Theodoros Xenophontos (Interview 1)

FAMREF001A

Interview Details
Categories and Themes
Content
Media
Participants
Theodoros Xenophontos (Interview 1)
Intervieweer(s)
Theo Xenophontos
Date and Location
January 14, 2022
Toronto, ON
Languages
English
Permalink
Project
Film as Mediator: Cultivating a Cypriot Canadian Community Audiovisual Media Archive
Reference ID
FAMREF001A
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Categories
Associational Life
Canadian Society
Culture and Tradition
Economy
Education
Historical Events
Migration
Rites
Tags
Australia
Cypriot Canadian Economic Relations
Cypriot Canadian Identity
Cyprus 1974
Egypt
English Learning
EOKA
Greek Community
Greek Community of Toronto Inc.
Greek Coup
Greek School
Intercommunal Violence
Junta
Labour Union
Language
Marriage
Military Service
Ocean Liner
Post-1974 Migration
Pre-1974 Migration
Religion
UK
USA
WW2
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 British military during World War II.
Names Referenced
Helen Power (née Xenophontos); Anna Ellinas; Makarios III; Constantine II of Greece; Konstantinos Karamanlis

[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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