Celebrating Our Community - Honouring Our Legacy ...

The Saskatoon Greek Community Campaign:

For more than 40 years, Saskatoon’s growing Greek Orthodox community has made a small church its spiritual home.  Koimisis Tis Theotokou (Assumption of the Virgin Mary) – at the corner of Dufferin Ave and 8th Street – has been integral to the faith, the traditions, and the bonds among the generations of Greeks who have come to Saskatoon and are now born in Canada.  The time has come, however, to create a new, larger, and more inspiring religeous and community focal point – one which will continue to celebrate the vitality of the Greek Community in Saskatoon and build upon the 100-year legacy of those who have lead the way.

The Saskatoon Greek Community has come together to envision a new Church and Cultural Centre on an 11-acre property – where Circle Drive(Hwy 16) intersects Hwy 11(to Regina) – in the emerging subdivision south of Lakeview.  The proposed Church and Cultural Centre are designed to accommodate the present and anticipated needs for religious ceremonies, cultural events, and social gatherings, as well as programs to foster education and awareness. Total cost of the project is $2.6 million plus 10 percent contingency.  With approximately $1.8 million now on reserve, the campaign goal is $1 million to be raised from donors within the Greek Community and friends within the community at large.

While there is an obvious need for modern and more spacious home for the Greek community in Saskatoon, there are many other equally important benefits.  Achieving the vision of this project will help to attract and inspire younger and future generations to honor and celebrate their heritage.  It will be a more visible and appropriate symbol of our participation in the progress of our city, province, and country.  It will also lay the groundwork for future expansion, such as a seniors’ residence.

Donations to this campaign will be held in trust by the W Law Group LLP, our designated Escrow Agent, for release to the Greek Orthodox Community of Saskatoon only upon the earlier of (a) your written authorization; or (b) the commencement of Project construction, in which case donors will be notified at that time.  If for any reason Project construction does proceed by August 31, 2018, donors may choose to authorize the release of the funds to the Greek Community of Saskatoon as a donation, or may request that their donation be returned.  A tax receipt will be issued once the funds have been released by the Escrow Agent to the Greek Orthodox Community of Saskatoon.

The Need for a Truly Greek Church Building in Saskatoon:

The present church – at the corner of Dufferin Ave and 8th Street – has served the Greek Community since 1976, but has never been the ideal structure.  Originally, it was designed and built as a Lutheran Church; its’ small size, affordability, and central location were the principal reasons why the Greek Orthodox community of Saskatoon decided to purchase it.

After careful consideration, the option of renovating and expanding the current facility was eliminated for several reasons:

• According to the Orthodox faith, the altar should be facing east, which cannot and never has in the building.
• There is no room on the property of expansion.
• The cost for upgrading the building (to include an elevator for people with mobility issues, for example) would be prohibitive, especially when considering how all of this would trigger the need for further upgrades to meet building code requirements.
• The total lack of on-sight parking is a deterrent for church attendance, especially during the winter months and for seniors.

Compared to  current annual operating costs of $120,000, the proposed new structure – which would answer all of the concerns listed above – would be $140,000.  However, the new building would allow for a projected potential of $30,000 to $40,000 through hall rental and catering  for up to 250 people.

Over the long term, the project would generate savings through energy and structural efficiencies (e.g. the ability to flexibly partition the hall according to need), and would eliminate the inevitable cost of restoration and major repair if the Church were to stay at its present location.

In summary, the proposed project will increase efficiencies, generate new sources of revenue, attract more people to its weekly services and special celebrations, and provide a solid foundation on which to expand and strengthen the cultural and religious connectivity of Saskatoon’s Hellenic Orthodox community and its surroundings.

Project Leadership and Accountability:

This project is endorsed and being developed jointly by representatives from:

• Greek Orthodox Church/Community
• AHEPA
• Philoptochos
• Hellenic/Greek School

Celebrating Our Community:

Commitment to helping others succeed – including everyone in the communities in which they live – has been the hallmark of the Canadian Greek culture.  It is based on the principle that pride in your heritage and customs does not and should not diminish your respect for the beliefs and traditions of your neighbours.

This can be readily seen in the participation of the Greek Pavilion in the annual FolkFest celebration, in the Greek themed and supported fundraising events for hospitals and other charities, and in the diverse involvement of the many business, professional and community leaders who proudly claim a Hellenic heritage.

The Saskatoon Hellenic Community Campaign invites participation of donors not only from within the Greek community, but also from throughout the city and province.  It is hoped that those who have benefited from the generosity of their Greek neighbours will in turn see this as an opportunity to share in the celebration and enrichment of Saskatoon’s multicultural fabric.

Just as importantly, the new church and community centre will be a very positive and enduring symbol of the vitality and the values of the Greek Orthodox Church in Saskatoon, and the commitment of those of Greek heritage to continue their contribution to their city’s prosperity while upholding their pride in their heritage and culture.

Honouring Our Legacy:

Ever since the arrival of the first Greek pioneers to Saskatoon more than a century ago, and particularly with the wave of Greek immigrants in the mid 20th Century following World War II, the Hellenic community has shared in – and contributed to – the growth and prosperity of Saskatoon and the province.

There are many stories of how the hard work of a young Greek couple in their modest new restaurant in downtown Saskatoon resulted in children who became significant business leaders, teachers, researchers, doctors and other professionals.  Along the way, these early Greek citizens earned the respect and admiration of their neighbours and colleagues, many of whom were also immigrants struggling to find their place in a new land.

The new Greek Church and Cultural Centre will honour the contribution and sacrifices of the early members of Saskatoon’s Greek community by insuring that the memory of them will endure.  It will inspire pride among young people of Greek descent in their heritage, and teach them about the values and history of their people within the larger Canadian context.  Most importantly, it will be a place where Greek traditions and values are not simply remembered – they are kept alive and relevant for decades to come.

Our vision for a new Greek Orthodox Church and Cultural Centre can be realized only through the generous gifts of our donors.  Several options are available:

• Donations can be made as lump-sum amounts, or in stages such as $X dollars per month or year.
• In-Kind donations – such as materials and services – can also be considered at the planning stages.
• Interest free loans are also gratefully accepted.

To discuss your gift and recognition considerations, please contact:

Rev. Fr. John Kaoukakis, Parish Priest

Koimisis Tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church Saskatoon

306 – 717 – 5874  |