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PRESS
RELEASE
Issuance
of Canadian Postage Stamp Commemorates AHEPA, Canadian Hellenism
OTTAWA, ON, March 26, 2003 - The Right Honorable Jean Chrétien, Prime Minister of Canada; the Minister of Canada Post, and thirty members of Canadian Parliament, including Assistant Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons Eleni Bakopanos, were all gathered in tribute to Canadian Hellenism as a domestic-rate postage stamp was unveiled and issued by Canada Post Corp., in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of AHEPA in Canada. The event was held yesterday on Parliament Hill and fitting for a day when Greek Independence Day was celebrated around the world.
"Today's event provides a wonderful opportunity to pay tribute to the important role AHEPA has played in the lives of newcomers to Canada over the course of the past 75 years," Prime Minister Chrétien said.
According Canada Post, the stamp was issued to commemorate the help given from AHEPA to Greek families in their struggle to adapt to life in North America while also encouraging loyalty and patriotism to their new home.
"The dedicated effort exhibited by the good Brothers and Sisters of Canada to see this project become a reality is to be commended and saluted," Supreme President Dr. James F. Dimitriou said. "Indeed, the postage stamp is a reflection upon the many years of their hard work ethic and the countless hours of volunteer service to the communities and neighborhoods of Canada."
The supreme president added that the issuance of the stamp was a "triumph for Hellenes everywhere."
On behalf of AHEPA Canada, Canadian President Lazarus Kalipolidis said, "Canada Post has granted all of our volunteers, past and present, national recognition for their ultimate dedication and tireless efforts throughout the years. We are humbled by this honor."
Past Canadian President Xenophon Scoufaras was the General Chairman for the banquet held last evening. It was Co-Chaired by District 23 Governor Fotis Antoniou and Daughters of Penelope District 24 Governor Despina Chrisohou.
"They are to be applauded, along with the Canadian Presidents of Canada for the AHEPA and the Daughters of Penelope, Lazarus Kalipolidis and Chris Papadopoulos, for their extraordinary efforts," Dr. Dimitriou said.
Antoniou offered his gratitude to Member of Parliament Bakopanos, who is also a member of the Daughters of Penelope, "It's because of Eleni's help that we were able to do this. We're really very grateful for all her support on this project."
The official date of issue of the postage stamp is March 25, 2003, and it will be available for exactly one year. Canada Post will issue three million of the 48-cent postage stamps.
Kosta Tsekas and John Blisle, Signal Design Group, Vancouver, British Columbia designed the stamp.
To order the stamps and First Day Cover (FDC) envelopes contact the National Philatelic Center, 800/565-4362 or visit Canada Post's online store at www.canadapost.ca. The Stamp Product No. is: 403536107, and a pane of 16 stamps costs $7.68. The Product No. for the FDC is: 403536121, and the cost is $1.48.
AHEPA is the largest and oldest Greek-American association in the world with 523 chapters in the United States, Canada, Greece, and Cyprus, and sister chapters in Australia and New Zealand. It was established in 1922 by visionary Greek-Americans to protect Greek immigrants from prejudice originating from the KKK, and in its history, AHEPA has joined with the NAACP and B'nai B'rith to fight discrimination. Moreover, it was founded to help Greek immigrants assimilate into American society.
AHEPA was established in Canada in 1928, and now includes chapters in 14 cities with approximately 2,000 members in the AHEPA family. AHEPA Canada promotes a mutual understanding of Greek and Canadian cultures and encourages members to participate in the civic and philanthropic activities of their communities and country. In Canada, the organization donates more than $300,000 a year toward education and charities at the local, national and international levels. Please visit www.ahepacanada.org for more information.
The mission of the AHEPA family is to promote the ideals of Hellenism, education, philanthropy, civic responsibility and family and individual excellence.
The AHEPA family consists of four organizations: AHEPA, Daughters of Penelope, Sons of Pericles and Maids of Athena.
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