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Greek Canadians

Ελληνοκαναδοί
Total population
252,960 (by ancestry, 2011 Census)[1]
Regions with significant populations
Canada
Ontario	132,440[2]
Quebec	89,985[3]
British Columbia	42,770[4]
Alberta	11,945[5]
Languages
Canadian English, Canadian French, Aromanian and Greek
Religion
Predominantly Greek Orthodox Christianity, Catholicism, Judaism and Islam[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 2011 Census, there were 252,960 Canadians who claimed Greek ancestry.^[7]

Demographics

Provinces and territories with the highest population of Greek Canadians, according to 2016 Census:^[8]

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:^[8]

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:^[9]

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:^[10]

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
  

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


• 
  George Trakas – environmental sculptor

Sport

Athletics

• 
  Nicolas Macrozonaris – 100m sprinter

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
  

Boxing

• 
  Hercules Kyvelos – boxer

Chess

• 
  Peter Biyiasas – chess grandmaster

Diving

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

Field hockey

• 
  Ernie Cholakis – player

Football

• 
  Dave Sapunjis – CFL all-star receiver, Calgary Stampeders

Ice hockey

• 
  Chris Kontos – former National Hockey League (NHL) player


• 
  Nick Kypreos – former NHL player, Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers
  
  

  
  

  
  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.

Soccer

• 
  David Fronimadis – player


• 
  Stathis Kappos – player


• 
  John Limniatis – player


• 
  Nick Papadakis – player


• 
  Peter Sarantopoulos – player


• 
  Kenny Stamatopolous – player, former Toronto FC and Kalamata


• 
  Theo Zagar – player

Strength athletics

• 
  Dominic Filiou – strongman

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^[11]
  


• 
  Trish Stratus (aka Patricia Anne Stratigias) – former professional wrestler

Film, TV and stage

Actors and performers

• 
  Marie Avgeropoulos – actress, Tracers, Supernatural, Fringe
  


• 
  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
  

  
  
  
  

Directors and producers

• 
  Tony Asimakopoulos – documentary film director


• 
  Stephano Barberis - music video director


• 
  Watts – music producer, born Austin Garrick

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
  


• 
  Nia Vardalos – actress, screenwriter, My Big Fat Greek Wedding
  


• 
  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 retired CBC Sports anchor 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
  


• 
  Peter Loubardias – sportscaster


• Ioanna Roumeliotis – CBC Newsworld reporter


• 
  Lou Schizas – equities analyst


• 
  George Stroumboulopoulos – host, CBC Newsworld's The Hour, former MuchMusic VJ
  


• 
  Antonia Zerbisias – Toronto Star columnist

Historical figures

Immigrants

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

Politicians

• 
  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


• 
  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
  


• 
  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


• 
  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

Judiciary

• Justice Andromache Karakatsanis – Supreme Court of Canada, 2011 to present


• Justice David Stratas – Federal Court of Appeal, 2009 to present

Religious figures

• 
  Nicholas Salamis – priest


• 
  Christophoros (Rakintzakis) – bishop

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

See also

• Canadian-Greek relations


• Greek Torontonians


• Canadian people of Greek descent


• Philhellenism


• 1918 Toronto anti-Greek riot

References

External links

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

Further reading

• 
  Magocsi, Paul R (1997). Encyclopedia of Canada's peoples. Multicultural History Society of Ontario. pp. 616–26. ISBN 0-8020-2938-8.
  


• 
  Ember, Melvin (2005). Encyclopedia of Diasporas: Immigrant and Refugee Cultures Around the World. Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. p. 207. ISBN 9780306483219.
  

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Canadians of Greek descent.

• 
  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

• Embassy of Greece in Ottawa, Ontario


• Consulate General of Greece in Toronto, Ontario


• Consulate General of Greece in Montreal, Quebec


• Consulate General of Greece in Vancouver, British Columbia

Charitable organizations

• 
  AHEPA home page – American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association
  


• Hellenic Heritage Foundation


• Hellenic Home for the Aged


• Hellenic Hope Center – supports people with disabilities


• Hellenic Scholarships

Communities

• Ottawa Hellenic Community


• Toronto Greek Community


• Hellenic Community of York Region


• Greek Community of London


• Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal


• 
  Winnipeg, Manitoba^{[permanent dead link]}
  


• Calgary


• Victoria, British Columbia


• Hellenic Community of Vancouver

Trade organizations

• Hellenic Canadian Board of Trade


• Hellenic Canadian Lawyers Association


• Hellenic Canadian Congress of British Columbia

Affiliate trade organizations

• Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce


• Hellenic-Argentine Chamber of Industry and Commerce (C.I.C.H.A.)

Performance art groups

• Kyklos


• Theatre Nefeli