livelihood because of the fires that have raged across parts of Greece. Money was collected at the festival for a fire relief fund.
