The Unveiling of the ‘Sculpture of the Greek Immigrant’
Last Friday, June 30th, the unveiling of the “Statue of the Greek Immigrant” ceremony was held at the junction of Park Avenue and Jean-Talon, in the presence of Denis Coderre, Mayor of Montreal, and many other dignitaries. On this rainy day, the Greeks came, under their umbrellas, to commemorate this emotional historic moment. More than 250 people attended the ceremony, which lasted less than an hour. Among the speakers was Nicholas T. Pagonis, President of the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal, which was the official donor of the sculpture to the city of Montreal, for its 375th anniversary.
The whole project was accomplished thanks to the co-ordinated effort between the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal, the Lyceum of Greek Women of Montreal and the Hellenic Congress of Quebec and thanks to the generous contributions of many Montrealers of Greek origin, whose names are embedded on the plaque next to the statue.
The city’s new monument is a creation by the well-known contemporary sculptor George Chouliaras, who is a professor at the Athens’ School of Fine Arts, and was also in attendance for the unveiling.
The presence of the sculpture has a dual meaning. It serves as a memorial for the thousands of Greek immigrants who arrived in the City of Montreal, as well as, commemorating the dynamic presence of Hellenism in today’s Montreal.
The sculpture is meant to stand there forever, reminding us of the past and inspiring our children for the future. Congratulations to everyone involved in this project.
