1902
The first Orthodox Services are held in Edmonton by Fr. Jacob Korchinsky in a house Chapel marking the beginning of St. Barbara’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral. Fr. Korchinski was a missionary priest who founded many parishes in North America. He was killed in Odessa soon after the Bolshevik Revolution.
More info: http://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodoxy_in_Hawaii https://www.orthodox-canada.com/parishes/st-barbara-cathedral/

1902
St. Barbara’s Russian Orthodox Church began in 1902 in a small frame house just outside the Fort, near the current Legislature grounds, and was replaced by a wooden church in 1908. Construction of the current building began in 1956. Designed by local church architect Nicolas Flak, the building was completed in 1958 and consecrated on July 31, 1960.
More info: http://www.edmontonsarchitecturalheritage.ca/structures/st-barbaras-cathedral/

1904
G. D. Vlassis [01] reports that an old man, Yerontas, was the first Greek to set foot in Edmonton. He arrived prior to 1904. According to the same source, Yerontas still kept a confectionery store in the city in 1942. This has been impossible to confirm from other sources. None of the persons who arrived in the 1930s and were interviewed for this project was able to identify Yerontas or provide any information about him.

1906
William (Vassilios) Barootes arrives in Edmonton from Triglia, Asia Minor [02]; it marks the beginning of immigration by the Barootes family.

1907
Angelos Alaoglou (Alaoglu) arrives also from Triglia, Asia Minor [03]. The Alaoglou family later changed its surname to Leonidas.

1907
The Brown (Argyropoulos) brothers from Athens manage the Pantages Theatre (Alexander Pantages, b. Andros, Greece, 1876) on the site of the Strand Theatre (10209 – Jasper Avenue). This was one of the many Pantages Theatres across North America.
Information on A. Pantages: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Pantages

1914
Johnson’s Cafe, managed by Constantine Johnson (Yiannitsis or Giannitsis) opens [04]. Con. Johnson arrived in Edmonton from Calgary in 1911 but went back to Greece to fight in the Balkan wars of 1912 – 1913. He returned to Edmonton in 1914 and operated the restaurant until his death in 1952 [02].

1914
The American Dairy Lunch is acquired by George Spillios and James Lingas.

1923
St. Regis hotel is acquired by Andrew Agrios and James Varvis.
Also see: My Prewar Memories of the Greek Orthodox Community of Edmonton by Dr. C. J. Varvis

1930/11/19
The Aurora Borealis Chapter 10 CJ of the Order of AHEPA is established; George Plasteras is elected president. This is officially the first Greek organization in Alberta.

1926
Mrs. Helen Lingas arrives in Edmonton. She is the first female born in Greece who earned a university degree from a Canadian University. Her degree was in Linguistics from McGill University in Montreal.

1933
The local Chapter of the Sons of Pericles is established; Nick Costabaris is elected president.

1938
The Edmonton Greek Canadian Community is established; George Spillios is elected chairman. This is also the first Greek Community in the Prairie Provinces!

1941
The Greek Canadian Ladies Society is established; Aspasia Spillios is elected president. Among the members are Mrs. Jasmene Varvis, Harikleia Demas, Georgia Chanakos, Evangeline Kallas. The Society is particularly active during the war years, significantly contributing to the War Relief Effort. Money, clothing, foods, medicines etc. are collected and sent to Greece through the Red Cross. This Society becomes the forerunner to the Greek Canadian Ladies Philoptochos (Benevolent) Society, which will be founded in 1949.

1945
Ms. Helen Plasteras (Hill) becomes the first woman of Hellenic descent to obtain a University degree in Alberta. She receives her BCom from the University of Alberta and proceeds to also obtain a BEd from the same University in 1947. She is credited with suggesting the name “Pandas” for the ladies’ sports teams of the university [06].

