In recognition of the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution, the Toronto-based Hellenic Heritage Foundation unveiled a plaque dedicated to the community’s more than 100-year history in front of its most prominent building.
In 1912, Greek immigrants to Ontario raised funds so the community could purchase the building, which would later serve as the first Greek Orthodox church, Greek school, and community center.
“At the Hellenic Heritage Foundation we felt it was important to honor this part of our heritage and so we successfully applied for a historical plaque to be erected there through Heritage Toronto,” said HHF CEO George Keroglidis to Pappas Post.
The foundation unveiled the historic plaque at 170 Jarvis Street on October 30. Attendees at the event included Toronto Mayor John Tory, as well as other dignitaries and special guests such as Victor Maligoudis, Consul General of Greece; Effie Triantafilopoulos, MLA; Nick Mantas, city councilor; Andonis Artemakis, President of the Greek Community of Toronto and many others.
The recently unveiled historical plaque at 170 Jarvis Street includes the following text:
FIRST GREEK ORTHODOX COMMUNITY
Between 1912 and 1938, this building housed Toronto’s first Greek Orthodox church and Greek language school. It was also one of the first centers of Greek identity and community.
In the early 20th century, Greek immigrants settled in Toronto in search of economic and political prosperity. In 50 years, a strong Greek community of approximately 3,000 people began to take shape in the area bounded by Yonge, Carlton and Church streets, as well as Dundas Street East.
In 1909, approximately 200 Greek immigrants from Toronto formed the St. George’s Greek Orthodox Community of Ontario. The organization purchased this building in 1912 with a deposit raised from Greeks throughout Ontario.
The first floor was transformed into a church. In 1921, the upper level of the building housed a day school called Athena, which taught English and Greek. It eventually became an afternoon language school for over 100 students. The building was a place where Greeks worshiped, socialized, married, and learned their language.
In 1938 the church moved to a converted synagogue on Bond Street, where it remains active more than 100 years after its establishment.
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