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| THE MONTREAL GREEK TIMES GOPHER NEWS SERVICE |
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August 2026
Greek Roots honours young Hellenes at 2026 Chrysalis Gala in Laval
(GIF) article photo
By Antonia Macris
Harry Barba Photo
LAVAL, Quebec — Beneath a wash of deep blue light, the ballroom of the
Palace Convention Centre was set for something close to a coronation.
Round tables wore black linen and gold chargers, royal-blue napkins
stood folded at every place, and arrangements of white and pale-blue
hydrangeas crowded the foot of the stage. At the centre of the room,
catching the light, stood a flame-shaped glass award engraved with two
figures whose outstretched arms open into a butterfly. The image is a
chrysalis, the still moment before flight, and on the evening of May 9,
2026, it framed a gathering devoted to the young people of Montreal's
Hellenic community and to a larger question facing a community marking
120 years in this country: how to prepare the generation that will carry
its faith, language and traditions forward.
The occasion was the Chrysalis Gala & Awards, presented by Greek Roots,
a youth-driven Canadian nonprofit organization that connects young
people of Hellenic heritage through volunteerism, mentorship and
cultural experience. Now in its second year, the gala gathered
community organizations, families, mentors, sponsors and elected
officials under the theme "Empowering Youth to Soar Beyond Boundaries."
Guests arrived for a cocktail reception in the foyer before moving into
the hall for a four-course dinner and the awards program. Founders
George Andreopoulos and Anna Dimitrokalis set out the evening's purpose
plainly in the program. "Greek Roots was founded on a simple but
powerful belief: when we invest in youth, we strengthen the future of
our community," they wrote.
That belief gave the night its civic weight. The gala served as a point
of connection among Hellenic associations, schools, churches and
community groups, each invited to put forward young people whose
contributions deserved to be recognized. Greek Roots describes its work
in three words printed across its banner that evening, "Empowering
Youth. Building Community. Embracing Hellenism," and the room reflected
that aim, seating teenagers and university students at the same tables
as long-serving community leaders. The gala served as an honours night
for young Hellenes. The event was designed to recognize the exceptional
achievements and contributions of youth of Hellenic heritage within the
community. Hellenic associations and community groups had been invited
to nominate young people who exemplify the timeless Hellenic values that
have influenced Western civilization for centuries.
Nominations were accepted across categories that included
critical thinking and innovation, personal excellence, civic
responsibility, philanthropy, environmental stewardship, and
arts, literature and culture.
Antonia Macris, 2025 Changemaker of the Year recipient who returned this
year to present an award and who serves as youth secretary on the board
of the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal, congratulated the
nominees and encouraged them to continue pursuing their goals. "To all
the nominees, you will go far, and this is just the beginning. Keep on
learning. Everything you do, however small, does make a difference and
causes a ripple effect in what you do next. Celebrate your wins because
this is a win for all of you."
Joining Macris at the lectern to present the other Changemaker awards
were Joseph Polossifakis, senior advisor, government and community
relations at Suncor Energy and a 2016 Olympian in fencing, and Jacob
Danassis, the 2025 Under-24 Changemaker of the Year recipient.
Addressing the finalists, Polossifakis praised their achievements,
saying, "I can't believe what these changemakers have accomplished at
such a young age," and expressed pride in their contributions to the
community. Danassis reflected on the significance of passing the award
to the next generation, noting that the recipients' hard work and
dedication "represent the bright future of our community." The evening's
hosts, Greek Roots ambassadors Evdokia Deligiannis and Diana Ruano
Plescha, opened the program and introduced the finalists, who stood
together on the stage in formal dress as their names were read and the
glass trophy waited at the side.
From a larger field, a selection committee chose 10 finalists for the
Changemaker of the Year awards, and their stories were presented in
short filmed interviews shown to guests between dinner courses. The
decision to feature every finalist in a filmed profile reflected a
desire to showcase the breadth of young volunteer talent within the
community. The range was wide. Among the nominees were a 15-year-old
autism advocate who visits schools to raise awareness and inspire
greater understanding; a Secondary 5 student who carried a sustainable-
energy project to the Quebec regional science fair; a university leader
who founded a campaign that collected more than 500 boxes of feminine
hygiene products for women's shelters; and a McGill University student
recognized for academic excellence while mentoring youth and promoting
Hellenic identity through community programming. Their work spanned
hospitals, research institutes, parishes, dance groups and student
associations across Montreal and Laval.
The 2026 Changemaker of the Year awards went to Peter S. Katsepontes in
the under-18 category and Dennis Klapsis in the under-24 category. In
the category for those 25 and older, the award was shared, presented
jointly to Michael Crilis and Lia Zaharakis. Greek Roots also named two
Volunteer of the Year recipients, Gregoris Kantzos in the under-18
category and Panagioti Kantzos in the under-24 category, presented by
Massimo Briganti. They were drawn from a slate of nominees the
organization said represented part of a volunteer corps of more than 300
young people who have together given more than 2,400 hours in service of
Hellenic organizations across the region.
The keynote came from Basile Angelopoulos, president of the Hellenic
Community of Greater Montreal, which is observing its 120th anniversary
this year. Speaking from a clear acrylic lectern as guests looked on
from candlelit tables, he tied the gala to a long history of building
institutions for those who would follow. "We are proud to support
initiatives that encourage young people to lead, to serve, and to remain
connected to the values and traditions that unite us," he wrote in his
welcome to guests, thanking them for "helping strengthen the future of
our community." In a statement circulated with the evening's program,
Andreopoulos added that the nominees "demonstrated the many ways young
people are already shaping Montreal's Hellenic community."
Music threaded through the night. Maria Tsafatinos, a 12-year-old pop
and country vocalist who trains with the Montreal-based Chroma Musika,
performed alongside Christos Argyriou, a 21-year-old guitarist from
Thessaloniki now studying kinesiology at the Université de Montréal, who
offered his interpretations of Greek classics. The room rose for
DIONY$IO$, a young Montreal artist of Hellenic heritage whose blend of
pop and urban sounds includes "Bleu Blanc Rouge," a Montreal Canadiens
anthem that has drawn attention in the city. Guests lifted their phones
to film as he moved to the front of the stage, the glass Changemaker
trophy glinting on a cocktail table beside him.
Along one wall, a long table held the evening's silent auction, a spread
of sports memorabilia and gifts assembled to support youth programming.
Framed and signed Montreal Canadiens jerseys anchored the display, among
them a Lane Hutson sweater, a framed photograph of Jean Béliveau and the
number 24 jersey of Chris Chelios, the Hockey Hall of Fame defenceman of
Greek descent and son of Greek immigrants who won the Stanley Cup with
Montreal in 1986. His jersey on the table drew a quiet thread between
the city's hockey history and the room's Hellenic one.
The night drew support from across the community. Members of
Parliament Annie Koutrakis, Sherry Romanado and Sameer Zuberi were
among the contributors, alongside local Greek businesses and family
sponsors. In a written message translated from French, Zuberi
commended Greek Roots for "mobilizing passionate young volunteers and
investing in leadership and mentorship," and credited the organization
with helping to build "an engaged and caring next generation." The
Laconian Brotherhood of Canada, another supporter, said Greek Roots
helps "foster the values of Hellenism" while preserving Greek culture
in communities across the country.
The silent auction, stocked with the Canadiens memorabilia and
other items, remained open for bids until 11:30 p.m., and the
evening closed with dancing.
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