Platon Routis
Interviewer(s):
Athanasios (Sakis) Gekas
Alexandros Balasis
Project:
Greek Canadian Stories
INTERVIEW LOCATION:
Toronto, ON
LANGUAGE:
Greek
DATE:
May 15, 2024

Interview Summary:

Platon Routis was born in 1945 and grew up in the working-class neighbourhood of Aigaleo in Athens. He became a sailor and later completed his military service before joining the youth wing of EDA. In 1968, he emigrated to Toronto, where he connected with the Greek left, joined Friends of PAK, and served as a bodyguard for Andreas Papandreou. Routis remained active in resistance efforts during the Junta, supported the Polytechnic Uprising, engaged with the Communist Party of Canada, and contributed to the Greek press in Toronto.

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Interview Details
Categories and Themes
Content
Media
Date and Location
May 15, 2024
Toronto, ON
Interviewee(s)
Platon Routis
Interviewer(s)
Athanasios (Sakis) Gekas
Alexandros Balasis
Languages
Greek
Reference ID
GICREF026
Project
Greek Canadian Stories
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Categories
Canadian Society
Historical Events
Homeland Activism
Migration
Tags
Anti Junta Movement
Canadian Politics
Cyprus 1974
Junta
Polytechnic1973
Post-WW2 Migration
Decades Referenced
1960s
1970s
Locations Referenced
Athens, Toronto
Occupation(s)
Parents Occupation(s)
Names Referenced
Andreas Papandreou, Christos Papathanasiou (economist), Nikos Kolivakis

[00:00:25] Childhood in a working-class neighbourhood

[00:05:53] High school years and working in manufacturing

[00:12:05] Father's union activity and decision to become a sailor

[00:17:07] Life at sea and developing class consciousness

[00:22:38] Military service[00:28:55] Involvement in EDA's youth wing

[00:35:00] Participation in demonstrations and Junta[00:47:01]

Decision to emigrate to Canada

[00:51:50] Arriving in Toronto, finding housing, and a job

[00:56:51] Connecting with Greeks and joining Friends of PAK

[01:01:39] Meeting Papandreou and becoming his bodyguard

[01:14:19] The Greek Community of Toronto during the Junta

[01:18:10] PAK involvement and the Polytechnic Uprising

[01:27:54] Engagement with the Canadian Communist Party

[01:36:50] Turkish Invasion of Cyprus and Friends of KKE

[01:43:10] Writing for the press and Toronto Greek communists

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