1945/10/02
St. George Greek Orthodox Church is formally established and registered under the Religious Societies Lands Act of the Province of Alberta. The Church continues to be registered under this Act to this day (2020).
More info: https://greekorthodoxedmonton.ca/

Important Note:
[07] According to Mr. Nicholas Spillios, the Greek Orthodox Church Community of Edmonton was unofficially established in 1944 at a meeting held at Anton Cabaret, on 101 Street south of Jasper avenue, on a Sunday evening. The article is reproduced on this site by kind permission of the Edmonton & District Historical Society, as Article by Mr. Nicholas Spillios.

1945
The property at the S.W. corner of Jasper Avenue and 114 street is acquired from the City of Edmonton for the sum of $2,745.00 [05]. The land is consecrated, and construction commences immediately. It must be noted that twelve families only carried out the immense task of forming the community, purchasing the land, and building the Church!

1945
The founding members of the Community constitute the first Board of Directors. They are the following:

George Spillios, President (+1970)
Andrew Agrios, Vice-President (+1960)
Effie Leonidas, Secretary (+2007)
Dimitrios Katsantonis (James Anast), Treasurer (+1962)
Philippos Mamatas, Member (+1959)
Georgia Sakka (Saks), Member (+19??)
Maria Raikos, Member (+1960)
Dimitrios (James) Varvis, Member (+1969)
Constantine Johnson (Yiannitsos or Giannitsos), Member, (+1952)

1946
The Eleusinian Club is formed; it is the first gender-mixed youth group. It was organized by Mrs. Helen Lingas.

1948
The Church building is completed at the SW corner of 114 street and Jasper Avenue (10056 – 114 street). Fr. Basil of St. Barbara’s prepares the icons for the new Church. The original Church is a small one. The building will later be expanded twice.

1948
The Church is named after St. George, the Great Martyr, in honour of the first president, Mr. George Spillios.

1948
The Church receives its Charter from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America.

1949/05/08
Fr. Hiotis of Great Falls, Montana celebrates the first Divine Liturgy in the new Church.

1949
The Church Choir is established. It will later be improved and augmented during the service of the V. Rev. Fr. Ambrose Giannoukos. The choir served the Church well into the late 1980’s. An attempt to revive it occurred in 2016 under the directorship of choir master, Christina Andrews. It served the Church until the end of 2017. It was revived again in January 2019 under the directorship of choir master, Zoe Sipsas and her daughter Heidi. Christina Andrews took over again in September 2019.

1949
The first cantors at the Church are Mr. Philippos Mamatas and Mr. Elias Costouros.

1949
The Greek Canadian Ladies Society is disbanded and the Greek Canadian Ladies Philoptochos (Benevolent) Society is formed; Mrs. William Kazakos is elected president.
Info on Bill’s Confectionary: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28832928/effie-evangel

1952
Helen Diamandidis is appointed teacher in the Hellenic Language School, which now operates under the auspices of the Greek Orthodox Community (St. George’s).

1953/05/22
The Greek Canadian Ladies Philoptochos (Benevolent) Society is officially registered in the Province of Alberta [05]. In the same year, it also receives its Charter from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America. The members of the Board of Directors consist of:

Mrs. Angeliki Johnson, President (+1974)
Mrs. Galateia Chistophorides, Vice-President (+1970)
Mrs. Kay Gardener, Member (+…)
Mrs. Georgia Chanakos, Member (+2008)
Mrs. Harikleia Demas, Member (+…)

1954/01/19
The Daughters of Penelope, Edmonton Chapter is established. The first president is Mrs. Elizabeth (Bessie) Gardener.

1954 – 1962
The V. Rev. Archimandrite Ambrose Giannoukos serves as the first full-time parish priest. He was later appointed to St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church at Corpus Christi, Texas.
http://www.stnicholasgoc.net/about-us/

1955
Dr. Daphne Irene Lingas – Clements becomes the first female of Hellenic descent to graduate from the Medical School of the University of Alberta. She belonged to the “class of 1955”. She worked for the Edmonton Department of Health. She later practiced, lived and died in California (2014/04/01).

1963
The Church Choir is re-established. The organist was Mrs. Diana Kehaya, followed by Mrs. Yolanda Coumanterakis and Mrs. Christina Andrews who served very many years as the organist.

