Androula Tsoukalas
Interviewer(s):
Theo Xenophontos
Project:
Film as Mediator: Cultivating a Cypriot Canadian Community Audiovisual Media Archive
INTERVIEW LOCATION:
Belleville, ON
LANGUAGE:
English with some Cypriot Greek
DATE:
July 16, 2023

Interview Summary:

Androula Tsoukalas was born in Mesogi, Cyprus in 1943. In 1964, she migrated to Canada due to the intercommunal violence between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. In 1974, she aided her husband as he organized a protest in Ottawa following the Turkish invasion.

‍

Interview Details
Categories and Themes
Content
Media
Date and Location
July 16, 2023
Belleville, ON
Interviewee(s)
Androula Tsoukalas
Interviewer(s)
Theo Xenophontos
Languages
English with some Cypriot Greek
Reference ID
FAMREF013
Project
Film as Mediator: Cultivating a Cypriot Canadian Community Audiovisual Media Archive
Use and Reproduction: Digital content found on the HHF GCA digital portal is meant for research and private study used in compliance with copyright legislation. Access to digital content, and the technical capacity to download or copy it, does not imply permission to re-use. Prior written permission to publish or otherwise use content must be obtained from the copyright holder. Please contact the HHF GCA at hhfgca@yorku.ca for further information.
Categories
Associational Life
Canadian Society
Culture and Tradition
Education
Historical Events
Homeland Activism
Migration
Rites
Working Life
Tags
AHEPA
Australia
Baptism
Cleaning Work
Cypriot Canadian 1974 Protests
Cypriot Canadian Identity
Cypriot Community of Toronto Inc.
Cypriot Intercommunal Violence
Cyprus 1974
Cyprus Coup
Dance
Engagement
English Learning
EOKA
Greek Community
Greek School
Junta
Marriage
Military Service
Post-1974 Migration
Pre-1974 Migration
Religion
Sponsorship
The Cypriot Brotherhood
UK
USA
WW2
Decades Referenced
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
Locations Referenced
Cyprus; Mesogi (Paphos District); Timi (Paphos District); Polis Chrysochous (Paphos District); Limni Mine (Paphos District); Argaka (Paphos District); Prodromi (Paphos District); Paphos; Troodos Mountains; Kyperounda (Limassol District); Kyperounda Regional Hospital (formerly Kyperounda Sanatorium); Akrotiri (British Base in Cyprus); Canada; Toronto; Belleville; Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church (Belleville); Kingston; Trenton; Picton; Windsor; Ottawa; Montreal; Halifax; Victoria; Vancouver; Australia; the United Kingdom; the United States of America; Russia; Ukraine; Israel; Palestine; Greece; Athens; Rhodes; Crete
Occupation(s)
As a child, she helped her mother as a basket weaver. Then when she was older, she worked at Limni Mine. Her first job in Canada was working as a dishwasher and then later on she worked as a cashier at Home Depot. While not referenced in the interview, Androula was also a partner in her husband's accounting business (see the media tab).
Parents Occupation(s)
Her mother was a basket weaver and her father was a government foreman. Her father also served in the Cyprus Regiment of the British Army during World War II.
Names Referenced
Chris Tsoukalas; Dimitrios Ioannidis; Georgios Grivas; Georgios Papadopoulos; King Paul of Greece; Makarios III; Spyros Kyprianou

[00:00:17] Biographical and familial background

[00:03:30] Leaving Cyprus due to the troubles in the 1960s

[00:08:56] Details about her childhood in Cyprus

[00:13:37] Details about EOKA and the troubles in the 1960s

[00:25:51] Interactions with Turkish Cypriots

[00:28:32] Imperialist politics in Cyprus

[00:31:53] Reasons for picking Canada over other countries

[00:35:32] Describing her first job in Canada

[00:38:47] Adjusting to life in Canada

[00:39:51] Fading Cypriot presence in Belleville  

[00:42:47] Connection with the Cypriot Community of Toronto

[00:44:39] Memories of 1974

[00:49:51] Arguments with junta supporters

[00:55:19] Cypriot dances & children attending Greek school

[00:56:56] Differences between Cypriot and Greek language

[01:04:06] Moving back & forth between Cyprus and Canada

[01:08:30] Association with AHEPA & Daughters of Penelope

[01:15:28] Cypriots in Victoria, B.C.

