Anonymous 2
Interviewer(s):
Theo Xenophontos
Project:
Greek Canadian Stories
INTERVIEW LOCATION:
Whitby, ON
LANGUAGE:
English
DATE:
March 27, 2026

Interview Summary:

The interviewee was born in Agros, Cyprus in 1943. In this interview, he details his experiences living through the EOKA struggle, the intercommunal violence between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, the junta-engineered coup, and Turkish invasion, culminating in his migration to Canada in late 1974. Upon arrival, he helped with the Cyprus Relief Fund of Ontario. He also provides insights into the divide that manifested itself in the diaspora among the Democratic Organization of Cyprus Canada and the Cultural Organization of Greek Cypriots. From 1989 – 2000, he was the owner of the restaurant and music venue Cypriana.

‍

Interview Details
Categories and Themes
Content
Media
Date and Location
March 27, 2026
Whitby, ON
Interviewee(s)
Anonymous 2
Interviewer(s)
Theo Xenophontos
Languages
English
Reference ID
GICREF146
Project
Greek Canadian Stories
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
Working Life
Tags
Cypriot Canadian Identity
Cypriot Community of Toronto Inc.
Cypriot Federation Of Canada
Cypriot Intercommunal Violence
Cyprus 1974
Cyprus Coup
Cyprus Relief Fund of Ontario
Dance
Egypt
Entrepreneurship
EOKA
EOKA-B
Greek Food
Greek School
Junta
Military Service
Parades
Post-1974 Migration
Religion
Restaurant Work
The Cypriot Brotherhood
Decades Referenced
1930s
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
Locations Referenced
Cyprus; Agios Dometios (Nicosia District); Agios Theodoros Karpasias; Agros (Limassol District); Astromeritis (Nicosia District); Bogazi (Famagusta District); Morphou (Nicosia District); Neapolis (suburb in Nicosia); Kaimakli (Nicosia District); Katokopia (Nicosia District); Kioneli (Nicosia District); Kokkinotrimithia (Nicosia District); Kyperounda (Limassol District); Kyrenia; Lakatamia (Nicosia District); Mansoura (Nicosia District); Nicosia; Omorfita (Nicosia District); Pitsilia; Presidential Palace (Nicosia); Trachonas (suburb of Nicosia); Troodos Mountains; Canada; Boy on a Dolphin (restaurant in Scarborough); Brampton; Christou Greek School; Cypriana (restaurant and music venue in Scarborough); Embassy of Cyprus (Ottawa); Hamilton; Mississauga; Newmarket; Ontario Court of Justice (Eglinton and Warden); Scarborough; St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church; St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church (Scarborough); Toronto; Vancouver; Greece; Areios Pagos (the Supreme Court of Greece); Athens; Egypt; Suez; India; Iran; Pakistan; Spain; Turkey; the United Kingdom
Occupation(s)
Cypriot military and owner of Cypriana
Parents Occupation(s)
Father: Tailor
Names Referenced
Ali Khamenei; Andreas Neofytou (nephew of Makarios III); Athina Charalambides; Chris Erodotou; Christine Amygdalidis; Donald Trump; George Dalaras; George Karousos; Georgios Grivas; Georgios Karaiskakis; Iacovos (Jack) Charalambous; Kokos Adamides; Makarios III; Nikos Sampson; Nondas Epaminondas; Papaflessas; Sotiris Moustakas; Stratos Ovotsis; Stavros Stavrou; Stefanos Hadjistefanou; Stelios Hois; Theodoros Eliades; Theodoros Kolokotronis; Theodoros Xenophontos; Yiannis Karousos

[00:00:21] His birth and his uncle’s service in WW2

[00:02:31] Impact of World War II on village life

[00:05:08] Serving as a messenger for EOKA as a child

[00:07:19] Conflicts with Turkish Cypriots (1950s)

[00:16:47] The events of December 1963

[00:23:10] The founding of the Cypriot National Guard

[00:33:10] The junta, EOKA-B, Grivas, and Makarios

[00:46:05] Arrival in Canada

[00:47:56] Memories of 1974

[00:55:23] Fight with communists in the Cypriot Brotherhood

[01:03:07] The Cyprus Relief Fund of Ontario

[01:15:15] Democratic Organization of Cyprus Canada

[01:17:16] Story about the nephew of Makarios

[01:31:19] The organizational divide in the diaspora

[01:40:15] Frustration with the Cypriot Community of Toronto

[01:43:40] The history of Cypriana

[02:24:42] How his children have maintained their heritage

[02:26:41] Not distinguishing between Cypriots and Greeks

[02:29:55] Lacking hope in a resolution to the Cyprus issue

This is some text inside of a div block.
No items found.
No items found.
HHF Greek Canadian Archives
Contact Us
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