1959/06/07
His Grace, Dimitrios, Bishop of Olympus, consecrates the Church, ten years after it was completed. The Philoptochos Ladies Society is declared “sponsor – anadohos” of the Church and symbolically receives the key.

1960 – 1963
His Grace, Bishop Athenagoras of Elaia oversees the Greek Orthodox Communities in Canada.

1961/09/02
The Greek Orthodox Youth Association (G.O.Y.A.) receives its Charter from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America.

1962 – 1965
The V. Rev. Archimandrite Sotirios Athanassoulas takes up his duties as the second full-time parish priest. On 1973/12/18 he is elected, and on 1974/01/27 he is ordained (titular) Bishop of Constantia; in 1979 he is promoted to Bishop of Toronto; on 1996/09/24 he is elevated to the office of Metropolitan of Toronto and Exarch of all Canada. On 2019/06/13, the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople elevates the Toronto Metropolis to Archdiocese of Canada and His Eminence becomes Archbishop of Canada and All Arctic.
More info: https://www.gometropolis.org/

1963 – 1967
Bishop Timotheos of Rodostolon oversees the Greek Orthodox Church in Canada.

Early 1960s
Mr. Harry (Christos) Sergiannis becomes a regular cantor of the Church. He will continue offering his services in this capacity until his death on 2012/02/24.

Mid-1960s
Mr. Chrysostomos Macris becomes a regular cantor of the Church. He continues in this capacity to this date (2020).

1965 – 1968
The Rev. Ioannis (John) Floropoulos (+ 2011, Toronto) is appointed as the third full-time parish priest.

1967 – 1973
Bishop Theodosios of Ancona oversees the Greek Orthodox Church in Canada.

1968 – 1977
The V. Rev. Archimandrite Petros Karatroupkos (Peter Karas) is appointed as the fourth full-time priest of the Church; he serves until November 1977. On 2001/02/22 he was consecrated as bishop of Zambia of the Patriarchate of Alexandria. He resigned (2003/03/14) for health reasons and became titular bishop of Nicopolis (Patriarchate of Alexandria). He fell asleep in the Lord in his native Naousa on January 31, 2012.

Mid-1970’s
Dr. Athanasios Tavouktsoglou becomes a cantor at the church. He continues in this capacity to date (2022).

1977
The Hellenic Language School acquires a governing Board; Mrs. Charlotte Spillios is the chair; Dr. Athanasios Tavouktsoglou is the full-time instructor and principal.

1977
The first groups of Greek Folk Dancing (Hellenic Dancers of Edmonton) are formed. Mrs. Harikleia (Charlotte) Spillios is the coordinator. She is also in charge of acquiring the costumes. Dance instructor is Mrs. Flouritsa (Flora) Tavouktsoglou.

1977/11/01
The Rev. Ioannis (John) Nikolaou is appointed as the fifth full-time parish priest; he serves until November 1979.

1979/12
The Rev. Dimitrios Rougas is appointed as the sixth full-time parish priest; he serves until 1995/02/28, at which time he is transferred to Calgary.

1980/11/01
The “Hellenic Anthology” radio program begins broadcasting from CKER radio; it is produced by John Karvellas and Steve (Aristeides) Makris.

1980
The “Hellenic Voice of Edmonton” is published as the local Greek magazine; the editor is Dr. Athanasios Tavouktsoglou. The magazine will only publish five issues before stopping, due to lack of volunteers and contributors.

1981/09
Dr. Athanasios Tavouktsoglou becomes the producer of the radio program Hellenic Anthology on CKER and holds that position until September 1999.

1981/09
The Hellenic Language School establishes an annex in Jasper Park, AB. Mr. Eleftherios Pitoulis is elected chairman. Dr. Athanasios Tavouktsoglou is the instructor and principal.

1982
The Hellenic Canadian Community of Edmonton & Region is established.
More info: https://www.edmontonhellenic.com/

1983 – 1985
The Hellenic Language / Heritage School of Edmonton operates under a Board consisting of:
a) two persons appointed by the Greek Orthodox Community of Edmonton,
b) two persons appointed by the Hellenic Canadian Community of Edmonton & Region,
c) two parents elected by the parents and guardians of the school students.

