LOL I worked at Toronto Iron Works which was located at Pape and Eastern Ave. We had a strong contingent of Greek Canadians in the work force. I gotta say I never met one that I didn't like and admire. They were bright happy and industrious. Great work ethic.
Very different from usual pre-planned docs, eh. Lou did it totally on his own initiative, not based on any pre-conceived agenda, only to let the people tell their own stories. Which turned out to be very relevant to all newcomers to Canada and subsequent generations. Thanks for the comment, glad you enjoyed it.
it was my pleasure to be a policeman in this area for 25 years and i loved it. i loved the greek people and their food. Now long retired I miss those years.
I was 5 yo when my family and I immigrated to Canada via ship and landing in Pier 21 Halifax in 1967. I can relate to most of the stories of the Greek families in the film as i lived it. Life was strange for a long time, it sometimes still is. My parents sacrifice to come to Canada not knowing the culture, language and working day and night was very, very difficult and eventually both suffered nervous breakdowns as a result. Years later they could not see themselves going back to Greece and they became assustomed to the lifestyle and the freedom that they never had before. p.s. I also hated going to Greek school and being forced into the Greek community. 😊
If I remember correctly Lou told me this was done for the Toronto School Board, shown only in class rooms. He was at the time in charge of the TSB A/V Department.
Dear God in heaven, I can't believe this film! I grew up a block away from all the park scenes from Withrow Park. Good old Grandview Ave. 1964-1990! That's my park! We also ruled at the Riverdale Park pool all summer long! Best time of my life! Zeto Elas! Thank you Lou Wise!!!
Our fellow citizens of Greek descent are one of the main initial reasons why Toronto went from being a bland Anglo-Saxon food city to a top restaurant destination.
None was too many tolerance of Greeks was the beginning of the end for white Canadians now it’s full of swarthy Punjabi’s blacks and Greeks (mostly Turkish rape offspring)
In Montréal, I rarely went to Park Ex, the original Greek neighbourhood in Montréal. However, since I came to Toronto in 1994, I am a regular in several Danforth establishments. I am part Armenian, so we have a lot in common with Greeks.
It is really puzzling to me that Armenians and Greeks live peacefully side by side in Canada but back there the two still hate each other. Thanks for the comments on this and other uploads
@@HomeMoviesdotCa Many of the post generation in the film would be grand parents by now and may have moved to other parts of Toronto...Danforth is not as Greek anymore. It has become a mixed bag, but is an expensive area now, being so close to downtown Toronto.
@@donsolaris8477 I think I heard a lot of the post-generations moved north of Steeles long before the crazy prices of recent years. Used to be there were areas where peoplel could get a 'start' in Toronto. Not anymore. Thanks for commenting, I really enjoy hearing from people with a personal interest in my uploads.
Social pressure? I always thought the Greeks came to Canada to escape the civil war, rural poverty and military dictatorship. At least this is what I was told by Tony Asimakopoulos in "Return to Park Ex". Can someone please tell me which is right (or ALL OF THE ABOVE)?
Approximately 33% of the total number of individuals who migrated to Canada on Greek passports were Macedonians. Their predominant reason for emigrating was to escape the traumatic consequences of their marginalisation, oppression, dispossession and discrimination (including the napalm-bombing of civilians).
@@HomeMoviesdotCa Yes, near Greenwood, they all came from the same town of Pachino in south Sicily. You can still find Masellis and Vincenzo supermarkets, also North Pole Bakery. .
HomeMoviesdotCa - historic films of Canada 1 second ago If I remember correctly Lou told me this was done for the Toronto School Board, shown only in class rooms. He was at the time in charge of the TSB A/V Department.
LOL I worked at Toronto Iron Works which was located at Pape and Eastern Ave. We had a strong contingent of Greek Canadians in the work force. I gotta say I never met one that I didn't like and admire. They were bright happy and industrious. Great work ethic.
Love the authenticity of these documentaries.
Very different from usual pre-planned docs, eh. Lou did it totally on his own initiative, not based on any pre-conceived agenda, only to let the people tell their own stories. Which turned out to be very relevant to all newcomers to Canada and subsequent generations. Thanks for the comment, glad you enjoyed it.
it was my pleasure to be a policeman in this area for 25 years and i loved it. i loved the greek people and their food. Now long retired I miss those years.
