The austere municipal council room of the Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grace borough hall provided the setting for a formal acknowledgment of the historical roots of the Greek diaspora in Montreal. The gathering focused on cultural longevity, the early waves of immigration that shaped the city, and a civic commitment to honouring the institutions that have sustained the community for over a century. During the regular sitting of the borough council on March 9, 2026, the local government moved to formally highlight the deep historical presence of the diaspora within the municipality. Acting Borough Mayor Sonny Moroz introduced a formal declaration to commemorate the one hundred and twentieth anniversary of the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal. The official municipal document notes that the presence of the Greek community in Quebec, and specifically within the borough, dates back to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The text further explains that immigration accelerated from the 1950s onward, establishing Montreal as the primary destination for Greek immigrants arriving in the province.
The municipal resolution relies on recent census data to underscore the current demographic footprint of the community. The document states that according to the 2021 Statistics Canada census, nearly forty per cent of the population of Greek origin in the entire province resides within the Montreal territory. This figure represents nearly twenty-seven thousand residents who have contributed to the economic, social, cultural, and artistic development of both the city and the borough. A central focus of the declaration is the physical presence of the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal within the borough limits. The official text highlights that the organization’s headquarters are located on Wilderton Avenue in the district of Côte-des-Neiges. The resolution acknowledges that this organization has served the Greek population of the metropolis since 1906, offering various activities to preserve and promote the language. The document further details that the organization encompasses a vast complex, including a school, an episcopal palace, a community centre, and the Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral. The resolution notes that the construction of the cathedral was completed in the late 1950s during a period marked by the significant expansion of the community following the Second World War.
Acting Mayor Moroz, who is currently managing the council sessions while Borough Mayor Stéphanie Valenzuela is on maternity leave, addressed the assembly regarding the declaration. He utilized his time to reflect on the impact of the diaspora, stating that after one hundred and twenty years of being in Montreal, it is time to do more for the Greek community with statues and commemorations. Moroz expressed confidence in the future, predicting that a new generation of community members will get involved, following in the footsteps of previous Greek elected officials who served their residents diligently. He formally thanked the community for their efforts to instill good values in the next generation, which makes society better. The declaration also ties the organizational anniversary to broader historical events, noting that March 25, 1821, marks the beginning of the insurrection of the Greeks to free themselves from the Ottoman Empire. The text recognizes that the local community celebrates this day annually with a parade through the streets of Montreal on the first Sunday following the date. The formal recommendation adopted by the council asks the borough to recognize the importance of the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal in gathering and preserving the culture.
Following the acting mayor’s introduction, Émilie Brière, the municipal councillor representing the district of Côte-des-Neiges, addressed the chamber. She emphasized the localized nature of the organization within her district. Brière stated she was very happy to have the opportunity to discover the cultural richness of the communities that are part of the territory of her district. She expressed her intent to move forward with members of the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal so that this richness is celebrated. Brière added that she was very happy to be the elected representative who welcomes their implementation in the district of Côte-des-Neiges, officially joining her voice to celebrate the anniversary. The motion, presented by Acting Mayor Moroz, was formally supported by Councillor Milany Thiagarajah before being adopted by the council. The legislative endorsement marked the conclusion of the discussion on the item before the municipal session proceeded with the remainder of the evening’s agenda.