1983/05
KYKLOS Hellenic Performing and Literary Arts Group is established by a group of university and high school students of Hellenic descent under the guidance of Katerina Pizanias and Kathy Rigakis.
More info on KYKLOS: http://www.kyklosonline.com/

1984/03
KYKLOS Hellenic Performing and Literary Arts Group is incorporated as a non-profit organization in the Province of Alberta.

1984
The Canadian Multicultural Education Foundation (CMEF) is formed. A founding member and Greek representative is Mr. Nicholas Spillios.

Nicholas and Harikleia (Charlotte) Spillios

1985/09
The Hellenic Canadian Community of Edmonton & Region establishes its own Hellenic Language School.

1989
The Church-Community complex at 10831 – 124 Street is acquired from Beulah Alliance Church for the sum of $1,000,000.00 paid in cash.

1991/03/02
A fire started by the crew renovating the new building, damages much of the Church. Work immediately starts to repair the damages.

Athanasios (Tom) Tavouktsoglou surveys the damage to Edmonton’s Greek Orthodox Community Centre and Church

C4 The Edmonton Journal, Saturday March 16, 1991.

The Edmonton Sunday Sun, March 3, 1991

1991/10/06
His Grace, Bishop Sotirios of Toronto (Canada) consecrates the new Church at 10831 – 124 street.

1995/fall
The Rev. George Alexiou is appointed as the seventh full-time parish priest; he serves until early 1996.

1995
The Society of the Friends of Hellenism is formed by Mr. Nicholas Spillios, who is also its first president.

1995/11/18
The Greek Orthodox Community of Edmonton holds its 50^th Anniversary Celebration and Banquet, during the presidency of Mr. Sevastos (Stakis) Zervos. The event takes place at the Mayfield Inn Grand Ballroom. Mr. Ernie Afaganis is the master of ceremonies.

1996/06
The V. Rev. Archimandrite Constantine Siarapis is appointed as the eighth full-time parish priest; he serves until September 2000.

2000 – 2001
The Church is served by the Rev. Dimitrios Polychroniadis, a retired priest, formerly serving the Calgary Community.

2001 – 2004
The Church is served by the V. Rev. Archimandrite Theodore Gove, who is also serving the Community in Prince George, B.C.

2003
Investiture of Dr. Christopher J. Varvis as Archon Ekdikos of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Dr. C. J. Varvis becomes the first Archon of the Patriarchate in Edmonton.

Courtesy of Dr. C. J. Varvis
Left to Right: The V. Rev. Archimandrite Theodore Gove, Archon Ekdikos Dr. C. J. Varvis, His Eminence Metropolitan Sotirios, The V. Rev. Archimandrite Constantine Siarapis.

2004/01/01

Christina Andrews serves as President of the Greek Orthodox Community. She is the first female president of a Greek Community in Canada.

2004/02/15
The Rev. Ioannis Stylianos Kaoukakis is appointed as the ninth full-time parish priest; he is one of the first graduates of the Patriarchal Toronto Orthodox Theological Academy. He serves the Community until July 2016.

Rev. John Stylianos Kaoukakis
Photo courtesy of Ms. Athanasia Spillios

2016/08/01
The Rev. Charalambos Tzintis is appointed as the tenth full-time parish priest. He serves the Community until September 2018.

2016/09/01

Dr. George Georgiou, a professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Alberta is appointed cantor-primus (protopsaltis) of the Church. He studied byzantine music under the guidance of Petros Petrou, who was himself a student of the Archon Protopsaltis of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, Mr. Thrasyvoulos Stanitsas. Dr. G. Georgiou received his diploma in Byzantine Music with distinction from the Music School of Athens. He will serve the Church as its cantor-primus until October 2018.

2016/12/04
Investiture of Professor Dr. Athanasios Tavouktsoglou as Archon Referendarios of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Dr. Tavouktsoglou becomes the second Archon of the Patriarchate in Edmonton after Dr. C. J. Varvis. The Service is celebrated by Metropolitan Sotirios and Bishop Ilarion (Western Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada).

