Greek Canadians

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Greek Canadians
Ελληνοκαναδοί
Total population
271,405
(by ancestry, 2016 Census)[1]
Regions with significant populations
 Canada
 Ontario132,440[2]
 Quebec89,985[3]
 British Columbia42,770[4]
 Alberta11,945[5]
Languages
English • French • Greek
Religion
Predominantly Greek Orthodox Christianity[6]

Greek Canadians (Greek: Ελληνοκαναδοί) are Canadian citizens who have full or partial Greek heritage or people who emigrated from Greece and reside in Canada. According to the 2016 Census, there were 271,405 Canadians who claimed Greek ancestry.[1]

Demographics[]

Provinces and territories with the highest population of Greek Canadians, according to 2016 Census:[7]

Province or territory Greek Canadians Percentage
 Canada 271,410 0.79
 Ontario 148,555 1.12
 Quebec 71,330 0.90
 British Columbia 24,460 0.54
 Alberta 15,025 0.38
 Manitoba 4,130 0.33
 Nova Scotia 3,360 0.37
 Saskatchewan 2,880 0.27
 New Brunswick 950 0.13
 Newfoundland and Labrador 380 0.07
 Prince Edward Island 175 0.13
 Yukon 90 0.26
 Northwest Territories 50 0.12
 Nunavut 20 0.06

Census Metropolitan Agglomerations (CMAs) with the highest population of Greek Canadians, according to 2016 Census:[7]

CMA Greek Canadians Percentage
Toronto  Ontario 99,145 1.69
Montreal  Quebec 66,395 1.66
Vancouver  British Columbia 16,085 0.66
Ottawa - Gatineau  Ontario /  Quebec 8,005 0.62
Hamilton  Ontario 6,940 0.94
Calgary  Alberta 6,770 0.49
London  Ontario 5,365 1.10
Edmonton  Alberta 5,015 0.39
Oshawa  Ontario 4,690 1.25
Kitchener - Cambridge - Waterloo  Ontario 3,885 0.75

Cities with the highest population of Greek Canadians, according to 2016 Census:[8]

City Province Greek Canadians Percentage
Toronto  Ontario 57,420 2.13
Montreal  Quebec 29,060 1.75
Laval  Quebec 20,385 4.96
Mississauga  Ontario 7,490 1.05
Ottawa  Ontario 6,975 0.76
Markham  Ontario 6,215 1.90
Calgary  Alberta 6,150 0.50
Vancouver  British Columbia 5,760 0.93
Vaughan  Ontario 5,065 1.67
Hamilton  Ontario 5,030 0.95

Ridings (Federal electoral districts) with the highest percentage of Greek Canadians, according to 2016 Census:[9]

Riding Province Greek Canadians Percentage
Laval—Les Îles  Quebec 13,190 12.46
Toronto—Danforth  Ontario 7,655 7.26
Papineau  Quebec 5,490 5.01
Saint-Laurent  Quebec 4,795 4.92
Scarborough Centre  Ontario 4,945 4.48
Beaches—East York  Ontario 4,585 4.23
Ahuntsic-Cartierville  Quebec 4,695 4.18
Vimy  Quebec 4,335 4.07
Don Valley East  Ontario 3,785 4.06
Pierrefonds—Dollard  Quebec 3,680 3.43

List of notable Canadians of Greek ancestry[]

Academics[]

  • Andreas Mandelis – expert on photonics, member of the Canadian Academy of Engineering; awarded the 2014 Killam Prize

Authors[]

  • Pan Bouyoucas – finalist for the Governor General's Literary Award, 2001
  • Tess Fragoulis – writer and educator
  • Thomas King – writer and broadcaster presenter
  • Dimitrios Roussopoulos – politician and activist

Professors[]

