Beneath the soft glow of chandeliers and the blue and white of Hellenic flags carefully arranged along the walls, members of the Greek community gathered in Montreal in a spirit of fraternity and pride to welcome the Supreme President of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association. Conversations moved easily between Greek and English, elders greeting long standing brothers of the Order while younger members observed with attentive curiosity. The visit formed part of a broader January tour that included Toronto and Ottawa, yet in Montreal the emphasis fell squarely on community cohesion, philanthropy and the enduring responsibility of preserving Hellenic identity in Canada.
The Supreme President, Chris Kaitson, arrived in Eastern Canada accompanied by Canadian Order President Anastasios Moussas, meeting chapters in Region Twenty Three across Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa. In remarks shared with members, Kaitson reflected on what he described as the vitality of the organization in this country. “My visit to the chapters of Region Twenty Three in Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa clearly demonstrated that the strength of AHEPA and Hellenism in Canada is thriving,” he stated, adding that the Order remains “a family, united beyond borders, with common goals and common ideals.”
The Montreal chapter organized a formal gathering that blended ceremony with fellowship. Members stood as the visiting delegation was introduced, followed by a chapter meeting welcoming the Supreme President, as outlined in correspondence circulated to the membership. The tone throughout the evening balanced respect for institutional tradition with a distinctly local character shaped by Montreal’s long established Greek presence.
AHEPA, founded in 1922 in the United States to combat discrimination and promote the integration and advancement of Greek immigrants, has since grown into an international fraternal organization dedicated to the promotion of Hellenic ideals, education, philanthropy and civic responsibility. Its mission emphasizes support for Greek language and culture, scholarship programs, charitable initiatives and the strengthening of ties between the diaspora and Greece and Cyprus. In Canada, the Order has played a consistent role in community life, supporting educational programs, church initiatives and cultural events that keep the Greek language and traditions visible to younger generations.
During the Eastern Canada tour, that commitment to education and heritage was tangible. In Toronto, members presented a fifty thousand dollar donation to the Gennadius Library in Athens, a repository of more than one hundred thousand volumes devoted to Greek history, literature and art. The gesture resonated in Montreal as well, where discussions frequently turned to the preservation of archives, language programs and cultural memory within the diaspora.
The Supreme President’s meetings extended beyond chapter halls. In Toronto he conferred with the Consul General of Greece and the Greek Trade Commissioner, exploring avenues to strengthen Greek Canadian ties. In Montreal, conversations centered on collaboration among community organizations and on ensuring that philanthropic efforts respond to contemporary needs. Local leaders underscored the importance of coordinated action among associations, parishes and cultural groups in a city where the Greek presence spans several generations.
George Tsitouras, a Montreal member active in professional and philanthropic circles, described the visit as an opportunity to reaffirm common purpose. In written remarks shared with THE MONTREAL GREEK TIMES, he noted that gatherings of this nature “remind us that we are part of a global Hellenic network, and that our local initiatives in Montreal contribute to something much larger.”
For long time Montreal AHEPA members, the evening also carried a personal dimension. One senior member recalled joining the Order decades earlier at a time when Greek immigrants sought both solidarity and social advancement. “We wanted our children to succeed in Canada and remain proud of being Greek,” he said. That aspiration remains present today, though expressed through scholarships, mentorship programs and charitable drives rather than the early struggles against exclusion that marked the organization’s beginnings.
Younger attendees spoke of a different yet related motivation. A university student whose parents emigrated from northern Greece explained that involvement in AHEPA offers structured engagement with heritage beyond family celebrations. “It gives us a framework to serve, to give back, and to connect with Greece in meaningful ways,” she said, pointing to initiatives supporting education and humanitarian relief.
The visit also highlighted the Order’s charitable reach. In Montreal, members outlined ongoing support for local causes, including assistance to community institutions and families facing hardship. While the Supreme President’s tour carried ceremonial elements, the substance of the discussions focused on practical action: fundraising targets, membership growth and intergenerational engagement.
Throughout the evening, the Greek language flowed naturally in speeches and informal exchanges. Toasts were offered to Hellenism, to Canada and to the enduring bond between them. The symbolism was unmistakable yet grounded in lived experience. In a city where Greek schools, churches and cultural associations continue to shape communal life, such visits reinforce the sense that local efforts are connected to a broader international movement dedicated to preserving Hellenic identity.
The Eastern Canada tour concluded after engagements in Ottawa, where chapter members similarly welcomed the delegation and reaffirmed their commitment to the Order’s mission. In Montreal, the evening closed with a formal chapter meeting and fellowship among members and guests, marking the end of the Supreme President’s official visit to the city.
