Theodoros Xenophontos (Interview 2)
Interviewer(s):
Theo Xenophontos
Project:
Film as Mediator: Cultivating a Cypriot Canadian Community Audiovisual Media Archive
INTERVIEW LOCATION:
Toronto, ON
LANGUAGE:
English
DATE:
January 16, 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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Interview Details
Categories and Themes
Content
Media
Date and Location
January 16, 2022
Toronto, ON
Interviewee(s)
Theodoros Xenophontos (Interview 2)
Interviewer(s)
Theo Xenophontos
Languages
English
Reference ID
FAMREF001B
Project
Film as Mediator: Cultivating a Cypriot Canadian Community Audiovisual Media Archive
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Categories
Canadian Society
Culture and Tradition
Historical Events
Migration
Rites
Tags
Australia
Baptism
Cypriot Canadian Identity
Cyprus 1974
EOKA
Funeral
Marriage
Military Service
Music
Pre-1974 Migration
Religion
WW2
Decades Referenced
1930s
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
Locations Referenced
Cyprus; Kyperounda (Limassol District); Louvaras (Limassol District); Amiandos Asbestos Mine; Troodos Mountains; Kambos (Nicosia District); Church of Saint George (Paphos District); Greece; Athens; the Acropolis; the Parthenon; Canada; Toronto; SkyDome; SickKids - The Hospital for Sick Chldren; the National Trade Centre; Bathurst Street; Lynedock Crescent; Keswick; Kitchener; Australia
Occupation(s)
He 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; George Patinios; George Michael; Helen Power (née Xenophontos); Makarios III; Marcos Baghdatis

[00:00:21] Using FaceTime to connect with family in Cyprus

[00:01:38] One of the first letters he sent from Canada

[00:03:50] The origins of his last name

[00:06:22] Photographic memories of his grandparents

[00:08:54] Family photo in Amiandos, circa World War II era

[00:11:10] Photographic memory of his parents post-war

[00:13:07] His government ID from the EOKA period

[00:15:01] His mother giving birth to him in their field  

[00:16:23] His wedding photo & memories of his wife’s family

[00:18:49] Family photos used in a project his grandson did

[00:36:48] Photos from the building of the SkyDome

[00:40:32] Various family photos from the 1980s and 1990s

[00:50:29] Various photos from a 1997 trip to Cyprus

[00:53:57] Various photos from the late 1990s and early 2000s

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Theodoros' father in the Cyprus Regiment of the British Army, some time between 1939 - 1945
Theodoros' father in the Cyprus Regiment of the British Army, some time between 1939 - 1945
Theodoros' paternal pappou, late 1930s or early 1940s
Theodoros' paternal yiayia, September 2, 1940
Theodoros with his yiayia, aunt, mother, and younger sister at a fair in Amiandos, September, 2, 1940
The writing on the back of the previous photo, September 2, 1940
Theodoros' mother, 1940s
Theodoros' parents post-World War II, late 1940s or early 1950s
The front of Theodoros' Government of Cyprus Identity Card from the EOKA period, October 20, 1958
Theodoros' Government of Cyprus Identity Card from the EOKA period, October 20, 1958
Theodoros' wife (on the right) with a neighbour of hers in Kambos (like Theodoros, the neighbour also worked at the Amiandos Asbestos Mine), late 1950s
Theodoros' wedding photo, October 25, 1959
Theodoros outside of his uncle's coffee shop in Kyperounda with his son, daughter, and nephews, 1963
Theodoros with fellow Cypriots in Athens during a stop on their migration journey, 1966
One of the first letters Theodoros sent from Canada back to Cyprus, May 6, 1966
One of the first letters Theodoros sent from Canada back to Cyprus, May 6, 1966
Theodoros with his son and a family friend at their home on the Danforth, early 1970s
Theodoros with his family in Greece, 1973
Theodoros with his family in Cyprus, 1973
The construction of the SkyDome, February 4, 1988
The construction of the SkyDome, 1988
The construction of the SkyDome, March 6, 1988
Theodoros during the construction of the SkyDome, May 1, 1988
Theodoros with his wife, the interviewer, and the interviewer's maternal grandparents, May 9, 1993
Theodoros with his father, son, and grandson (the interviewer), 2000
No items found.
Theodoros' father in the Cyprus Regiment of the British Army, some time between 1939 - 1945
Theodoros' father in the Cyprus Regiment of the British Army, some time between 1939 - 1945
Theodoros' paternal pappou, late 1930s or early 1940s
Theodoros' paternal yiayia, September 2, 1940
Theodoros with his yiayia, aunt, mother, and younger sister at a fair in Amiandos, September, 2, 1940
The writing on the back of the previous photo, September 2, 1940
Theodoros' mother, 1940s
Theodoros' parents post-World War II, late 1940s or early 1950s
The front of Theodoros' Government of Cyprus Identity Card from the EOKA period, October 20, 1958
Theodoros' Government of Cyprus Identity Card from the EOKA period, October 20, 1958
Theodoros' wife (on the right) with a neighbour of hers in Kambos (like Theodoros, the neighbour also worked at the Amiandos Asbestos Mine), late 1950s
Theodoros' wedding photo, October 25, 1959
Theodoros outside of his uncle's coffee shop in Kyperounda with his son, daughter, and nephews, 1963
Theodoros with fellow Cypriots in Athens during a stop on their migration journey, 1966
One of the first letters Theodoros sent from Canada back to Cyprus, May 6, 1966
One of the first letters Theodoros sent from Canada back to Cyprus, May 6, 1966
Theodoros with his son and a family friend at their home on the Danforth, early 1970s
Theodoros with his family in Greece, 1973
Theodoros with his family in Cyprus, 1973
The construction of the SkyDome, February 4, 1988
The construction of the SkyDome, 1988
The construction of the SkyDome, March 6, 1988
Theodoros during the construction of the SkyDome, May 1, 1988
Theodoros with his wife, the interviewer, and the interviewer's maternal grandparents, May 9, 1993
Theodoros with his father, son, and grandson (the interviewer), 2000
No items found.
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