  • Athanasios Asimakopulos – Professor of Political Economy in the Department of Economics, McGill University
  • Nick Bontis – DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University 3M National Teaching Fellow
  • André Gerolymatos – Hellenic Studies
  • Dimitri Kitsikis – Professor Emeritus of History, Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
  • Fotini Markopoulou-Kalamara – Physics
  • John Mylopoulos – Computer Science
  • Nikolaos Oikonomides – Byzantine history
  • David N. Stamos – Philosophy
  • Anastasios Venetsanopoulos – Vice President of Research and Innovation at Ryerson University

Business and philanthropy[]

Mike Lazaridis, creator of BlackBerry
  • Jack Agrios – former director and executive member of the Edmonton Eskimos
  • Andreas Apostolopoulos – real estate
  • Chris Giannou – war surgeon
  • Sam Kolias – founder, Chairman and CEO of Boardwalk REIT
  • Mike Lazaridis – founder and co-CEO of Research In Motion (RIM), creator of BlackBerry
  • Sam Panopoulos - Chef and businessman best known for his invention of the Hawaiian Pizza

Creatives[]

Canadians of Greek ancestry mark the independence of Greece in Montreal's Park Extension neighbourhood.

Artists[]

  • Eleonora Dimakos – model, actress, journalist and makeup artist
  • Billy Mavreas – cartoonist
  • Paul Soulikias – artist painter
  • Chrysanne Stathacos - multidisciplinary artist
  • George Trakas – environmental sculptor

Sport[]

Athletics[]

Baseball[]

  • Alex Anthopoulos – Vice President of Baseball Operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers, former Blue Jays General Manager
  • George Kottaras – Major League player
  • Vickie Panos – player, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in 1944

Basketball[]

Boxing[]

Chess[]

Diving[]

  • Alexandre Despatie – diver, Olympic silver medalist (Greek grandmother)

Field hockey[]

Figure skating[]

  • Madeline Schizas

Football[]

Ice hockey[]

  • Andreas Athanasiou – NHL player for the Detroit Red Wings
  • Chris Kontos – former National Hockey League (NHL) player
  • Chris Kotsopoulos — former NHL player, New York Rangers, Hartford Whalers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Detroit Red Wings
  • Tom Kostopoulos – former NHL player, Pittsburgh Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes, Montreal Canadiens and Calgary Flames
  • Nick Kypreos – former NHL player, Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers
  • Jordan Kyrou – NHL player for the St. Louis Blues; gold medalist at the 2018 World Junior Championships
    Nick Kypreos, former NHL player, Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers
  • Dave Nonis – former Canadian ice hockey defenceman; former general manager and executive of the National Hockey League's Vancouver Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs.
  • José Théodore – former NHL player; Hart Memorial Trophy winner in 2002 with the Montreal Canadiens

Mixed Martial Arts[]

Soccer[]

Strength athletics[]

Water skiing[]

  • George Athans – water-skier

Wrestling[]

  • Bret Hart – former pro wrestler, multiple World Champion in the WWF and WCW; of Greek ancestry; mother is half Greek[10]
  • Owen Hart – former pro wrestler, WWE Intercontinental Champion, European Champion and Tag-Team Champion, brother of Bret
  • Teddy Hart – pro wrestler, nephew of Owen and Bret
  • Jim Korderas – former WWE referee, television commentator
  • Natalya Neidhart – pro wrestler, former WWE Women's Champion, niece of Bret and Owen Hart
  • Trish Stratus (aka Patricia Anne Stratigias) – former professional wrestler, seven time WWE Women's Champion, former WWE Hardcore Champion
  • John Tolos – former professional wrestler and professional wrestling manager

Film, TV and stage[]

Actors and performers[]