Left to Right: Rev. Charalambos Tzintis, Bishop Ilarion, Metropolitan Sotirios, Rev. Dimitrios Rougas,

Rev. Ronald Poworoznik
Courtesy of Ms. Anna Manadi-Stamatakis

2017/08/27
Fr. Charalambos Tzintis is bestowed the offikion of Economos by Metropolitan Sotirios.

2017/12/31
His Eminence, Metropolitan Sotirios of Toronto and all Canada performs the investiture Service appointing professor Dr. George Georgiou to the rank of Protopsaltis (cantor-primus) of the Holy Metropolis of Toronto and all Canada.

2018/05/06
KYKLOS officially dedicates its new wardrobe room in a renovated corner of the church basement.  The room houses over 300 folk costumes and KYKLOS awards/paraphernalia. Minister Sarah Hoffman (Minister of Health) and Kathy Rigakis cut the official ribbon.  Kathy Rigakis is also honoured for her many years of service and support to KYKLOS and the Hellenic costume tradition.

2018/07/03 – 2018/07/08
KYKLOS competes in the Llangollen International Music Festival in Wales, Great Britain and ranks 3^rd place in the traditional folk category.  In addition, the group performs five shows to audiences from around the world.

2018/01/17
An Ad Hoc Committee is established to investigate the condition of the current church and community building at 10831 – 124 St. NW. Edmonton. It is also mandated to find out the values of the properties both at Jasper Avenue and 124 Street, and to make recommendations about the purchase/acquisition of a new building for the church and community. The committee consists of Mr. Nectarios Stamatakis PEng (chair), Mr. Constantinos (Dino) Loutas PEng, Dr. Demetri Kutsogiannis MD, Dr. Athanasios Tavouktsoglou (convener), Mr. Johnny Sergiannis and others as the need arises.

2018/09/01
The Rev. Andreas Allain is appointed as the eleventh full-time parish priest. He is a graduate of the Patriarchal Toronto Orthodox Theological Academy.
More Info:       https://greekorthodoxedmonton.ca/church/our-priest/

2018/11/01
A new Church choir is established. The choir director is Ms. Joyce (Zoe) Sipsas; her daughter, Heidi, is the choir master/conductor. The associate choir director is Christina Andrews (see entry 2004/01/01 above and 2019/02/26 below). Mrs. C. Andrews once again becomes the Choir director in September 2019.

2019/02/26
The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto announces a $100,000 donation to the Patriarchal Toronto Orthodox Theological Academy by the late Kleoniki (Cleo) Girgulis (Georgulis) nee Barootes of Saskatoon. Cleo grew up in Edmonton and was a student in the first Greek School in 1932. Cleo Girgulis is the mother of Christina Andrews, past president of the G. O. Community of Edmonton (see entry 2004/01/01 above), current treasurer of the Board of Directors, and associate director of the church choir. Christina Andrews together with her sisters Ann Andrews (Edmonton) and Vasilia Kashmarski (Calgary) are also active members of the Daughters of Penelope.

2019/03/10
KYKLOS celebrates its 35^th anniversary with an impressive performance at the Timms Centre for the Arts.

2019/06/12
The Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople elevates the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto (Canada) to Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada. Metropolitan Sotirios is elevated to the rank of Archbishop of Canada and all Arctic.

The following is the announcement from the official web site of the patriarchate:

“…Ἐξ ἄλλου, ἡ Ἁγία καί Ἱερά Σύνοδος ἀπεφάσισε τήν μετονομασίαν τῆς Ἱερᾶς Μητροπόλεως Τορόντο εἰς Ἱεράν Ἀρχιεπισκοπήν Καναδᾶ, τόν δέ ἐν αὐτῇ ἀρχιερατεύοντα Σεβ. Μητροπολίτην κ. Σωτήριον, εἰς Σεβ. Ἀρχιεπίσκοπον Καναδᾶ, ὑπέρτιμον καί ἔξαρχον πάσης Ἀρκτικῆς, τηρουμένης τῆς ἐν τῷ Συνταγματίῳ τῶν Ἱεραρχῶν τοῦ Οἰκουμενικοῦ Θρόνου θέσεως αὐτοῦ”.

