March 30, 2026

Greek Community of Toronto Celebrates Greek Independence Day with Grand Parade, Welcoming Over 11,000 Attendees

Toronto, ON – March 29, 2026

The Greek Community of Toronto proudly celebrated Greek Independence Day with a vibrant and spirited parade along Danforth Avenue, drawing a crowd of over 11,000 attendees in a powerful display of heritage, unity, and pride.

Held on Sunday, March 29 at 1:30 PM in the heart of Greektown, the parade brought the streets of Toronto to life with traditional costumes, music, and cultural pride. Participants included local schools, cultural associations, university student groups, federations, churches, and community organizations, all marching together in solidarity.

Distinguished Guests and Dignitaries
The Greek Community of Toronto was honored to welcome an esteemed list of VIP guests and officials, including:

ï His Eminence Archbishop Sotirios

ï His Grace Bishop of Patara Athenagoras

ï Royal Canadian Legion Branch 10

ï MP Julie Dabrusin

ï Consul General of Greece in Toronto Ioannis Chatzantonakis

ï Premier Doug Ford

ï MPP Effie Triantafilopoulos

ï MPP Aris Babikian

ï Mayor of Toronto Olivia Chow

ï City Councillor Toronto Danforth Paula Fletcher

ï City Councillor Scarborough Nick Mantas

ï City Councillor Scarborough Centre Michael Thompson

ï City Councillor Beaches - East York Brad Bradford

ï Superintendent Toronto Police 55 Division David Correa

ï Civilian Chair, Toronto Police 55 Division, CPLC Themeliopoulos Peter

ï President of the Greektown on the Danforth BIA Tony Pethakas

ï TDSB Trustee Toronto-Danforth Sara Ehrhardt

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Addresses and Wreath-Laying Ceremony
The celebration featured speeches by His Grace Bishop Athenagoras, Consul General Ioannis Chatzantonakis, and Mayor Olivia Chow, who all highlighted the significance of Greek Independence Day and its enduring legacy.

President Betty Skoutakis addressed the attendees, emphasizing the spirit of the day and the enduring values of freedom, unity, and cultural pride that Greek Independence Day represents.

Following the speeches, a wreath-laying ceremony took place at the Alexander the

Great Parket, honoring the heroes of Greece’s struggle for freedom.

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Celebration Costs and Support
This year’s parade cost nearly $30,000 to organize, made possible through the generous support of our valued community sponsors:

- Greektown on the Danforth BIA

- SkyWindows Technologies

- Floros Family

- Polydor Foundation

- Sketchley Cleaners

- Laird Auto Body

- GYRM Developments Inc.

- The Grigoriadis Group

- Pan-Messinian Association

We extend a heartfelt thank you to the Greek Canadian media for their continued support and coverage. Special appreciation is also given to all participating federations, associations, schools, university student groups, churches, and community organizations whose involvement made this year’s parade truly spectacular.

Finally, we express our deepest gratitude to our dedicated volunteers. Their commitment, teamwork, and enthusiasm were instrumental in delivering a successful and memorable event.

The Greek Community of Toronto looks forward to continuing this proud tradition and celebrating Greek heritage for generations to come.

For more information, please contact:
Greek Community of Toronto
416-425-2485

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