Email dated January 25, 2021 from T. Petropoulos Re: 200th Anniversary of Greek Independence initiative

200th Anniversary of Greek Independence initiative

Sent: January 25, 2021 10:58 AM

Dear Mayor and council:

I am sending this letter to request your support for an initiative that the Victoria & Vancouver Island Greek Community Society will be launching in March 2021.

As you are likely aware, the Victoria & Vancouver Island Community Society is a registered charitable organization comprised of many vibrant members. The purpose of the society is to share and promote Greek culture in the community and runs a number of events each year, including Greek Fest. The Greek community has had a strong presence on Vancouver Island for fifty years and has hundreds of volunteer members and friends.

2021 will be a special year for Greeks all over the world as they will celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Revolution of Independence. Greek Independence is celebrated on March 25th and the Victoria & Vancouver Island Community would normally have a celebration at the community hall premises however this will not be possible this year because of COVID-19 restrictions.

As the 200th anniversary of Greek Independence is such a momentous occasion, the community is exploring alternative ways to share this joyous occasion with the greater communities of BC. As such, this campaign is being delivered with cooperation of other Greek organizations and bureaus of British Columbia: the Hellenic Congress, the Order of AHEPA, the Greek Consulate of Vancouver and all five Greek Communities of BC.

The V&VIGCS has proposed a number initiatives including a media campaign (radio, newspapers, electronic media), highway advertising, and celebratory events during this year’s upcoming Greek Fest (www.greekfest.ca). We are asking for your support in our plans and hope you can help with two initiatives around the 25th of March and for several days or weeks after. We are proposing that all Municipal Halls or other public building raise the Greek flag (which we will provide) and illuminate the exterior of your building, if you have the infrastructure, in the colours of the Greek flag (white and blue). Please feel free to discuss with us any parameter of this request. The Greek Community would be grateful. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Warmest regards,

Tim Petropoulos President, Victoria & Vancouver Island Greek Community Society Email: Greek.community.victoria@outlook.com Web: https://www.victoriahellenicsociety.org/