Kyriakos Bovos
Interviewer(s):
Alexandros Balasis
Project:
Greek Canadian Stories
INTERVIEW LOCATION:
Toronto, ON
LANGUAGE:
Greek
DATE:
June 12, 2025

Interview Summary:

Kyriakos was born in 1940. He reflects on his journey from the village of Papadianika to building a life in Canada. He recalls his military service and early migration from his village. After arriving in Toronto as a tourist, he found work in restaurants, married, and eventually opened his own business. He underlines the importance of educating his children as well as encouraging them to learn Greek.

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Interview Details
Categories and Themes
Content
Media
Date and Location
June 12, 2025
Toronto, ON
Interviewee(s)
Kyriakos Bovos
Interviewer(s)
Alexandros Balasis
Languages
Greek
Reference ID
GICREF118
Project
Greek Canadian Stories
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Categories
Culture and Tradition
Migration
Working Life
Tags
Entrepreneurship
Language
Restaurant Work
Rural Greek Economy
Tourist Visa
Decades Referenced
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
Locations Referenced
Papadianika Laconia, Sparti, Thessaloniki, Toronto, Oshawa
Occupation(s)
Restaurant Owner
Parents Occupation(s)
Mason (father)
Names Referenced
Constantinos Voukidis (Boukidis)

[00:00:15] Lifeand childhood in Papadianika

[00:03:35]Memories from WW2 and the Civil War

[00:05:45]Migration from Papadianika before the war

[00:10:03]Army Service in Thessaloniki and Larisa

[00:13:23]His aunt migration to Canada as a domestic

[00:17:29]His migration as a tourist and reaching Toronto

[00:22:25]Finding a job in Savarin Tavern and other restaurants

[00:31:07] Meeting Voukidis and connections with his family

[00:33:51]Meeting his wife and getting married  

[00:39:30]Greek restaurants and opening his own business

[00:45:07] VisitingGreece for the first time

[00:47:14]Becoming landed immigrant and the Dictatorship

[00:50:00]Opening his business in Oshawa

[00:56:17]Educating his children and Greek School

[01:01:19]Visiting Greece and bringing his father to Canada

[01:03:49]Describing ξενιτιά

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Kyriakos Army papers
Kyriakos' Passport
No items found.
Kyriakos Army papers
Kyriakos' Passport
No items found.
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