“Let us cooperate and work with love and peace and move forward for the good of the community” President Basile Angelopoulos urged a gathered assembly in the Mikri Vouli chamber on February 3 2026. The atmosphere at the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal (HCGM) head office was one of measured gravity and growing hope, as the board of directors sat to mark the first major meeting of its 120th anniversary year. The evening served as a study in the complexity of modern civic management, balancing the lofty, patriotic ideals of the 1906 founders with the detailed management of a $7-million debt load and the minor frictions of institutional logistics.
The meeting began with a call to order and a prayer, but the weight of the community’s financial health quickly took centre stage. Angelopoulos reported what he described as a historic shift in the organization’s fiscal trajectory. While the general assembly had previously adopted a budget projecting an operating deficit of $475,000, the president announced that six months of tight management has placed the community in a likely surplus position of approximately $200,000. This fiscal discipline is part of a broader reorganization of the labour force. Anelopoulos noted he has spent the last month acting as a “hemorrhoid” for the finance team, a self-deprecating nod to his constant oversight as the bank remains anxious to see the community perform against its promises.
The optimism of the reported surplus was contextualized by the detailed Treasury Report. As of January 29, 2026, the HCGM’s estimated outstanding liabilities totaled $6,974,686. The BMO line of credit stood at $1,812,616, leaving some remaining borrowing capacity against its $2-million limit. The report also detailed three non-revolving demand and term loans totaling more than $3.4 million, with the interest rate on the third term loan noted at 6.45 per cent. Accounts payable for the general and social funds sat at a combined $1,722,570. The finance committee noted that work is ongoing to meet bank requests for a 12-month cash flow forecast and a three-year capital expenditure plan to ensure the debt restructuring remains on its positive track.
Beyond the ledger, the meeting delved into the “human context” of the community’s survival, specifically the need to rejuvenate a membership base that currently sees 2,600 renewals pending in the first half of 2026. This objective led to a candid discussion regarding a recent initiative to have students and alumni speak at church Vasilopita events. The treasurer, Mrs. Chilakos, expressed deep disappointment after a initiative intended to give youth a platform faced institutional hurdles. While churches in Laval and the South Shore, specifically Holy Cross, St. Nicholas, and St. John the Baptist, welcomed the students, the initiative was turned down by all community churches on the island of Montreal. In an email sent late on January 6 2026, priests from the island churches characterized the presentations as a “sales pitch” inappropriate for a “sacred and holy event .” This friction, likely stemming from a lack of coordination or a misunderstanding of the long-term goal, underscored the irony that the very members the drive sought to recruit are those who have historically built and sustained the churches.
Despite these institutional tensions, the spirit of “philotimo” remained a recurring and uplifting theme. The board is implementing “philanthropy boxes” in classrooms to teach children the value of giving, noting that “no matter how much we think we need, some other child needs even more .” This educational initiative is paired with a $10 donation drive per student to fund projects within their own schools. On the cultural front, the 120th anniversary celebrations have officially launched, with the “Our Roots, Our Journey” event honoring founding families and a planned “Youth Wave” party series designed to engage adolescents with their heritage.
The meeting also highlighted the physical stewardship of the community’s assets. Renovations at the Foyer Hellenique common room are 99 per cent complete, a project costing $3,524 that relied heavily on generous donations. Work has also begun on the entrance of St. George’s Cathedral, which will include new flooring and “pagaria” candle stands. The secretary of real estate and procurement noted that while a legal battle continues over the roof of the Grande Salle, an inventory has been completed to assist with government grant applications.
As the session moved toward its conclusion, the focus shifted to accountability and outreach. Questions were raised regarding media invitations for the anniversary press conference, with leadership clarifying that invitations were sent to all major community media. The board emphasized that the anniversary belongs to the entire community, and that transparency would remain a priority as gala planning progresses with a symbolic ticket price of $120.
The evening’s reports were finalized with updates on the upcoming March 29 parade on Jean-Talon Street, which will coincide with a wreath-laying ceremony at Laval City Hall on March 28. The board moved to adopt the various reports, noting that the FindJoo membership CRM deployment is targeted for completion by late February. The meeting concluded at the HCGM head office with a final motion to adjourn, as members were encouraged to stay informed through the community’s official digital calendar.
