Eleftherios (Lefteris) Christofi | Oral History Archive | HHFGCA

Eleftherios (Lefteris) Christofi

Interviewer(s):

Theo Xenophontos

Project:

Greek Canadian Stories

INTERVIEW LOCATION:

Scarborough, ON

LANGUAGE:

English

DATE:

November 13, 2025

Interview Summary:

Eleftherios Christofi was born in Strovolos, Cyprus in 1950. In 1964, he was sent to the United Kingdom by his father so as to avoid becoming involved in the intercommunal violence that was taking place between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. While there, a fellow Cypriot migrant took Eleftherios under his wing and taught Eleftherios how to become a hairdresser, a career that Eleftherios pursued for the rest of his working life. In 1974, he wanted to visit Cyprus but went to see his brother in Canada instead due to the Turkish invasion. Liking the country, he decided to stay permanently. In this interview, he provides insight into how billiard halls and Greek music venues served as key sites of social interaction for many Cypriot refugees upon their arrival in Canada.

‍

Date and Location

November 13, 2025

Scarborough, ON

Interviewee(s)

Eleftherios (Lefteris) Christofi

Interviewer(s)

Theo Xenophontos

Languages

English

Reference ID

GICREF131

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

Migration

Rites

Working Life

Tags

Decades Referenced

1910s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

2020s

Locations Referenced

Cyprus; Afania (Famagusta District); Dhekelia (British base); Famagusta; Nicosia; Paphos; Strovolos (Nicosia District); Canada; Cypriot Community Centre (Thorncliffe); Elizabeth Arden (hair salon located at Lawrence and Markham road in the 1970s and 1980s); George Brown College; Lawrence and Midland (intersection in Scarbourgh); Malton Airport (former name of Toronto Pearson International Airport); Ossington and Bloor (intersection in Toronto); Ottawa; Simpsons (department store); Scarbourgh; Scarborough Town Centre; Toronto; Trojan Horse Cafe; Windsor; Egypt; France; Greece; Macedonia (region in Greece); Germany; Israel; Libya; North Macedonia; Pontus; Romania; Sweden; Syria; Turkey; Istanbul; the United Kingdom; London; Middlesex; the United States of America; Yugoslavia

Occupation(s)

Coffee shop worker, restaurant worker, hairdresser, and salon owner.

Parents Occupation(s)

Father: nightguard

Names Referenced

Makarios III; Mustafa Kemal Atatürk; Queen Elizabeth II; Stratos Kyprios; Startos Dionysiou; Theodoros Eliades; Theodoros Xenophontos

[00:00:26] Early memories of his parents

[00:03:10] The involvement of his brothers in EOKA

[00:08:55] The migration stories of his brothers

[00:10:09] His migration to the UK due to the 1960s troubles

[00:11:49] Discussing the impact of British imperialism

[00:14:11] The intercommunal violence of the 1960s

[00:16:08] Discussing Cypriot involvement in World War II

[00:17:10] Interactions with Turkish Cypriots

[00:18:54] Life in the UK and how he became a hairdresser

[00:21:36] Coming to Canada in 1974

[00:24:48] Interactions with Cypriots in the United Kingdom

[00:27:47] Discussing politics during the junta era

[00:29:27] Discussing his working life in Canada

[00:33:34] Discussing the working lives of his children

[00:35:04] Interactions with Cypriots in Canada

[00:39:33] Nightlife & bouzouki venues in the UK & Canada

[00:46:34] The various Cypriot community groups in Canada

[00:47:50] Socialism and class division in Cyprus

[00:50:01] The Cypriot Brotherhood & a communist group here

[00:53:26] The assimilation of his children & grandchildren

[00:57:07] Interactions with Greek and Macedonian clients

[00:58:16] Discussing the Greekness of Cyprus

[01:04:59] Differences between Cypriot and Greek language

[01:09:04] The continued British presence in Cyprus

[01:12:01] Hopes for the future of Cyprus

[01:19:05] Why it was good that enosis was not achieved

[01:22:22] Feeling equally Canadian and Cypriot

No items found.

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.