News – Page 3 – The Hellenic Initiative Canada

Toronto Economic Forum to Connect Greece and Canada

The Hellenic Initiative Canada is partnering with the Delphi Economic Forum of Greece for the inaugural Toronto Economic Forum, a conference that will bring together government and business representatives from Greece and Canada. The conference will take place on October 17-18 at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel in Toronto, Canada.

The Toronto Economic Forum is the latest addition to the line-up of international conferences organized by the Delphi Economic Forum. It aims to become an annual institution. Its goal is to promote Greek – Canadian trade and investment ties.

The forum is the product of a partnership between the Delphi Economic Forum and The Hellenic Initiative Canada, in collaboration with the Hellenic Canadian Board of Trade and the Hellenic Canadian Chamber of Commerce, and with the support of Enterprise Greece and Greece’s diplomatic authorities in Canada.

Μεγάλη η δυναμική Ελλάδας-Καναδά για την ανάπτυξη διμερών συνεργασιών

Στο Οικονομικό Φόρουμ του Τορόντο επισημάνθηκε η ανάπτυξη διμερών συνεργασιών μεταξύ της Ελλάδας και του Καναδά.

Τώρα είναι η στιγμή με την μεγαλύτερη δυναμική για την ανάπτυξη των διμερών σχέσεων Ελλάδας-Καναδά, όπως τονίστηκε στην τοποθέτηση του Καναδού Υπουργού Καινοτομίας, Επιστήμης και Βιομηχανίας, François-Philippe Champagne, στο πλαίσιο του οικονομικού Φόρουμ του Τορόντο που πραγματοποιείται 17 και 18 Οκτωβρίου από το Οικονομικό Φόρουμ των Δελφών, παρουσία ηγετών από τους χώρους της πολιτικής, της διπλωματίας και της οικονομίας από την Ελλάδα και τον Καναδά και κυβερνητικών στελεχών των δύο χωρών.

«Με την κατάσταση που επικρατεί στην Ευρώπη, είναι η ώρα να κοιτάξουμε τις χώρες που παρέχουν αξιοπιστία, σταθερότητα και με τις οποίες μοιραζόμαστε τις ίδιες αξίες και πιστεύω ότι με αυτήν την έννοια, ο Καναδάς και η Ελλάδα μπορούν να κάνουν πολλά σε συνεργασία», σημείωσε ο κ.Champagne. Ο Καναδός υπουργός αναφέρθηκε στην εμπορική συμφωνία ΕΕ-Καναδά (CETA) και τόνισε ότι η Ελλάδα και ο Καναδάς μπορούν να αναπτύξουν ακόμη πιο στενούς δεσμούς και νέες συνεργασίες αλλά και συμφωνίες που αφορούν στους τομείς της επιστήμης και της τεχνολογίας.

Πηγή: iefimerida.grΟικονομικό Φόρουμ Τορόντο: Μεγάλη η δυναμική Ελλάδας-Καναδά για την ανάπτυξη διμερών συνεργασιών – iefimerida.gr

Smyrna my beloved: Immersing into the events of Smyrna 1922

Film Review: Smyrna my beloved

SMYRNA is officially hitting the big screen across Canada on Thur, December 8 – In select theatres nationwide! One night only! 🎬 🎟 Get your tickets now!

The film does an excellent job at portraying the events that led to the Asia Minor Catastrophe through the eyes of an prominent Smyrna family with Greek roots in a balanced fashion. It highlights the fact that the Asia Minor Diaspora held different view as to the stance to be taken in the war, or how the Turks that were living in peace with the other nationalities were pressured to either side with the nationalists or to be treated as traitors themselves. The film respects historical accuracy and offers an unbiased view, providing equal screen time to all sides that played part in this story. The captivating storytelling allows for the impact and emotional toll of the events speak for themselves. The production, attention to detail, and research that must have gone into the creation of the film are also of the highest standard. A highly recommended offering for everyone with important lessons for followers of current events.

John Sotos

THI Canada, Co-President

Film by : Tanweer Productions

The movie “Smyrna” is based on Mimi Denissi’s stage play “Smyrni moy agapimeni”

Doctors of the World Care for the 60+ Program Presentation

Médecins du Monde Greece held a press conference on Tuesday, July 5th, at the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation, presenting the results of the “Emergency Intervention for Vulnerable People over 60 years old” program for the period 2020-2021, on the occasion of the renewal of the cooperation and support of the program by the Hellenic Initiative of Canada (THI Canada).

Doctors of the World Ukrainian Relief

The Hellenic Initiative of Canada collaborates with Doctors of the World of Greece (Mdm GR) to provide humanitarian aid, medical care and other services for Ukrainian refugees arriving in Greece. So far 40,000 CAD has been raised which will be allocated to this purpose. The Hellenic Initiative of Canada, with the help of of Doctors of the World Greece, offers humanitarian aid to Ukrainian refugees crossing the Greek border, through the Emergency Humanitarian Relief programme Fund for Ukrainian Refugees.

