The Laval Municipal Council unanimously passed a resolution on October 1, 2025, to grant a symbolic designation of ‘chemin Hellénique’ (Hellenic Way) to a portion of Chemin du Souvenir, a street that serves as a central thoroughfare for the city’s Greek community.

While presented as a recognition of the diaspora’s contributions, the initiative has ignited a debate within the Greek Community over transparency, governance, and the timing of the announcement during a municipal election period.

The motion, brought forward by Councillor Vasilios Karidogiannis, was the last of its kind before the municipal elections scheduled for November 2, 2025. It acknowledges the significant presence of the Greek community in Laval, which officially numbers over 20,000 residents, and the concentration of Greek-owned businesses, residences, and two Orthodox churches along the targeted stretch of Chemin du Souvenir.

However, the process has drawn scrutiny. Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal (HCGM) President Basile Angelopoulos, board member Massimo Briganti, and Laval regional council member Vicky Kaliotzakis held meetings with city officials on August 22, 2025, to propose the project without a formal mandate from the HCGM Board of Directors. The initiative has prompted scrutiny over the leadership’s commitment to transparency, given that they had previously campaigned on improving governance.

In an apparent move to address this, the HCGM Board of Directors passed a resolution during its October 7 meeting to retroactively ratify the actions taken by its representatives. Further fuelling the debate was a subtle but significant change to the meeting’s agenda. The original agenda for item #16 referred to the “Renaming of Souvenir Boulevard”, which was later silently amended in a new version to the “Addition of ‘Chemin Hellénique’ to a portion of Souvenir Boulevard in Laval, Qc”. The change appears to have been made to manage expectations after it became clear on the Greek radio show on Radio Centre-Ville 102.3 FM the previous night, that the initiative was not a formal renaming.

What the Council actually approved

The core of the issue lies in the interpretation of the council’s decision. The HCGM’s public announcements celebrated the approval of a “symbolic secondary name,” leading some to believe a co-naming was guaranteed. However, the official motion details a two-part process: the first is the symbolic naming, and the second is a mandate for city administration to study its physical implementation.

The motion passed by the Laval Municipal Council reads as follows:

1. “That the Executive Committee mandate the Directorate-General to attribute a symbolic designation to Chemin du Souvenir, that is ‘chemin Hellénique’ (Hellenic Way), in accordance with the proposal of the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal in recognition of the contribution of the Greek community to Laval, and to
2. analyze the feasibility of a street sign, a visual signature, or an interpretation panel allowing for the recognition of this designation and its meaning in the public space.”

This language makes it clear that while the symbolic title has been granted, its physical manifestation is subject to a feasibility study. The HCGM President, when questioned at the October 7 board meeting, confirmed that the final form of the recognition is unknown and stated a series of hypotheses as to how it might be implemented.

Potential implementation scenarios

Based on the adopted resolution and the council discussion reveals several possible outcomes. The debate during the October 1st council session provides significant insight into which options are considered most viable.

The possible scenarios include:

Scenario 1: Symbolic Recognition Only. In this outcome, the city would officially recognize the name “chemin Hellénique” in its records but install no physical signage. This remains unlikely as it appears to contradict the spirit of the motion, which explicitly calls for a study on visual implementation.

Scenario 2: Ceremonial or Gateway Signage. This scenario aligns with precedents mentioned during the council meeting, such as the “Route des Fleurs” (Flower Route). Instead of altering signs at every intersection, larger, decorative signs would be placed at the main entry points of the designated area. This option appeared to ease councillors’ concerns about confusion and is therefore considered a strong possibility.

Scenario 3: Secondary “Topper” Signs. This option, which would add a secondary sign with “Chemin Hellénique” to existing “Chemin du Souvenir” posts, was met with concern by councillors. Councillor Lortie directly questioned if there could be “two street names on a street post,” signaling worry about potential confusion for residents, delivery services, and emergency responders. While city staff clarified it would not be an official toponymic change, the expressed hesitation makes this a less probable outcome.

Scenario 4: Interpretive Panels. The resolution itself specifically suggests installing an interpretive panel. This would involve placing plaques at key locations (ie Holy Cross and/or St. Nicholas churches) to explain the history and contributions of the Greek community that earned the designation. This option focuses more on historical education than on street naming and remains a viable possibility.

Scenario 5: A Hybrid Approach. The city’s administration could recommend a combination of methods, such as installing gateway signage (Scenario 2) and supplementing it with a detailed interpretive panel (Scenario 4).

From a Greek Center to a symbolic sign

The timing of this initiative is noteworthy, unfolding in the middle of a heated municipal election period in Laval, a time when candidates are actively seeking public support and making promises. The debate around the HCGM has also shifted dramatically over the past year. Under the previous HCGM administration lead by Dr. Tsoukas, discussions centered on ambitious, tangible projects, including plans for a new Hellenic Community Center in Laval, where the majority of the Greek community now resides.

That vision was for a new Hellenic Community Center, planned for a site on this very Chemin du Souvenir. The project was backed by a $10 million federal grant, an announcement made personally by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last year, in the presence of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during his official visit to Montreal. However, that mega-project was fiercely opposed and ultimately scrapped by the current Board of Directors.

In its place, the community is now presented with a municipal councillor announcing a proposal for a micro-symbolic sign, in the presence of the Greek Consul.

This dramatic shift has crystallized the feeling that the community has gone “from the dream of a Greek Center in Laval… to applauding a symbolic sign.” This sentiment captures a sense of downscaled ambition, with the focus moving “from the reality of a building… to the fantasy of a sign.” While the recognition is welcomed by many, the surrounding controversy highlights a deeper community conversation about vision, leadership, and what constitutes meaningful progress.