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| THE MONTREAL GREEK TIMES GOPHER NEWS SERVICE |
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March 2026
Cephalonians celebrate heritage and unity at annual carnival dance in
Laval
(GIF) article photo
By Antonia Macris
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Soft violet lighting washed over the reception hall in Laval as children
in traditional Ionian dress joined hands at the centre of the parquet
floor, their small black shoes moving in careful rhythm while parents
and grandparents watched with visible pride from candlelit tables. The
murmur of Greek voices mingled with laughter, the clink of glasses and
the anticipation of carnival season. Within this festive setting, the
Cephalonian Association of Montreal held its annual dance, an evening
devoted to heritage, youth and continuity, marked this year by the
presence of the Deputy Regional Governor for Entrepreneurship and
Diaspora Affairs of the Region of the Ionian Islands, Eleni
Papanastassatou, representing Regional Governor Giannis Trepeklis during
her official visit to Canada.
The Carnival Dance of the Cephalonian Brotherhood of Canada Ainos has
become a fixed point on the community calendar, now in its forty second
year. Held at the Palace Reception Halls in Laval, the event gathered
families from across the Greater Montreal area and beyond, reflecting a
tradition that links Montreal to the Ionian Islands through music,
language and shared memory. As the master of ceremonies welcomed guests,
he noted the significance of hosting both the Consul General of Greece
in Montreal, Nikolaos Karalekas, and Ms. Papanastassatou, whose visit
included Toronto and Ottawa before culminating in Montreal.
President Apostolos Aggourias addressed the audience with visible
emotion. “It is a great joy for all Cephalonians and all Ionian
Islanders that we have with us tonight the Deputy Regional Governor,”
he said, welcoming the delegation and emphasizing the unity of the
Ionian diaspora. He recalled that the association’s annual carnival
evening has consistently brought together generations, with the youth
dance group at its heart.
Ms. Papanastassatou, speaking to the assembled guests, expressed
gratitude for the invitation extended by the community. “It is a
special honour and joy for me to be here representing the Region of the
Ionian Islands,” she said. “I see that you are very united and very
active, and this brings great satisfaction to me and to the Region.”
She described her visit to the Greek school in Montreal earlier in the
day, noting how moved she was by the dedication to language and roots.
“You are making every effort to keep your ties with the homeland. I am
truly proud of this,” she said. She conveyed the greetings of the
Regional Governor and affirmed that the Region will continue to
strengthen bonds with the diaspora.
Her presence in Montreal formed part of a broader mission to reinforce
institutional cooperation and promote Ionian products in North America,
as outlined in the official press release . During her stay, she met
with the Consul General and held targeted discussions with business
leaders active in Canada and New York who are among the largest
importers of Greek products in the region. These meetings, conducted in
what was described as a constructive and positive climate, focused on
tourism, investment and trade opportunities for each Ionian island.
This visit carries tangible relevance. The Region’s outreach to the
diaspora supports the very associations, schools and cultural
initiatives that sustain Hellenic identity abroad. By engaging directly
with local entrepreneurs and community leaders, Ms. Papanastassatou
signalled that the Ionian Islands view their diaspora not as distant
observers but as partners in cultural and economic development.
The evening’s emotional centre belonged to the children. Dressed in
traditional Cephalonian costumes, they performed dances such as the
Maneta, the Ballos and the Gyres. One young dancer, Alexandros, shared
his excitement in a brief interview before taking the floor. “We are
very happy and very lucky,” he said, thanking his teacher. Elisavet,
whose father hails from Lourdata in Cephalonia, spoke of the island as
home despite being born in Canada. “Every time we go to Cephalonia, it
feels like the place where we must be,” she said, describing the warmth
of the people and the joy of returning each year.
Dance teacher Chrysovalantis Katharios, only nineteen years old,
underscored the intergenerational chain that defines such associations.
“We have around thirty children now, and more are joining,” he
explained. Encouraging parents to enrol their children, he added, “This
is important so that they can continue it with their own children in the
future.” Having learned dance from his mother, also a teacher, he spoke
of roots that extend beyond geography. Though not himself Cephalonian by
origin, he has embraced the association as family. “We are very close
and very united,” he said.
The Consul General highlighted the shared heritage of the Ionian Islands
and the importance of institutional collaboration. He welcomed the
activation of a diaspora portfolio within the Region and affirmed that
the Consulate stands ready to cooperate on joint initiatives. As the
programme unfolded, the dancers journeyed musically from Corfu to
Cephalonia and Zakynthos (from where my proud Ionian roots stem from my
mother’s side), guided by narrators who reminded the audience that each
island carries its own rhythm, stories and history. The hall filled with
applause as the youth concluded with Cephalonian dances, followed by the
promise of Venetian and Ionian carnival traditions later in the evening.
The former president and current Hellenic Congress of Quebec leader,
Sotirios Antypas, observed that many associations across the community
are experiencing renewed vitality, strengthened by youth participation.
By the time the official speeches ended and the music and dancing
resumed, the formal and the festive had blended seamlessly. Families
returned to the dance floor, elders exchanged greetings in Greek, and
the Ionian spirit resonated through song and movement. The forty second
annual Carnival Dance of the Cephalonian Brotherhood of Canada Ainos
concluded with traditional dances and music late into the evening at the
Palace Reception Halls in Laval.
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