Evangelia Sakellis
Interviewer(s):
Angelo Laskaris
Theo Xenophontos
Project:
Greek Canadian Stories
INTERVIEW LOCATION:
London, ON
LANGUAGE:
Greek
DATE:
August 18, 2025

Interview Summary:

Evangelia Sakellis, was born on April 3rd, 1940 on the island of Rhodes in the Dodecanese prefecture. Growing up, she witnessed the island’s transformation, marked by a diverse blend of cultures. Evangelia father’s origins in Egypt and her mother hailing from Cesme, Turkey. In 1962, she migrated to Canada alongside her husband, their journey culminating at Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, aboard the SS Olympia. Upon their arrival, they settled in London, Ontario, where her husband had family already residing. Her husband pursued a career in the culinary arts, working as a chef at the Iroquois Hotel, Restaurant, and Casino during the 1960s.

Interview Details
Categories and Themes
Content
Media
Date and Location
August 18, 2025
London, ON
Interviewee(s)
Evangelia Sakellis
Interviewer(s)
Angelo Laskaris
Theo Xenophontos
Languages
Greek
Reference ID
GICREF124
Project
Greek Canadian Stories
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Categories
Associational Life
Culture and Tradition
Historical Events
Migration
Rites
Tags
Marriage
Post-WW2 Migration
WW2
Decades Referenced
1940s
1950s
1960s
Locations Referenced
Rhodes; Egypt; Cesme; London; Halifax; New York;
Occupation(s)
Secretary
Parents Occupation(s)
Rebar Worker
Names Referenced
Kostas Sakellis, Aliki Vougiouklaki, Tzeni Karezi

[00:00:21] Familial background and memories

[00:05:42] Life in Rhodes and childhood education

[00:08:02] Work life as secretary and meeting her husband

[00:11:15] Husband's migration and family in Greece

[00:15:18] Migration to Canada and leaving her family

[00:20:06] Immigration, arrival and life in Canada

[00:25:14] Sad memories and struggles of migration

[00:27:13] Greek church and community in London

[00:28:25] Pier 21 in Halifax

[00:29:03] Photographs of her journey

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