Elizabeth Alexopoulos was born in 1938 in Xyrokampi, Laconia. She recounts her brother’s story, meeting her husband, and moving to Athens before deciding to migrate to Canada. After arriving in Toronto, she began learning English,opened her first restaurant (Flame Restaurant), and eventually launched Granada Restaurant in 1972. Alexopoulos later became a lunchroom teacher and opened a daycare. She describes her involvement in the Greek community through organizations like the Philoptochos.
[00:00:30] Childhood in Xyrokampi and her family’s history
[00:05:46] WWII, the Civil War, and her father’s imprisonment
[00:13:55] Emigration from Xyrokampi and her brother’s story
[00:19:25] Meeting her husband and moving to Athens
[00:23:13] Deciding to migrate, the trip, and reaching Halifax
[00:33:36] Arriving in Toronto, impressions, and her first job
[00:38:25] Learning English and opening the first restaurant
[00:44:31] Opening Granada Restaurant in 1972
[00:47:40] Becoming a lunchroom teacher and opening a daycare
[00:54:24] Greek School at St. George’s and the Church[00:59:01]
Not willing to pay to baptize her daughter
[01:00:35] Toronto Caravan, Philoptochos, and learning English
[01:06:22] Supporting other Greeks
[01:08:30] Sponsoring the migration of her husband’s family
[01:10:14] Gortinia, Xyrokampi, and Athens Associations
[01:12:40] Entertainment and bouzoukia
[01:15:45] Talking about Canada and migration
[01:18:13] Avoiding sexual procurement by a Greek man
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