Tom Karvanis was born in a village on Mount Olympus and immigrated to Canada from Greece at the age of 12, settling in Toronto with his family in the mid-1960s. Overcoming early language barriers, he pursued higher education and studied law. He played a key role in founding a Greek legal clinic, the Hellenic Canadian Lawyers Association, and the Hellenic Canadian Federation of Ontario, while also contributing to the Hellenic Heritage Foundation and initiatives in Greek education.
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[00:00:25] Growing up in Greece and his family's story
[00:04:53] Moving to Canada at 12 years old
[00:07:25] Athens in 1966 and moving plans
[00:09:17] Travelling by boat and reaching Toronto
[00:13:39] Parents occupations in Canada
[00:15:00] Starting school and language barriers
[00:21:40] Impression of the neighbourhood and the Danforth
[00:25:43] Free time, visiting friends and school years
[00:30:58] Describing social groups in school
[00:35:28] Social Classes and Greek picnics
[00:37:57] Impression of the Junta years in Greece
[00:41:19] High school and university years
[00:44:52] Studying law and meeting his wife
[00:49:50] Establishing a Greek legal clinic
[00:59:22] Hellenic Students Association
[01:03:09] Political discussions
[01:05:19] Thoughts of returning to Greece
[01:08:10] First years practicing law
[01:11:48] Hellenic Home for the Aged (case)
[01:18:28] Hellenic Canadian Lawyers Association
[01:22:00] Hellenic Canadian Federation of Ontario
[01:26:51] Hellenic Canadian Congress
[01:29:42] Organizational infighting
[01:32:46] Greek March to Parliament
[01:37:51] Why he started the HCFO
[01:39:13] Church involvement and politics
[01:42:16] Preserving language and heritage
[01:44:51] Hellenic Heritage Foundation and Greek Education
[02:00:15] The future of Greek education
[02:05:47] Being Greek-Canadian
[02:16:04] HHF and Accomplishments
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