In the formal confines of the Mikri Vouli room at the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal’s headquarters, President Basile Angelopoulos opened the December 2, 2025, board meeting by thanking clergy for their guidance, stressing enhanced collaboration between administration and church amid flags symbolizing national ties. As laptops glowed and members exchanged notes on the red-carpeted floor, the session delved into fiscal realities, educational strides, ecclesiastical fundraising, and a surprise athletic triumph, blending optimism with scrutiny over sustainability.
Father Nicolas Papageorgiou’s prayer set a reflective tone, followed by Angelopoulos’s nod to a November 14 luncheon fostering ties. Ecclesiastical Secretary Andy Crilis reported adopted sacrament fees, deferred centralized reservations, and a parish fundraising push with specific targets across six churches, plus Christmas donation boxes for food aid to support needy families during the holidays.
An unplanned highlight saw Coach Peter Chiotis and Team Hellas parade their Dominican Republic ball hockey gold, an underdog victory over Canada and others, hailed as embodying “faith, family, and country.” Chiotis shared how the team, a group of local friends, overcame professional squads through resilience and strategic plays, inspiring applause and remarks from the athletics secretary on community pride.
Financially, the treasurer’s November 26 report noted a reduced cash deficit compared to the prior year, an insurance refund for overpaid taxes on church properties, and first-quarter capital spends on upgrades like bathroom renovations and iconography. Ongoing activities include deep-dive reviews of accounts and workflows, governance enhancements with financial controls, addressing longstanding accounting issues, and debt restructuring to improve cash flow management. The finance committee emphasized progress toward stability while acknowledging structural limitations in current liabilities.
Education Secretary Vassilios Christodoulopoulos outlined a promotion budget for year-round media campaigns, general assembly reassurances on by-laws for the Socrates-Démosthène parents’ committee, radiomarathon features with student and staff interviews across Greek media outlets, and parent-led fundraisers like comedy and bouzouki nights that drew strong attendance. Discussions also covered supplementary education pilots, hybrid programs, and forming advisory committees to boost enrollment and innovation.
Floor questions probed budget allocations for ads versus media ethics, with clarifications on event promotion and suggestions for content sharing with Greek broadcasters like ERT to highlight diaspora activities. Responses affirmed the need for strategic visibility to ensure successful community events.
The meeting was adjourned, next set for January 6, 2026.