I was 5 yo when my family and I immigrated to Canada via ship and landing in Pier 21 Halifax in 1967. I can relate to most of the stories of the Greek families in the film as i lived it. Life was strange for a long time, it sometimes still is. My parents sacrifice to come to Canada not knowing the culture, language and working day and night was very, very difficult and eventually both suffered nervous breakdowns as a result. Years later they could not see themselves going back to Greece and they became assustomed to the lifestyle and the freedom that they never had before. p.s. I also hated going to Greek school and being forced into the Greek community. 😊
Yota thank you very much for sharing your story here.
This was my life. Came to Canada when 6. Lived around the Danforth ever since.
Glad you enjoyed the memories
That was great to watch...thanks for the share...as a Greek it is good to see why we must be tolerant of all new immigrants to our wonderful country
Great comment Tony, thanks. The past has a lot of lessons for the present, and future.
If I remember correctly Lou told me this was done for the Toronto School Board, shown only in class rooms. He was at the time in charge of the TSB A/V Department.
Dear God in heaven, I can't believe this film! I grew up a block away from all the park scenes from Withrow Park. Good old Grandview Ave. 1964-1990! That's my park! We also ruled at the Riverdale Park pool all summer long! Best time of my life! Zeto Elas! Thank you Lou Wise!!!
Great journey into The Danforth's historical roots.
Thanks for the comment Nick. Its become quite a popular recording to watch here.
Our fellow citizens of Greek descent are one of the main initial reasons why Toronto went from being a bland Anglo-Saxon food city to a top restaurant destination.
very true, eh.
None was too many tolerance of Greeks was the beginning of the end for white Canadians now it’s full of swarthy Punjabi’s blacks and Greeks (mostly Turkish rape offspring)
Two of my most favourite restaurants in Toronto is from this area.
glad you enjoyed the memories
It'd be cool to hear the same people today to hear what's happened in the last 50 years.
That was back in the day when Greeks were "you people"☺
Eventually, descendants of all immigrants get to say that about more recent immigrants. Thanks for the comment :-)
In Montréal, I rarely went to Park Ex, the original Greek neighbourhood in Montréal. However, since I came to Toronto in 1994, I am a regular in several Danforth establishments. I am part Armenian, so we have a lot in common with Greeks.
It is really puzzling to me that Armenians and Greeks live peacefully side by side in Canada but back there the two still hate each other. Thanks for the comments on this and other uploads
@@HomeMoviesdotCa You're thinking of the Turks. Greeks and Armenians don't hate each other.
there should be a follow up film 50 years later on the same people....
Would have been a great thing to do for sure. I've heard most of the post generations moved away and got replaced by people from other countries.
@@HomeMoviesdotCa Many of the post generation in the film would be grand parents by now and may have moved to other parts of Toronto...Danforth is not as Greek anymore. It has become a mixed bag, but is an expensive area now, being so close to downtown Toronto.
@@donsolaris8477 I think I heard a lot of the post-generations moved north of Steeles long before the crazy prices of recent years. Used to be there were areas where peoplel could get a 'start' in Toronto. Not anymore. Thanks for commenting, I really enjoy hearing from people with a personal interest in my uploads.
Social pressure? I always thought the Greeks came to Canada to escape the civil war, rural poverty and military dictatorship. At least this is what I was told by Tony Asimakopoulos in "Return to Park Ex". Can someone please tell me which is right (or ALL OF THE ABOVE)?
I'm not from there but my guess would be "all of the above".
Approximately 33% of the total number of individuals who migrated to Canada on Greek passports were Macedonians. Their predominant reason for emigrating was to escape the traumatic consequences of their marginalisation, oppression, dispossession and discrimination (including the napalm-bombing of civilians).
There was a smaller sicilian community on Danforth too.
Huh, explains a few things :-) thanks for the comment
@@HomeMoviesdotCa Yes, near Greenwood, they all came from the same town of Pachino in south Sicily.
You can still find Masellis and Vincenzo supermarkets, also North Pole Bakery.
.
@@bskinny9009 yes I know vincenzos very well. I lived around the corner from there. Lots of Italians in the 70's there
@@swingbag12 54 years now, closer to Main St
@@bskinny9009 yep. I lived on harris ave right behind it
Was this broadcasted on CBC? Which program? Take 30? Telescope?
HomeMoviesdotCa - historic films of Canada
1 second ago
If I remember correctly Lou told me this was done for the Toronto School Board, shown only in class rooms. He was at the time in charge of the TSB A/V Department.