George Pitsicoulis
Interviewer(s):
Angelo Laskaris
Project:
Greek Canadian Stories
INTERVIEW LOCATION:
Ottawa, ON
LANGUAGE:
Greek
DATE:
February 22, 2024

Interview Summary:

George Pitsicoulis was born in 1936 in Chania, Crete, and grew up during the hardships of World War Two under German and Italian occupation. These early experiences, marked by resistance, scarcity, and political tensions, helped shape his resilience and worldview. In 1954, at age 18, he immigrated to Canada to pursue his education, attending McGill University, Carleton University, and the University of Detroit, specializing in accounting. He built a successful career as an auditor and senior public servant with Canada’s Department of Northern and Indigenous Affairs, where he served as Chair of Audit and Evaluation. Pitsicoulis was also a dedicated leader in the Greek Canadian community, serving as President of the Greek Community of Toronto and participating in organizations such as the Hellenic Canadian Congress and the Parnassos Cultural Society. His life reflects a strong commitment to public service, cultural preservation, and fostering connections between Greek heritage and Canadian society.

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Interview Details
Categories and Themes
Content
Media
Date and Location
February 22, 2024
Ottawa, ON
Interviewee(s)
George Pitsicoulis
Interviewer(s)
Angelo Laskaris
Languages
Greek
Reference ID
GICREF051
Project
Greek Canadian Stories
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Categories
Associational Life
Canadian Society
Culture and Tradition
Education
Historical Events
Homeland Activism
Migration
Working Life
Tags
AHEPA
Canadian Politics
Cyprus 1974
Greek Canadian Heritage
Greek Community
Greek School
Macedonia Naming Dispute
Ocean Liner
Postsecondary Education
Post-WW2 Migration
WW2
Decades Referenced
1930s
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
Locations Referenced
Chania, Crete, Heraklion, Athens, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Halifax, Sarnia, Vancouver, France, Turkey, South America, New York, Germany, Cyprus, Russia
Occupation(s)
Auditor, Public servant, Chair of Audit and Evaluation, President of Greek Community
Parents Occupation(s)
Convenience store owner (father)
Names Referenced
Alekos Sofianopoulos, Vassilis Zafeiriou, Archbishop Sotirios, Manos Orfanos, George Trigilidas, Stephen Harper, Justin Trudeau

[00:00:25] Discussing his career and education

[00:16:06] Greek community, school, and youth

[00:27:12] Business and his role in community

[00:31:45] Parnassos Culture and Society Association

[00:36:18] Greeks organizing in Canada

[00:44:25] The future of Greek youth

[00:48:24] The unity of Greek communities

[00:55:14] War, atrocities, and resistance

[01:04:40] Highschool in Greece

[01:07:09] Remembering his childhood

[01:10:56] Immigration to Canada

[01:17:45] Auditor for Northern and Indigenous Affairs

[01:24:40] Reconciliation and belonging in Canada

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