Helen Botteas
Interviewer(s):
Alexandros Balasis
Effrosyni Rantou
Project:
Greek Canadian Stories
INTERVIEW LOCATION:
Toronto, ON
LANGUAGE:
Greek
DATE:
February 28, 2024

Interview Summary:

Helen Botteas (née Gramatikos) was born in 1949 in Kastoria and grew up surrounded by the fur processing industry. She migrated to Canada in 1965, where she initially worked in a fabric factory before meeting her husband and getting married. Botteas' husband was involved in the Greek community, and she became actively engaged in the Society of Kastorians and Pan-Macedonian associations. She later worked at TD Bank.

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Interview Details
Categories and Themes
Content
Media
Date and Location
February 28, 2024
Toronto, ON
Interviewee(s)
Helen Botteas
Interviewer(s)
Alexandros Balasis
Effrosyni Rantou
Languages
Greek
Reference ID
GICREF091
Project
Greek Canadian Stories
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Categories
Associational Life
Culture and Tradition
Migration
Rites
Tags
Gender
Marriage
Pan Macedonian
Post-WW2 Migration
Society of Kastorians Omonoia
Decades Referenced
1950s
1960s
2000s
Locations Referenced
Kastoria, Toronto
Occupation(s)
Bank teller
Parents Occupation(s)
Names Referenced
Pavlos Botteas (Husband)

[00:00:38] Her family in Kastoria and her childhood

[00:05:30] Jews in Kastoria and the processing of furs

[00:11:18] Migration to Canada in 1965, and Greeks in Toronto

[00:21:34] Working in a fabric factory and her coworkers

[00:27:56] Meeting her husband and her wedding

[00:38:40] Her husband’s involvement with the Greek Community

[00:40:18] Society of Kastorians and Pan-Macedonian

[00:49:54] Her husband’s migration and his work as a supplier

[00:53:33] Working in TD Bank and the fur business in Toronto

[00:56:17] Society of Kastorians and Pan-Macedonian events

[00:59:45] Miss Olympiacos and her impressions of Toronto

[01:02:51] Deciding to stay in Toronto and creating a family

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