Saskatoon’s History Through the Lives and Experiences of its Greek Community
As early as 1901, the first Greeks to immigrate to North America travelled on the expanding rail network into Canada and into the Northwest Territories (before Saskatchewan became a province) and Saskatoon (before it amalgamated with two other villages to become a city). Approximately another ten years would pass before Greeks chose to commit to establishing roots in Saskatoon by opening businesses and inviting friends and family members to join them. A Greek community emerged as marriages led to families giving birth to and raising the city’s first generation of Greek-Canadians.
In the early years, Saskatoon’s Greek community served three major purposes. First, it provided the support and services for newly arrived residents who were mostly young (in their late teens and early twenties), single, and from poor villages in Greece. Their families had sent them here to be employed and send monthly remittances to supplement the income of family members back home. The second purpose of the community was to combat the feelings of “homesickness” and loneliness by encouraging social interaction and offer familiar cultural activities to its members, as well as to explain the customs, traditions, and expectations of the broader Canadian society in which they now lived. The third purpose was to promote and protect the values and the positive image of Greeks within a society which was predominantly British and at a time when the loyalty and value of Greek immigrants to Canada and the British Empire was being questioned.
The early Greeks became prominent members of the Saskatoon community. Their cafes, known for their daytime “coffee rows”, became meeting places for business leaders and their employees, as well as for the local newspaper reporters who saw the cafes as possible sources of news stories and in return frequently reported on the activities of the café owners and more generally of the Greek community. Furthermore, the Greeks promoted their businesses by sponsoring sports teams, promoting and participating in community-wide events, joining local service clubs, and offering scholarships, awards, and recognition to residents of all backgrounds.
The early Greeks laid the foundation upon which subsequent newcomers were welcomed to Saskatoon. They provided community spaces for socializing; housing was made available for single renters. A Greek language school was operated for their children and eventually a church building was secured for a future parish.
This website remembers and celebrates the contributions,, with thanks and respect, of the members of the Greek community. It is presented in the form of a history of this community, but also as recognition of how this community contributed to the historic quality of life, economic growth, and development of the city as a whole.
The website is a work in progress and more information will be posted every month. Ken Pontikes is the primary editor/contributor of the website. Comments, submissions of additional information, and corrections to existing information are welcome and can be emailed to the following address: sktngreekhistory@gmail.com.
Written by Ken Pontikes, January 14, 2025.
History of…
Saskatoon Hellenic Orthodox Community
“Koimisis Tis Theotokou”
(Assumption of the Virgin Mary)
Greek Orthodox Church in Saskatoon
A Brief History:
Greek settlement in Saskatchewan dates back at least to the turn of the 20th century. Influential early pioneers of Greek origin in Saskatoon included Kostas Valaris in 1901, as well as Gus Thanagen and Gus Golf respectively in 1909 and 1910. However, most early settlers of Greek origin arrived during the 1930’s. The Girgulis, Golf, Pontikes and Leakos families in Saskatoon were particularly responsible for encouraging chain migration from the Pelopónnisos region (the southernmost region of mainland Greece), especially Kastri in Arkadia and later Nafplion in Argolis. Throughout Canada, the Greek population increased substantially after World War II due to crop failures, excessive Taxation, escalating inflation, widespread unemployment, hunger, and continuing civil unrest in postwar Greece. In these years a large proportion of Greek immigrants were single males, who initially lived in shared apartments and rooming houses. Once established and employed in Canada, they were joined by women and children whom they sponsored.
Greeks tended to develop restaurants in Saskatchewan cities: there were more than forty Greek-owned restaurants in Saskatoon alone by the 1970’s, most operated by relatives and/or immigrants from the same areas in Greece. Although these restaurant businesses were by definition competitive, they were largely established through the strong Greek tradition of mutual help. A close familial and geographical link prevailed in the Greek communities of Saskatoon and Regina. Greek restaurant owners eventually became investors in prime urban real estate, condominiums and apartment buildings, the stock market, and many business ventures. They tended to view the restaurant business as intermediary toward improving the financial and social status of the next generation. While the educational level increased with each generation—many second and third generation Greek-Canadians entered university—efforts were made to preserve the Greek cultural heritage in Canada: Greek language schools had been established in Saskatchewan cities by 1970, which served to familiarize the younger generation with Greek history, literature and drama, to teach non-Greek partners in mixed marriages, and to cement bonds between Greek children.
While Eastern Orthodox Churches had long existed in Saskatchewan, a specific Greek Orthodox congregation was not formally established in Saskatoon until 1964 when the Hellenic (Greek) Orthodox Community of Saskatoon was registered as a charitable organization. In Saskatoon a former German Protestant church was purchased in 1976 and was named “Koimisis Tis Theotokou” (Assumption of the Virgin Mary), located at the corner of Dufferin Avenue and Eighth Street in the Broadway district. The first priest was Fr. Kakavalakis, himself an immigrant from Greece. In 1980 Fr. Nikolaou took over and served the community until his retirement in the spring of 2008. Fr. Michael was ordained as priest in May, 2008 in Saskatoon and served as priest of the Hellenic (Greek) Orthodox Community of Saskatoon until August 2012. Fr. George Tolias took over serving as priest from August 2012 – July 2016. As of August 1, 2016, the Hellenic Orthodox Community of Saskatoon is very pleased to announce that Father John S. Kaoukakis will be serving as priest.
Alan Anderson