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| THE MONTREAL GREEK TIMES GOPHER NEWS SERVICE |
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August 2025
South Shore greek festival marks 43rd year with attendance from
community, officials, and cultural groups
(GIF) article photo
By Dimitri Papadopoulos
From June 20 to June 23, 2025, the Regional Council of the South Shore
of the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal (HCGM) held its annual
festival on the premises of St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church
in Brossard. The event coincided with Quebec’s public holiday for
Saint John the Baptist and marked the 43rd consecutive year of this
local community tradition.
The organization of the event was coordinated by the South Shore
Regional Council in collaboration with the local church, the Parent
Committees of the “Socrates IV” and “Platon-Omiros” schools, the
Women’s Auxiliary, and the “Zeus” Seniors’ Club. The festival
included food booths, traditional dance presentations, music, and
community outreach activities.
Greek food items were available throughout the four-day program. These
included souvlakia, pies, salads, pastries, loukoumades, and beverages.
Attendees came from the South Shore, Laval, and the island of Montreal.
Greek traditional dances were presented on stage by members of
organized cultural groups, including the Orpheas Folklore Workshop of
Montreal. The dance presentations represented various regions such as
Pontus, Macedonia, Epirus, and several island traditions. Dancers
included children, teenagers, and adult members. Costumes were worn
corresponding to the region of each dance, and choreographed sequences
were performed for the audience.
The President of the HCGM, Basile Angelopoulos, addressed attendees
during the event. He referred to the recent elections of the Central
Council and emphasized the importance of community participation and
member registration. He stated that broader
Aphrodite Stathopoulos, President of the South Shore Regional Council,
described the timeline and resources involved in preparing the event.
According to her statements, planning for the festival began
approximately six months prior, and the funding of expenses was
covered primarily through sponsorships. Visual materials on-site
acknowledged the sponsors.
Father Ioannis, priest of the parish, provided information regarding
church activity and community presence in the area. He estimated the
Greek population on the South Shore at approximately 7,000 and stated
that church attendance tends to increase during major holidays and
gradually rises on regular Sundays.
The festival included participation from other regional and
administrative figures of the HCGM, including members of the Laval
and Montreal Regional Councils. Council Secretary Harry Babaroutsis
and Regional Councillor Kyriakos Polimenakos both commented on the
need for collaboration between elected representatives and members
of the community, especially in organizing events and maintaining
church and school operations.
Throughout the weekend, elected officials from multiple levels of
government attended the festival. Federal MP Annie Koutrakis, MNA Linda
Caron, Brossard city councillors, and other representatives from Laval
and nearby municipalities were present and addressed those in
attendance. Their remarks included greetings and expressions of
acknowledgement to organizers and volunteers.
Youths from various organizations participated as dancers and
volunteers. Representatives from the McGill Hellenic Student Association
(MHSA) and the local Greek school system described their involvement in
community activities and offered information on youth engagement.
Among the participants was Vasilis Kostopoulos, former director of
the Montreal Saturday Greek School. He spoke about the importance of
maintaining educational structures and stated that increased
contributions from members could enhance school resources. His
remarks focused on the role of language and educational continuity
for Greek heritage preservation.
Volunteers and members of Parent Committees shared comments
regarding the operation of the “Socrates IV” school and the events
that take place throughout the year. Students and former students of
the school gave statements regarding their experiences in Greek
education and dance participation.
Community members who attended the festival included individuals who
have been residents of the South Shore for decades
Traditional dance presentations took place on multiple days, with
coordinated performances from various regions of Greece. The final
day included a sequence of dances from Pontus, Crete, and the
Aegean Islands. The dance groups concluded their presentations
with formal bows and exits.
On-site facilities included a registration kiosk for HCGM memberships
and informational booths from various community groups and schools.
Posters and banners displayed the names of sponsors and program details.
According to information provided by the organizers, the South
Shore festival is one of several recurring summer events
coordinated by the HCGM across its three regional councils:
Montreal, Laval, and South Shore.
No entry fee was charged for the festival. The event was open to the
public and included on-site security, waste disposal services, and
coordination with the city of Brossard.
The organizing committee stated that the 43rd edition proceeded
according to schedule and logistical plans, and preparations for future
events would follow the same collaborative framework. Information
regarding next year’s event will be provided by the South Shore
Regional Council at a later date.
The 2025 festival concluded with music, volunteer acknowledgements, and
public announcements concerning community services, school enrolment,
and church-related activities.
A full report of the South Shore greek festival will air on Odyssey-TV
and Radio Centre-Ville Montreal 102.3 FM during the 1st week of August.
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