[01:19:20] Connection between Belleville & Kingston Cypriots

[01:20:57] Founding of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

[01:25:14] The importance of photography

[01:28:32] Harassment from a Greek over Cypriot identity

[01:31:58] Hopes for the future of Cyprus

This is some text inside of a div block.
Chris Tsoukalas (standing on the right) with some friends in Canada, 1965
Chris during his military service in Cyprus, 1960s
Chris at an AHEPA meeting, 1970s
The individual on the left is the brother of the priest at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Scarborough. He went to school with Androula in Cyprus. The individual on the right is Evagoras Pallikarides, a EOKA martyr from Paphos
Embroidered portrait of Makarios III, the first President of Cyprus, in the home of Androula
Books about Cyprus and Cypriot related topics in Androula's home
Androula showing the interviewer a map of the Turkish invasion's impact on Cyprus
Chris getting ready to go to Ottawa to protest the Turkish invasion, 1974
Androula with her children, getting ready to go to Ottawa to protest the Turkish invasion, 1974
Androula's son with signs made by his parents, getting ready to go to Ottawa to protest the Turkish invasion, 1974
One of Androula's daughters holding a sign made by her parents, getting ready to go to Ottawa to protest the Turkish invasion, 1974
One of Androula's daughters holding a sign made by her parents, getting ready to go to Ottawa to the protest the Turkish invasion, 1974
Chris at a Greek Orthodox Church, late 1970s or early 1980s
Androula (on the bottom left) in a group photo for a women's auxiliary society, late 1970s or early 1980s
Androula's sister, Martha (bottom left in the yellow headdress) with fellow Cypriots and Greeks, late 1970s or early 1980s. Martha taught Greek dance in Belleville
Martha, her daughter, and husband at a Daughters of Penelope dance, late 1970s or early 1980s
Androula's son (in the centre) participating in a dance recital, late 1970s or early 1980s. This was the first time he wore a vraka
Newspaper announcement about the opening of Tsoukalas & Company, March 30, 1985
Photos of Chris at a Greek dance, 1980s
Chris' AHEPAN of the Year award, 1988 - 1989
Chris' AHEPAN of the Year award, 1990
Order of AHEPA plaque presented to Chris Tsoukalas
Androula's Cyprus plate, a staple of many Cypriot homes
A souvenir from Cyprus in Androula's home
A souvenir from Cyprus in Androula's home
No items found.
Chris Tsoukalas (standing on the right) with some friends in Canada, 1965
Chris during his military service in Cyprus, 1960s
Chris at an AHEPA meeting, 1970s
The individual on the left is the brother of the priest at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Scarborough. He went to school with Androula in Cyprus. The individual on the right is Evagoras Pallikarides, a EOKA martyr from Paphos
Embroidered portrait of Makarios III, the first President of Cyprus, in the home of Androula
Books about Cyprus and Cypriot related topics in Androula's home
Androula showing the interviewer a map of the Turkish invasion's impact on Cyprus
Chris getting ready to go to Ottawa to protest the Turkish invasion, 1974
Androula with her children, getting ready to go to Ottawa to protest the Turkish invasion, 1974
Androula's son with signs made by his parents, getting ready to go to Ottawa to protest the Turkish invasion, 1974
One of Androula's daughters holding a sign made by her parents, getting ready to go to Ottawa to protest the Turkish invasion, 1974
One of Androula's daughters holding a sign made by her parents, getting ready to go to Ottawa to the protest the Turkish invasion, 1974
Chris at a Greek Orthodox Church, late 1970s or early 1980s
Androula (on the bottom left) in a group photo for a women's auxiliary society, late 1970s or early 1980s
Androula's sister, Martha (bottom left in the yellow headdress) with fellow Cypriots and Greeks, late 1970s or early 1980s. Martha taught Greek dance in Belleville
Martha, her daughter, and husband at a Daughters of Penelope dance, late 1970s or early 1980s
Androula's son (in the centre) participating in a dance recital, late 1970s or early 1980s. This was the first time he wore a vraka
Newspaper announcement about the opening of Tsoukalas & Company, March 30, 1985
Photos of Chris at a Greek dance, 1980s
Chris' AHEPAN of the Year award, 1988 - 1989
Chris' AHEPAN of the Year award, 1990
Order of AHEPA plaque presented to Chris Tsoukalas
Androula's Cyprus plate, a staple of many Cypriot homes
A souvenir from Cyprus in Androula's home
A souvenir from Cyprus in Androula's home
No items found.
Resources
HHF Greek Canadian Archives
Terms of use
Privacy Policy
Land Acknowledgement: York University recognizes that many Indigenous Nations have longstanding relationships with the territories upon which York University campuses are located that precede the establishment of York University. York University acknowledges its presence on the traditional territory of many Indigenous Nations. The area known as Tkaronto has been care taken by the Anishinabek Nation, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and the Huron-Wendat. It is now home to many First Nation, Inuit and Métis communities. We acknowledge the current treaty holders, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. This territory is subject of the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement to peaceably share and care for the Great Lakes region.
© 2025 Hellenic Heritage Foundation Greek Canadian Archives at York University. All rights reserved
Designed By Mahsa Karami