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.

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
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Categories
Tags
Decades Referenced
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.