SCARBOROUGH – The summer festival of the Greek Community of Toronto (GCT) was held at St. John the Baptist Church in Scarborough, Ontario. The three-day event, July 3-5, showed, beyond its festive character, the more difficult reality of a historic community that is trying to keep its traditions alive, while at the same time seeking resources to deal with years of financial obligations.
However, the event was kept afloat by the festive sounds, the food, but above all by the tireless presence and contribution of the volunteers who gave their all to ensure that everything ran smoothly. Typically, the first night had an open and youthful character, with DJ Victor Z playing music and free admission. On July 4, the band ‘Parea’ appeared on stage, with a program that lasted until 1 AM, while on July 5, Michalitsa and her band closed the three-day event by playing from 6 PM to midnight.
The summer festival of the Greek Community of Toronto (GCT) at St. John the Baptist Church in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, July 3-5, including live Greek music and dancing. Photo: Courtesy of the GCT
The traditional tone of the festival was set by the dance groups of the GCT and associations in the city, presenting traditional and folk dances that connect the younger generations with the cultural identity of Greece.
The dance groups of the Greek Community of Toronto (GCT) and the local associations performed in traditional costume at the summer festival. Photo: Courtesy of the GCT
This year’s festival, however, did not have the attendance of previous years. The image of empty tables could not go unnoticed, without this canceling the festive character of the event. Those who were there encountered the familiar sound of the summer festivities of the GCT, but also a significantly lower participation than that recorded in previous years, since the rain on Saturday acted as a deterrent for some people.
Volunteers gave their all to ensure that the summer festival ran smoothly. Photo Courtesy of the GCT
Behind the celebration, however, the economic realism of the product market and the financial needs of the GCT, kept the prices of food and drinks high, as the institution of the GCT continues to seek revenue to strengthen its financial situation. Admittedly, however, in the last two years or so, and according to the GCT’s finances, they have begun to work on responding to the debts that have burdened it for decades.