The program offers access to Polyclinics, hostels and mobile units of care in Athens, Thessaloniki and Kavala, where food, accommodation and psychological support for Ukrainian refugees.

Scholarship in Music announcement – Greek Language in Canada

The Hellenic Initiative Canada Graduate Scholarship in Music supports outstanding international scholars from Greece who demonstrate excellence, outstanding potential and a passion and commitment to music.
The Scholarship is a merit-based award aimed at supporting students from Greece pursuing a Master of Music or Doctor of Musical Arts in composition at the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto for the 2022-2023 academic year. The Scholarship provides multi-year funding to support graduate students for the duration of their program. The DMA in composition is jointly funded by The Hellenic Initiative Canada and the University of Toronto.
Applications will be assessed based on academic excellence, transcripts, and track record of accomplishments in music. Eligible candidates are requested to carefully read the scholarship application criteria and the requirement for supporting documentation before submitting the online application.
For further information regarding the announcement, the scholarship, the application process and supporting documents, please visit our website at thehellenicinitiative.ca or contact us at [email protected].
The deadline for the submission of applications is March 15, 2022.

THI Canada New Leaders Speaker Series on “Who Owns History?”

TORONTO – The Hellenic Initiative Canada New Leaders Speaker Series continues with Who Owns History? The Case for the Return of the Parthenon Marbles online on Thursday, March 24, 12 PM EDT. The discussion, featuring guest speaker Geoffrey Robertson, barrister, and moderated by Nik Nanos, Chief Data Scientist and Founder of Nanos Research Corporation, explores one of the biggest questions in the world of arts and culture – Who owns history, and should property taken without consent be returned to their place of origin?

The Passion of the Greek Diaspora for their homeland

Last year’s bicentennial celebrations of the Greek revolution of 1821 have spotlighted the passion of the Greek Diaspora for their homeland. The celebrations revealed that the contemporary Greek Diaspora has a global presence and an overarching international influence. The Greek Diaspora radiates a geopolitical soft power that serves as a strategic tool for Greece’s national causes and foreign policy. In modern times, the Greek Diaspora have also been benefactors to their homeland through their philanthropy, crises relief, business mentorship, entrepreneurial empowerment, and building economic bridges with Greece for international trade and economic development.

Announcement for the Allocation of the Wildfire Relief Campaign Funds 2021

The wildfires in Greece had a devastating impact in the lives and livelihood of many residents. The wildfires destroyed extensive areas in Greece’s landscape, nearly defeating efforts by firefighters, residents and volunteers who fought tirelessly against the raging flames.

The Hellenic Initiative Canada (THIC) responded quickly with an emergency wildfire relief campaign, raising $60,000 with the support of friends and donors. Thank you to all for your generosity and philanthropy in support of the people of Greece during this time of need.

All the money raised will go to support those most affected by the wildfires. After considerable due diligence, THIC will be working with two organizations in Greece to implement programs that will provide much-needed food, medical aid and other basic necessities of life to people affected by the wildfires in Northern Evia.

  • THIC Program with Doctors of the World will support emergency response in Northern Evia, providing medical assistance, psychological support, medical consumables, food and other support for low-income families.
  • THIC Program with Desmos will cover the needs in olive oil for 200 low-income beneficiaries residing in villages in Northern Evia.

We wish to acknowledge the contribution of THIC Director and former Canadian Ambassador to Greece, Robert Peck, as well as the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal and the Greek Community of Toronto, for their support and for raising awareness of THIC’s wildfire relief campaign through their network of contacts. Thank you to everyone who joined in our effort to provide relief to people affected by the devasting wildfires in Greece.

THI CANADA WILDFIRE RELIEF – PROGRAM DETAILS

A. Doctors of the world – Chain of Hope for the People of Northern Evia

ONGOING ACTIVITIES. MdM-Greece has recorded and supports 17 fire-affected households, including 17 fresh university students and 69 members of their families, 48 elderly people and people with chronic illnesses, 50 children in school age, 21 farm-workers by providing health, MHPSS services while the financial assistance is provided through Super Market vouchers. During October the Pediatric and Dental Care Unit was conducting missions on the field having a target to cover at least the 40% of the children in the local schools. The total number of primary schools in the area is 17 and the number of kindergartens is 15. The total number of children is estimated up to 873 and the total number of fresh university students up to 71.

The operational plan of MDM-Greece is to remain in the field to respond to the needs of the affected community.

