Nikolaos Barlas was born in 1937 in Astros, Kynouria, where he spent his early years working as a shepherd. Influenced by family members who had migrated earlier, he decided to emigrate to Canada. After arriving in Halifax, he initially settled in Guelph, moving eventually to Toronto. He built a career as a salesman and manager at Sears before founding his own business, Nick’s Sport Shop. Barlas helped establish and owned Panellinios FC, participated in funding the newspaper Neos Kosmos, engaged in Canadian politics, and supported cultural organizations such as the Canadian Arcadian Association.
[00:00:38] His life as a shepherd
[00:02:30] His memories from the 1940s
[00:05:40] His uncle’s migration in 1902 and remittances
[00:07:40] His brother’s migration to Canada
[00:10:41] Deciding to migrate and the migration process
[00:16:31] Reaching Halifax and then Guelph
[00:19:02] His life in Guelph and working as a minor
[00:22:31] Moving to Kitchener and working as a salesman
[00:28:15] Buying a car and becoming a manager in Toronto
[00:34:38] Being trained and working at Sears
[00:37:52] Contacting his parents and starting his own business
[00:40:57] Relationship with other Greeks, dances and GOYA
[00:44:25] Running his own business and Nick’s Sport Shop
[00:48:30] Omiros, owning Panellinios FC, and ethnic soccer
[00:59:23] Involvement in Canadian politics
[01:14:06] Bringing his father to Canada and visiting Greece
[01:16:20] Dictatorship and publishing Neos Kosmos newspaper
[01:25:17] Donations and the Canadian Arcadian Association
[01:28:46] Future of Greek Canadians
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