Town Hall Meeting – November 20th
Dear Fellow Community Members,
It is with great pleasure and a sense of responsibility that I address you as the President of the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal (HCGM) to share recent significant developments concerning our organization. The support of all of us in the HCGM is crucial for the success of our initiatives, and I encourage you, as members of our community, to continue strengthening our efforts. We must persist in supporting our schools, social services, churches, and cultural programs. Our mission is to promote Hellenism in our region in the best possible way.
With great enthusiasm, vision, and determination, our administration is working on implementing a significant project: the construction of a new, modern, and self-sustaining community center, along with a state-of-the-art school in the Laval area. This area has evolved into a central hub for our Greek community, with a steadily growing population. Our goal is to create facilities that fully meet the needs of the local Hellenism.
The new community center will include a theater hall, arena, library, dining facilities, and a small clinic for basic healthcare services. Additionally, it will offer both outdoor and indoor parking and spaces specifically designed for the elderly. The preliminary plans have already been developed by the architectural team, ensuring the timely promotion of the project.
The Canadian Government has recognized the importance of building a community center for the needs of our entire community and has approved funding of 10 million dollars, aligned with its strategies for environmental development. This support demonstrates the government’s trust in our administration and reinforces our commitment to creating green infrastructure.
I would like to emphasize that the approval of this project requires your sup port and vote at the General Assembly. Your participation is essential, as it will determine the success of this initiative. For this reason, we are planning an extensive awareness campaign to provide you with all the necessary in formation regarding the project, its de tails, and its impacts.
Despite the positive outlook, we are facing some serious challenges. Certain members of the Board of Directors have expressed doubts regarding the project, which has led to worrisome delays in the procedures. Additionally, recent resignations from the Board, mainly for personal reasons, have add ed further difficulties to its progress. We are addressing these challenges with transparency and determination, committed to moving forward with a plan and dedication.
The awareness campaign will include town hall meetings, the first of which will take place at the Palace, 1717 Boul. le Corbusier, Laval, on Wednesday, November 20, at 6:30 p.m. Our aim is to ensure that you are fully informed about every aspect of the project, understanding its significance and impact on our community.
Furthermore, we are working intensively to secure additional funding from Greek, Canadian, and European sources. This project is for you, your children, and future generations, which is why your support is invaluable.
The implementation of such an ambitious project is complex and requires collaboration. I am confident that with your support, we can build a sustain able and modern infrastructure that will serve our community for many de cades. I urge you all to actively participate in the processes and look forward to seeing you at our town hall meeting on Wednesday, November 20, at the Palace. Together, we can achieve a better future for Hellenism in Montreal.
Sincerely,
Dr. George Tsoukas
President, HCGM