Anastasia Barlas
Interviewer(s):
Alexandros Balasis
Project:
Greek Canadian Stories
INTERVIEW LOCATION:
Toronto, ON
LANGUAGE:
Greek
DATE:
March 8, 2024

Interview Summary:

Anastasia Barlas was born in 1940 and grew up in Nafplion. She attended home economics school in Nemea before becoming a seamstress. Barlas decided to emigrate and arrived in Toronto, where she worked as a seamstress and became involved with St. George Greek Orthodox Church and Philoptochos. She recalls her wedding, her parents’ visits, and sending her children to Greek school while also considering returning to Greece and reflecting on the future of Greeks in Canada.

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Interview Details
Categories and Themes
Content
Media
Date and Location
March 8, 2024
Toronto, ON
Interviewee(s)
Anastasia Barlas
Interviewer(s)
Alexandros Balasis
Languages
Greek
Reference ID
GICREF078
Project
Greek Canadian Stories
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Categories
Associational Life
Education
Historical Events
Migration
Rites
Tags
Greek Civil War
Greek School
Marriage
Philoptochos
Post-WW2 Migration
Decades Referenced
1950s
1960s
Locations Referenced
Kefalonia, Nafplion, Nemea, Vathia, Lagia, Laconia, Toronto
Occupation(s)
Sewer
Parents Occupation(s)
Prison Guard (Father)
Names Referenced
Sarandos Borovilos, Theodosios Peroukas (Groomsman)

[00:00:31] Born in Kefalonia and growing up in Nafplion

[00:02:26] Home economics school in Nemea

[00:04:20] Becoming a seamstress and working in Canada

[00:07:00] Her family and her understanding of the Civil War

[00:09:47] Her father’s occupation as a prison guard

[00:12:59] Her husband and his migration to Canada

[00:19:38] Working as a seamstress in Greece and Canada

[00:21:40] Decision to emigrate and the journey

[00:33:58] Arriving in Toronto and the Borovilos family

[00:42:00] Her wedding, finding a groomsman, and her gown

[00:44:35] Her job in Canada as a seamstress

[00:49:58] St. George Greek Orthodox Church and Philoptochos

[00:57:00] Her relationship with other associations and GCT

[01:00:54] The new Greek churches

[01:02:09] Her parents’ visits

[01:05:12] Sending her children to Greek schools

[01:07:54] Visiting Greece and her impressions

[01:10:17] Considering to return to Greece

[01:11:27] Thoughts on Canada and the future of the Greeks

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