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| THE MONTREAL GREEK TIMES GOPHER NEWS SERVICE |
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March 2026
Montreal AHEPA family celebrates 25th annual Saint
Valentine’s ball for pediatric care
(GIF) article photo
By Antonia Macris
Red ambient lighting bathed the grand ballroom of the Embassy Plaza
reception hall in Laval as members of the Greek diaspora gathered to
celebrate a philanthropic tradition. The melody of a white grand piano
and the music of a live showband filled the space, setting an elegant
backdrop for a night deeply rooted in Hellenic heritage and civic duty.
The annual Saint Valentine’s ball, organized by the Montreal Family of
the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association, brought
together community leaders, generations of families, and philhellenes to
strengthen cultural bonds and advance a major medical fundraising
campaign for pediatric care in the province.
Preserving Greek culture abroad relies on the continuous engagement of
the community through shared celebrations and a collective commitment to
public service. The gathering served as a testament to this enduring
civic pride, as guests from across Canada and the United States reunited
to honour their shared ancestry. The formal evening highlights the
organization’s ongoing mission to foster education and community
welfare, ensuring that the foundational values of the Hellenic identity
are passed down to future generations.
The active participation of international representatives, including
Anastasios Moussas, the national president for Canada, underscored the
widespread dedication to maintaining these cultural pillars. Guests
shared personal stories of their families arriving in Canada and
building new lives, emphasizing how the event provides a vital space to
speak the Greek language and celebrate their customs together. These
shared narratives reinforce the importance of maintaining an active,
charitable presence within the wider Canadian society.
Central to the evening’s purpose was the ongoing support for the Sainte-
Justine university hospital centre foundation. Co-chairpersons
Zambetoula Drakontaidis and James Hutchison addressed the attendees,
outlining the critical need to fund the pediatric neuromodulation
program. “Dear friends, this year marks the Montreal AHEPA family’s 25th
annual Saint Valentine’s ball,” the organizers stated in their joint
address. “We count on your kind contribution and generous donation to
help this worthy cause .” The campaign specifically targets the
acquisition of transcranial magnetic stimulation technology, a non-
surgical treatment utilizing magnetic currents to regulate brain
functions and reduce seizures in children suffering from drug-resistant
epilepsy. The medical program also maps brain functions to determine
differences between neurotypical children and those with
neurodevelopmental disabilities, which assists medical professionals in
establishing precision-care medicine.
The festivities featured a performance by the Sophistoccasion showband,
whose members, dressed in matching white tuxedos, entertained the
guests from the stage. A ceremonial cutting of a large, rectangular
white cake adorned with a silver 25 and a red ribbon motif, donated by
Ambrosia Bakery, marked the historical milestone of the ball. The
spirit of generosity that defines the local Greek community was evident
throughout the hall, reflecting on a legacy that has consistently
raised funds to help sick children.
The formal proceedings culminated on the stage with the presentation of
a large commemorative cheque. Event organizers gathered to unveil the
final fundraising total for the current medical campaign. The Montreal
AHEPA Family presented $45,000 to the hospital foundation, bringing
their total contribution for the magnetic stimulation technology to
$139,000 over the past two years.
The Montreal AHEPA family presented $45,000 to the hospital
foundation, bringing their total contribution for the magnetic
stimulation technology to $139,000 over the past two years. Since its
inception 25 years ago, the annual ball has raised more than $1.2
million for various local medical and educational institutions,
including the Montreal Children’s Hospital, the Shriners Hospitals for
Children and the Socrates school.
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