Martin C. Barry
Patriotic Greeks from all over Montreal joined elected officials from across the region and leaders from the Hellenic community for a ceremony on Oct. 28 at the Greek Community Centre in Côte des Neiges marking the 78th anniversary of the historic day during World War II when Greece rejected its occupation by Axis forces.
Ohi Day is celebrated throughout Greece, Cyprus and Greek communities around the world each year to commemorate the refusal by Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas when presented with an ultimatum made by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini on Oct. 28, 1940.
When Greece said ‘No’
The ultimatum was presented to Metaxas by the Italian ambassador to Greece. It demanded that Greece allow Axis forces to enter Greek territory and occupy certain strategic locations, or otherwise face war. The name for the day comes from Metaxas’ straightforward reply. “No,” he is reputed to have said curtly, following which he added, “Then it is war.”
In response, Italian troops stationed in Albania, which was an Italian protectorate, attacked the Greek border, marking the beginning of Greece’s involvement in World War II. On the morning of Oct. 28, Greeks took to the streets, irrespective of political affiliation, shouting “Ohi.” Since 1942, it has been a national celebration marked annually.
Many dignitaries present
Dignitaries who attended this year’s event organized by the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal included the Consul General in Montreal for Greece Michalis Gavriilidis, the Ambassador from the Republic of Cyprus Vasilios Philippou, Vimy Liberal MP Eva Nassif, Saint-Laurent Liberal MP Emmanuella Lambropoulos, Park Extension city councillor Mary Deros, Laval city councillor for Chomedey Aglaia Revelakis, Montreal city councillor for Bordeaux-Cartierville Effie Giannou, and local Greek community representatives.
In a keynote address, HCGM president Nicholas Pagonis noted that Ohi Day, which took place near the beginning of WWII, marked the first time an Axis power encountered firm resistance. “That was something remarkable which no other nation at that point in time had been able to achieve,” he said.
The new Greek Consul
In an interview with Newsfirst Multimedia, Consul General Gavriilidis said that in the two months since he arrived in Montreal, he’s already had the opportunity to meet many local Greeks as well as other Canadian citizens and residents. Previously stationed in the Austrian city of Vienna, Gravriilidis’s duties there included multilateral diplomacy.
He takes over responsibilities in Montreal which were previously handled by former Consul General Nicolas Sigalas. “Greeks often need the Greek state next to them to help them get through all the paperwork they sometimes have to do to manage their affairs in Greece,” Gavriilidis said. “The Montreal community is very close to Greece and we are here to support them in any way we can.”