https://www.ec-patr.org/docdisplay.php?lang=en&id=2801&tla=gr

2019/04/16
The United Conservative Party (UCP) under Mr. Jason Kenney wins the Provincial Elections in Alberta. Dr. Demetrios Nicolaides of Calgary is appointed Minister of Advanced Education. He is the first politician of Hellenic descent (Cyprus) to be appointed in the Alberta Government.
https://www.assembly.ab.ca/net/index.aspx?p=mla_contact&rnumber=03&leg=30

Courtesy of Legislative Assembly of Alberta

2019/08
The Met Youth is established in Edmonton. Met Youth is a faith-based organization with the goal of involving Orthodox youth in the life of the church. It aims to educate youth in the Orthodox faith and lifestyle through various religious events, church services, several initiatives and volunteer opportunities as well as connecting local youth with other Greek Orthodox youth both regionally and nationally

The first Board of Directors are:
Elizabeth Helmak (President),
Alexander Seminatore (Vice-President),
Athena Tsoukalas (Secretary),
Thanasi Pananos (Treasurer),
Maria Lukowich (Board Member).

Courtesy of Ms. Elizabeth Helmak

The Met Youth Regional Assembly in Regina, February 14 – 16, 2020.

2020/02/13
ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE

PRESS RELEASE
Under the presidency of His All-Holiness, the Ecumenical Patriarch, the Holy and Sacred Synod convened for its regular session, today, Thursday, February 13th, 2020, in order to examine and discuss items on its agenda.

During this meeting, at the request of His-All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the members of the Holy and Sacred Synod duly casted their votes in the Sacred Patriarchal Church, electing unanimously three Auxiliary Bishops under His Eminence Archbishop Sotirios of Canada. Specifically, those elected are V. Rev. Archimandrite Nektarios Mostratos, with the title Bishop of Keramon, the V. Rev. Archimandrite Alexander Salmas, with the title Bishop of Patara, and the V. Rev. Archimandrite Demetrios Antonopoulos with the title Bishop of Zenoupolis.

From the Chief Secretariat of the Holy and Sacred Synod.

2020/03/20
The World Health Organization declares a pandemic due to the coronavirus (COVID-19). By order of His Eminence, Archbishop Sotirios, all G. O. Churches in Canada are to remain closed to the general public until further notice. All Holy Services are conducted regularly with only the priest, the cantor and the sexton (church caretaker) present. The Services are stream-lined on the social media.

2020/04/16
CTV News features the following article about the G. O. Community’s efforts to develop its property on Jasper Avenue.
Edmonton’s Greek Orthodox Church looking to develop new downtown retail space
CTV News Edmonton
Jay Rosove
Video Journalist
Contact
Published Thursday, April 16, 2020 4:26PM MDT

 

EDMONTON — St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church is stepping into the land development industry.

The church hopes its empty lot on the southwest corner of Jasper Avenue and 114 Street will soon be home to a new retail space.
If approved, the 16,000 square foot piece of land will host a three-storey commercial building dubbed ’14.’
The building would boast 44,000 square feet of floor space across three floors, and include underground parking.
The land was purchased by Edmonton’s Greek Orthodox Community 75 years ago for $2,745.
“Our grandparents came here, bought this piece of land,” the church’s realtor, Chris Karampelas,
told CTV News Edmonton by video chat.
“It was really good to us for a long period of time and we think it’s on us now to take this piece of
real estate and utilize it and showcase something that our future generation will have,” he said.
Edmonton’s Greek Orthodox Church’s former building sat on the land until the church moved to
its current location on 124 Street in the early 1990s.
After that, a portion of the Edmonton Motors dealership occupied the lot.
The dealership decided to move and its lease expired December of last year.
The Greek Orthodox Church hopes to break ground on the project by fall of this year.
The development is awaiting approval from the City of Edmonton.

Architect’s concept