Theodoros Xenophontos (Interview 1) | Oral History Archive | HHFGCA

Theodoros Xenophontos (Interview 1)

Interviewer(s):

Theo Xenophontos

Project:

Film as Mediator: Cultivating a Cypriot Canadian Community Audiovisual Media Archive

INTERVIEW LOCATION:

Toronto, ON

LANGUAGE:

English

DATE:

January 14, 2022

Interview Summary:

Theodoros Xenophontos was born in Kyperounda, Cyprus in 1936. In 1966, he migrated to Canada for economic reasons, intending to return to Cyprus once his debts were cleared. Later that year, he sent for his wife and children once it became apparent that he would need to stay in Canada long term. In 1968, he became a certified electrician for IBEW Local 353. He would later become an electrical foreman, working on such notable buildings as the SkyDome and SickKids - The Hospital for Sick Children.

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Date and Location

January 14, 2022

Toronto, ON

Interviewee(s)

Theodoros Xenophontos (Interview 1)

Interviewer(s)

Theo Xenophontos

Languages

English

Reference ID

FAMREF001A

Project

Film as Mediator: Cultivating a Cypriot Canadian Community Audiovisual Media Archive

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Categories

Associational Life

Canadian Society

Culture and Tradition

Education

Historical Events

Migration

Rites

Working Life

Tags

Decades Referenced

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2020s

Locations Referenced

Cyprus; Kyperounda (Limassol District); Amiandos Asbestos Mine; Kykkos Monastery; Platania (Nicosia District); Greece; Athens; Canada; Halifax; Montreal; Toronto; SkyDome; SickKids - The Hospital for Sick Children; the National Trade Centre; Exhibition Place; Bathurst and Queen; Egypt; Israel; Italy; Australia; the United Kingdom; the United States of America

Occupation(s)

He worked as a clerk in the electrical department of the Amiandos Asbestos Mine. He also worked in the telephone exchange in Amiandos during the EOKA struggle (the telephone exchange was owned by the mining company). Afterwards, he did electrical installation in his native village of Kyperounda before becoming a certified electrician in 1968 for IBEW Local 353 two years after arriving in Canada. He also worked as an electrical foreman on the SkyDome (now the Rogers Centre), SickKids - The Hospital for Sick Children, and the National Trade Centre (now the Enercare Centre).

Parents Occupation(s)

His parents were farmers. His father also served in the Cyprus Regiment of the British Army during World War II.

Names Referenced

Anna Ellinas; Constantine II of Greece; Helen Power (née Xenophontos); Konstantinos Karamanlis; Makarios III

[00:00:15] Biographical background

[00:01:49] His father’s revolt against the British in 1945

[00:03:43] Familial background

[00:04:19] Jobs in Cyprus and coming to Canada for work

[00:06:44] Meeting his wife during the EOKA struggle

[00:07:39] His arrest during the EOKA struggle

[00:09:04] The story of his migration and sponsoring family

[00:13:14] Working on the SkyDome & the National Trade Centre

[00:16:18] Interactions with Greeks and Cypriots in Canada

[00:17:52] The evolution of Greek schools in Canada over time

[00:19:29] The lack of Cypriots in Canada pre-1974

[00:22:50] Friendships with Turkish Cypriots

[00:23:49] Communication with family in Cyprus

[00:25:56] His 1973 trip to Cyprus and discussing the junta

[00:30:08] Hearing news about the Turkish invasion

[00:31:40] Only filming & taking photos on special occasions

[00:33:46] Photos & films aiding the remembering of the past

[00:35:32] Feeling more Cypriot than Canadian

[00:37:25] Hopes for the future of Cyprus

[00:39:19] The reason why he thinks enosis failed

[00:40:51] Background on his wife’s life

[00:44:33] Memories of the opening of the SkyDome

[00:48:05] Running as a union rep for IBEW Local 353 in 1972

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