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Around
and about British Columbia
By
Katherine and Dimitris Angelatos
A
summer review
Every
summer a large number of Greek-Canadians spend the summer in Greece but
the majority stay home in Canada. For those who cannot make the trip to
Greece, there are always a large number of festivals and other events put
on by the various Greek communities and organizations that help them to
keep that connection with the old homeland.
Hellenic
Studies Field School in Greece
A
summer success
The
field school of the Hellenic Studies at Simon Fraser University took place
in Greece from May 9th through June 29th. Professor
Panagiotis Pappas lead the twenty-one students who took part in the
program, centered on the island of Kefalonia. The first four days were
spent in Athens. There the students visited the government buildings as
well as the Acropolis and other major historical and archaeological sites.
They visited the old stadium where the first of the modern Olympic Games
were held, in 1896. They also visited the new stadium as well as other
sites were the Olympic Games of 2004 will be staged. They then spent six
weeks in Kefalonia, in Poros. There daily lessons were held. Two levels of
Greek language were taught as well as Greek literature and Mycenaean
archaeology. Field trips were taken all over the island on every Monday,
visiting historical sites as well as museums, monasteries and other points
of local interest. The students also spent a week in Crete, where they
were immersed in Minoan archaeology.
During
their stay in Kefalonia some of the students got a chance to be involved
with a local theatre production. Students also took part in the beach
patrol and rescue operations of the endangered sea turtle Caretta-caretta
found in the waters surrounding Kefalonia. The Mayor of Argostoli and the
Nomarchis (Governor) of Kefalonia also presented the students of the Field
School with diplomas for all their accomplishments.
Kefalonia
(Cephalonia) is the largest of the Ionian Islands. It is a land of
contrasts featuring deep blue waters, steep bare cliffs, lush valleys and
picturesque and secluded villages. The Prefecture of Kephalonia also
includes the neighbouring island of Ithaca, which has been known over the
ages as the home of Odysseus.
Farewell
to Consul of Greece
The
term of office of the Consul of Greece in Vancouver, Eleni Lianidou, came
to an end recently. She and her family left Vancouver on September 9th
to take up a new post elsewhere. The day before her departure the Hellenic
Community of Vancouver hosted a farewell party for her at the community
centre.
The new Consul is expected to arrive in Vancouver at the end of September.
Vancouver says good-bye to
Greek bank manager
On
Thursday, September 18,
the National Bank of Greece (Canada) hosted a farewell party for the
manager of the Vancouver branch, Stratos Protopappas. Over two hundred
people, clients of the bank, came to the Hellenic Community Center in
Vancouver to say good-bye to Mr. Protopappas and to wish him well. Stratos
Protopappas and his wife, Evgenia are moving to Greece.
Mr.
Nicholas Avgoustakis, the Chief Executive Officer came all the way from
the NBG’s Canada headquarters in Montreal for the occasion. He stated
that the party was two-fold- to say good-bye to Mr. Protopappas and to
thank all the loyal clients of the branch in Vancouver. The last five
years the NBG has been setting records for its success in Canada, with the
last year showing the best performance yet. All this would not have been
possible without the support of its clients.
Stratos
Protopappas has been the public “face” of the NBG in Vancouver for the
past ten years. Prior to coming to Vancouver he had served the bank for
six years elsewhere in Canada. In total he had devoted thirty years of his
life to the NBG group. Mr. Protopappas is well respected, admired and
beloved, a heart rending testimony to any man.
On
behave of the National Bank of Greece, Mr. Avgoustakis presented a plaque
to Mr. Protopappas, in commemoration of his many years of service in
Canada. A plaque of appreciation was also presented to the Greek Senior
Citizen’s Society, the first and most long-standing client of the bank
in Vancouver. Mr. Avgoustakis stated that the NBG’s first priority is
not its profit, but rather its relationship with its clients and the
community it serves.
The
president of the Hellenic Canadian Congress of BC, Harry Katevatis then
presented a plaque to Mr. Avgoustakis, in recognition of the NBG’s
support of the HCC. Mr. Protopappas also received a gift to remember the
HCC and BC, a glass plate with a salmon motif.
Mr. Avgoutsakis stated that as yet no new manager has been assigned to the Vancouver branch. Until then the branch would be in capable hands under acting-manager Jeff Tom-Yew, assisted by Stavros Nikolinas, a veteran at the branch, along with the other capable members the staff.
Leo
Lambropoulos 1929 - 2003
It
is with sadness that we report the passing of one of Vancouver’s
prominent Greek-Canadians, Leo Lambropoulos. He slipped away peacefully on
September 12, surrounded by his family. Prayer services were held at St.
George’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral on Tuesday, Sept. 16, with the funeral
service there on Thursday, Sept. 17. Reverends Demetrios Partsafas and
Panagiotis Pavlakos officiated. Internment followed at Forest Lawn,
Burnaby.
Leo
Lambropoulos was born in Pyrgos, Greece and came to Canada in 1957. He
established Leo’s Plumbing & Heating over thirty years ago. He was
an active member of the Hellenic Community of Vancouver. He is survived by
his wife Vasiliki, his daughters Angela and Mary and their families. He
also leaves behind a sister in Vancouver, another in Greece and two
brothers, also in Greece. He will be sadly missed by his nephews and
nieces, other relatives and friends everywhere.
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