TARGET AUDIENCE

  • Low-income Households
  • Traumatized People
  • Chronic Patients
  • People with Disabilities
  • Elderly
  • Pregnant women
  • Infants
  • Children under 12 years
  • Teens up to 18 years of age
  • Fire affected farm workers

PROVISION OF SERVICES

  • Medical Care including routine checks
  • Acute care for illness or minor injuries
  • Mental Health and Psychosocial Support including trauma
  • rehabilitation
  • Community outreach and management of referrals to specialized care
  • Emergency Pharmaceutical Support
  • Urgent cash assistance based on evaluation of social status for 30 families
  • Provision of Medical Consumables to chronic patients, persons with disabilities, newborn mothers and women in pregnancy
  • Pediatric care


Budget

Expense categoryCost per Unit (EURO)Duration in monthsTOTAL (EURO)TOTAL (CAD)
Medical Services and Support to the Local Health System4,280417,12024,824.00
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support6,160424,64035,728.00
Material aid to low-income households*8,100432,40046,980.00
Management and Administrative support4,260417,04024,708.00
Travel and Mobile Unit costs2,20048,80012,760.00
  PROGRAM TOTAL100,000 145,000.00

Exchange rate: 1 Euro – 1.45 CAD

* The “material aid” includes the following provisions:
– Supermarket Vouchers
– Supplies / equipment to the local / farmers / cooperatives
– Supplies / equipment to the local health centers / social care structures
– PPE supplies and / or equipment to the local schools
THI Canada will provide 30.000 euros (44,400.00 CAD) of the total costs of the program.

B. DESMOS and THI Canada Food aid program for the People of Northern Evia

The Northern Evia areas affected by the 2021 Wildfires have been underprivileged for decades and the fire significantly worsened the region’s duress. The population is dispersed mainly in small villages and highly depends on small scale activities related to the forests that were destroyed, such as bee harvesting, resin cultivations, lodging, agriculture, cattle farming. At the same time, local produce from these activities made these communities self sufficient in terms of basic goods.

Moving into the winter months, N. Evia communities and municipalities have reached out to Desmos with food relief needs. Most urgently, the needs in olive oil, once abundant in the area, are communicated by our partner NGO’s that have been operating in the area, as well as community representatives and residents. Unfortunately, the wildfires, as well as the collateral heat overlaod they caused, destroyed the olive trees and have resulted in loss of olive oil production in the area.

Olive oil is one of the most expensive household food essentials. In partnership with DESMOS we will cover the needs in olive oil for 200 people in the area of Voutas, N. Evia, for 6 months, following the request of the local community and the approval of the municipality. The budget for the implementation of the program is as follows:

Food Relief – 15,000 CDN (10,340€ based on 6/12/21 exchange rates)

CategoryQtyCOSTPopulationDuration
Project Management(Travel, comms,
admin, overhead)
1500 CDN
(1,034€)
6 months
Food Relief – Olive OilApprox. 625 / 4ltr.*13,500 CDN
(9,306€)
6 months
Total Budget15.000 CDN
(10,340€)
200 residents6 months

  

HOPEgenesis welcome newest family member on the island of Kasos

On October 4th, a healthy baby girl was born on Kasos, a small, remote Greek island with a population of just 990 people. This birth, which was supported by THI Canada and HOPEgenesis, is the third of a new program that was launched at the beginning of 2021 to help address some of the lowest birth rates in Greece. It is also the second birth on the island of Kasos following the birth of a baby boy on September 2nd. HOPEgenesis has also shared with us the happy news that we are expecting one more baby on Kasos before the end of 2021.

“Hope for Babies”, the THI Canada and HOPEgenesis program, aims to help young families with low income and limited access to healthcare services who live in remote areas of Greece bring to the world healthy babies. The program covers all pregnancy-related expenses, from medical tests to doctor visits and all birth-related expenses, including transport to and accommodation at the Maternity clinic. All program participants are monitored regularly by dedicated doctors and nurses, who offer them both medical advice and a sense of security during this special period in their lives.

Baby girl born on Kasos, Oct 2021

Baby girl born on Ag. Efstratios, May 2021

Baby boy born on Kasos, Sept 2021

With the support of THI Canada, HOPEgenesis has also provided the beneficiaries of the program with 15 telemedicine devices and tablets that help them monitor their and their babies’ health daily. HOPEgenesis has developed a specialized app, which allows expecting mothers to easily take their readings from telemedicine devices that are connected to tablets via Bluetooth, and keeps records of their readings over time. The results are then shared with their doctors to advise on any medication or medical care needed.

Below are pictures of some of the recipients while being trained on how to use their assigned devices.

Under its program “Greece against low-birth rate”, HOPEgenesis’ long-term goals include programs that will further help new families by providing child day-care and family support centres, creating employment opportunities, and offering the continued support new families require. As their isolated communities grow and their population increases, we can also look forward to new schools, children’s activities centres and new business growth strengthening the local economies. The young couples residing in these communities, who were at one point even considering moving, now have an important motive – some much-needed support – to stay and start their families at the place where they grew up themselves.