  • Marie Avgeropoulos – actress, Tracers, Supernatural, Fringe, The 100
  • Alex Carter – actor
  • John Colicos – actor
  • Chris Diamantopoulos – actor
  • John Ioannou – actor
  • John Kapelos – actor
  • Athena Karkanis – actress, The Border, Lost Girl, Low Winter Sun, The Lottery
  • Argiris Karras – actor
  • Alex Karzis – actor, singer and musician
  • Elias Koteas – actor, Crash
  • Natasha Negovanlis – actress and web host
  • Nikki Ponte – singer
  • Cristine Prosperi – actress
  • Daniel Samonas – actor
  • Sofia Shinas – singer, actress, The Crow
  • Tracy Spiridakos – actress, Being Human, Revolution
  • Elias Toufexis – actor
  • Angelo Tsarouchas – comedian/actor It's all Greek to Me Comedy Show
  • Nia Vardalos – actress, screenwriter, My Big Fat Greek Wedding
    Nia Vardalos, actress My Big Fat Greek Wedding
  • Marie Wilson – actress, Days of Our Lives, General Hospital

Directors and producers[]

Entertainers[]

  • Rex Harrington - ballet dancer
  • Ariana Chris – mezzo-soprano
  • Christine Cushing – celebrity chef
  • Dini Dimakos – comedian/actor, Video on Trial, Love Court
  • DVBBS – electronic duo, most famous for their joint international hit with Borgeous, Tsunami
  • Hannah Georgas – singer/songwriter
  • Alex Karzis – actor, voiceover artist, musician and singer
  • KO – musician
  • Sid Krofft – puppeteer
  • George Sapounidis – musician, troubadour, statistician, Sinophile; subject of documentary Chairman George
  • Teresa Stratas (born 1938) – soprano OC; retired Canadian operatic soprano; known for her award-winning recording of Alban Berg's Lulu; born in Toronto, Ontario
  • Angelo Tsarouchas – comedian/actor, It's all Greek to Me Comedy Show
  • Phil X (born Phil Xenidis) – prolific session guitarist

Journalists and broadcasters[]

  • Ernie Afaganis – retired CBC-TV Sports and Olympics anchor.
  • Mannie Buzunis - Vancouver radio talk show host and news anchor (maternal uncle is Ernie Afaganis)
  • Thalia Assuras – anchor and reporter
  • Athena King – newscaster on Naked News
  • Steve Kouleas – sports anchor and reporter
  • George Lagogianes – television personality, currently reporter and anchor for CP24; host of Auto Shop
  • Nik Nanos – political commentator and founder of Nanos Research
  • Ioanna Roumeliotis – CBC Newsworld reporter
  • Lou Schizas – equities analyst
  • George Stroumboulopoulos – host, CBC Newsworld's The Hour, former MuchMusic VJ
  • Christina-Laia Vlahos – OMNI 1 presenter
  • Antonia Zerbisias – Toronto Star columnist
  • Vassy Kapelos — host, CBC News Network's Power & Politics, former Global News Ottawa bureau chief
  • Niki Anastasakis — Producer and Anchor, CHCH's Inside the Story, former Global News Peterborough Reporter

Historical figures[]

Immigrants[]

  • Ioánnis Fokás Juan de Fuca – first Greek-Canadian (1592)

Politicians[]

