photo by Harry Barba
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The sound of traditional Greek music filled the vast ballroom of Palace Reception Halls in Laval as hundreds of members of Montreal’s Greek community gathered beneath hanging lanterns and warm lights to celebrate a tradition that has endured across generations. Dancers in embroidered costumes formed long lines across the floor, hands linked in the timeless rhythm of Greek folk dances, while families watched with pride. The evening marked the 65th annual dance of the Arcadians of Montreal, a civic and cultural gathering that reflected the enduring presence of Greek language, heritage and identity within the diaspora.
The event commemorated sixty five years since the founding of the Pan-Arcadian Brotherhood of Canada, an association created by immigrants from the mountainous region of Arcadia in the Peloponnese who settled in Montreal and sought to preserve their traditions in their new homeland. From its earliest days the organization has served as a meeting point for generations of
Arcadians and their families, promoting Greek culture through dance, language and community initiatives.
Guests filled the hall early in the evening as a live orchestra from Greece performed traditional melodies that carried the spirit of the homeland to the Canadian stage. The program included a formal dinner, speeches from community leaders and a series of dance performances by youth and adult groups. Throughout the evening the dance floor remained the focal point of the celebration as children and young adults performed regional dances in traditional costumes representing the villages of Arcadia.
The presence of young dancers was a defining element of the evening. Rows of children and teenagers took the floor in coordinated performances that drew applause from the audience and reflected the association’s long commitment to teaching traditional dance to the next generation. According to organizers, more than one hundred and forty young dancers participate in the program.
Addressing the gathering from the podium, organizers emphasized the historical roots of the association and the legacy of the immigrants who established it decades ago. Speakers recalled that the first Arcadians who arrived in Canada left their villages and families behind but carried with them the traditions and values of their homeland.
“Today we celebrate sixty five years of the Arcadian association, sixty five years of unity and dedication to preserving our cultural heritage,” the master of ceremonies told the audience during the opening remarks. “The Arcadians who arrived in Canada left behind villages, families and memories, but they never left behind their soul.”
The president of the association, Zissis Fotopoulos, welcomed guests in both Greek and English and spoke about the responsibility of transmitting culture to younger generations. He reminded attendees that the future of the community rests with the youth who took part in the performances that evening.
“Today we celebrate the vision and the love of the first Arcadians who came to this country and kept alive our language, traditions and values through sacrifice and hard work,” Fotopoulos said. “Our responsibility is to continue this work and pass it on to the new generation you saw tonight, so they will carry our roots with pride.”
During the evening the association also honoured former presidents who guided the organization through earlier decades of activity. Their contributions were acknowledged before the assembled audience as representatives of the current leadership expressed appreciation for the volunteer work that sustained the association since its founding. The recognition underscored the continuity of leadership within the organization and the role played by successive generations in maintaining its cultural mission.
The event drew a wide range of community representatives and public officials, including Greece’s ambassador to Canada, members of Parliament and municipal representatives from Laval. Many of them spoke of the importance of cultural organizations in sustaining Greek heritage within the diaspora.
Greek Ambassador Katerina Dimaki praised the vitality of the community and the participation of young dancers. “It is a wonderful celebration,” she said in remarks after the performances. “I was impressed by the dance groups. People of all ages danced with enthusiasm and energy, and it shows how the culture is passed to children and grandchildren.”
She also referred to the historic role of Arcadia in the Greek War of Independence and encouraged members of the diaspora to continue preserving the traditions of their region. During her speech she noted that the region remains closely tied to Greece’s national history and identity.
Federal Member of Parliament Emmanuella Lambropoulos attended the celebration and spoke about the cultural ties that continue to unite Greek Canadians with their ancestral homeland. Lambropoulos, who has family roots in Arcadia, noted that she regularly participates in the association’s events and described the annual dance as a vibrant expression of community life.
“It is a wonderful event,” she said during an interview at the gathering. “There are so many people here, so much joy, and all the children danced. It is beautiful to see the community come together and remember where we come from.”
Representatives of Montreal’s Greek institutions also addressed the audience. The president of the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal described the evening as a sign of continuity for Greek heritage in Canada.
“What we saw tonight shows that thanks to the Arcadians, Hellenism in Canada has a bright future,” he said. “When the association was founded sixty five years ago, no one could have imagined that today such a hall would be filled with young people dancing our traditions.”
Many attendees described the celebration as both a cultural gathering and a family reunion. Several generations were present in the hall, including immigrants who helped establish the association and children who are now learning the same dances their grandparents once performed.
Executive vice-president Giannis Thodosopoulos reflected on the personal significance of the association for members of the diaspora. Speaking during an interview at the event, he recalled returning to his village in Arcadia and feeling a deep connection to the land where he grew up.
“When I go back to Arcadia and my village, I kiss the soil where I walked as a child,” he said. “These are our roots. Tonight we see a large Arcadian family from many villages united here in Montreal.”
He added that the participation of children in the dance program represents the future of the organization. “Only if we rely on these children will the Arcadians continue for another sixty five years,” he said.
Municipal representatives also noted the importance of community associations in strengthening cultural ties across the city. Laval councillor Vasilis Karidogiannis described the gathering as a demonstration of collective pride.
“Sixty five years is a whole lifetime,” he said. “You see a proud and dynamic association, with hundreds of young dancers and families filling the hall.”
The association operates cultural and educational activities throughout the year, including dance classes that begin each September and welcome participants of all ages. Fotopoulos said the organization currently operates without its own building and continues its activities through the support of volunteers and community members.
“At the moment we rent our space and cover the expenses so the association can continue,” he said during the interview. “Everyone is welcome to participate. If you are Greek and you want to take part, our doors are open.”
Former president Maria Michopoulos, who served the organization for decades, attended the celebration and expressed satisfaction that the association’s work continues. “The image says everything,” she said while looking across the crowded hall. “You see so many people and so many children. The work of the previous generations continues.”
The evening continued late into the night as the orchestra from Greece performed traditional songs and guests joined the dance floor alongside the youth groups. Families formed circles that extended across the hall while musicians played clarinet, violin and bouzouki.
The 65th annual Arcadian dance took place March 7 at Palace Reception Halls in Laval, with traditional dance performances by youth and adult groups and music performed live by an orchestra invited from Greece.