  • Annie Koutrakis - Liberal MP for Vimy, Quebec
  • Sophia Aggelonitis – former Liberal MPP for Hamilton Mountain
  • Niki Ashton – NDP Member of Parliament for the electoral district of Churchill, Manitoba
  • Eleni Bakopanos – former Liberal MP for Saint-Denis
  • Staff Barootes – former Conservative Senator
  • Marie Bountrogianni – former Liberal MPP for Hamilton Mountain
  • John Cannis – former Liberal MP for Scarborough Centre, 1993 to 2011
  • Tony Clement – Member of Parliament for Muskoka, and President of the Treasury Board
  • Mary Fragedakis – Toronto City Councillor for Ward 29, Toronto-Danforth
  • Peter Fragiskatos – Liberal MP for London North Centre
  • Philippe Gigantès – former Liberal Senator
  • Faith Goldy – right-wing political commentator, former Toronto Mayoral candidate
  • Leo Housakos – Conservative Senator
  • Maurine Karagianis – New Democratic Party of British Columbia MLA, former Esquimalt – municipal councillor, British Columbia
  • Jim Karygiannis – Toronto City Councillor
  • Chris Kibermanis – Liberal candidate
  • Labi Kousoulis – Nova Scotia Liberal MLA for Halifax Citadel-Sable Island Minister of Finance and Treasury Board, Minister of Inclusive Economic Growth (formerly Business), and Minister of Trade.
  • Emmanuella Lambropoulos – Liberal MP for Saint Laurent
  • Costas Menegakis – Former Conservative Party of Canada MP for Richmond Hill
  • Pana Merchant – Liberal Senator from Saskatchewan
  • Christina Mitas - PC MPP for Scarborough Centre, 2018 to present
  • Constantine George Mitges – former PC MP, first Greek elected federally
  • Nick Mantas - Toronto City Councillor, Ward 22, Scarborough - Agincourt
  • George Samis – former Ontario New Democratic Party MPP, first Greek elected to a Canadian legislature
  • Christos Sirros – former Quebec Liberal MNA and provincial cabinet minister
  • Gerry Sklavounos – Liberal Member of the Québec National Assembly
  • Dimitri Soudas – Former Communications Director to the Prime Minister of Canada
  • Diane Stratas – former Progressive Conservative MP for Scarborough Centre, 1979 to 1980
  • Effie Triantafilopoulos - PC MPP for Oakville-North Burlington, 2018 to present
  • - Ville de Laval City councillor 2013 to present.

Judiciary[]

  • Justice Andromache Karakatsanis – Supreme Court of Canada, 2011 to present
  • Justice David Stratas – Federal Court of Appeal, 2009 to present

Religious figures[]

Order of Canada recipients[]

  • Teresa Stratas (born 1938) – soprano OC; retired Canadian operatic soprano; known for her award-winning recording of Alban Berg's Lulu; born in Toronto, Ontario

Order of Merit of the Police Forces recipients[]

  • Peter Lambrinakos MOM – Canadian police and corporate security executive.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Immigration and Ethnocultural Diversity Highlight Tables". statcan.gc.ca.
  2. ^ "Ethnic origins, 2006 counts, for Canada, provinces and territories – Ontario". Statistics Canada. Retrieved January 18, 2009.
  3. ^ "Ethnic origins, 2006 counts, for Canada, provinces and territories – Quebec". Statistics Canada. Retrieved January 18, 2009.
  4. ^ "Ethnic origins, 2006 counts, for Canada, provinces and territories – British Columbia". Statistics Canada. Retrieved January 18, 2009.
  5. ^ "Ethnic origins, 2006 counts, for Canada, provinces and territories – Alberta". Statistics Canada. Retrieved January 18, 2009.
  6. ^ "Selected Demographic and Cultural Characteristics". Statistics Canada. Retrieved January 18, 2009.
  7. ^ a b "Census Profile, 2016 Census, Ethnic origin for Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs)". Retrieved December 4, 2017.
  8. ^ Canada, Government of Canada, Statistics. "Census Profile, 2016 Census - Toronto, City [Census subdivision], Ontario and Toronto, Census division [Census division], Ontario". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
  9. ^ Canada, Government of Canada, Statistics. "Census Profile, 2016 Census - Laval--Les Îles [Federal electoral district], Quebec and Toronto, Census division [Census division], Ontario". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
  10. ^ Bret Hart's mother is half Greek as is published in his autobiography Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling

External links[]

  • hellenism.net – a comprehensive list of famous Greeks and Greek Americans

Further reading[]

External links[]

  • Greek-Canadians – A comprehensive list of famous Greeks and Greek Canadians
  • GreekGateway.com – Greek cultural entertainment site, event resource and business directory
  • Toronto-Danforth political riding with concentrated Hellenic population
Embassy and Consulates
Charitable organizations
Communities
Trade organizations
Affiliate trade organizations
Performance art groups
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