GreekTown, Toronto – Canada

One of Toronto’s most vibrant neighbourhoods is, of course, GreekTown, also known as the Danforth. It is a cosmopolitan area of the capital city of Ontario. It is the social and commercial heart of Greek life in Toronto.

Starting from a small community in 1907, it has grown to become a large Greek centre, the largest one in North America. The streets are lined with the Greek and Canadian flags, whilst signs are displayed in both English and Greek. (This feature is also evident in China Town, whereby the signs are displayed in English and Chinese).

GreekTown hosts the annual Taste of the Danforth festival. This event brings the delectable cuisine out of local restaurants and into the streets. Lively tavernas are crowded with patrons enjoying souvlaki and seafood, accompanied by retsina or ouzo.

In the Toronto GreekTown one can also find a small square with statues of Alexander the Great. Part of this collection of statues we find a lamp post. The GreekTown on the Danforth and the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon host “The Marathon Flame,” brought from Marathon, Greece (Thursday 11 October 2012). This Flame represents the Spirit of the Marathon, namely: courage, dedication, determination, democracy and world peace – born at the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC, now burning around the world with the support of: Councillor Mary Fragedakis, City of Toronto; Constantine Coidonicolas, Chair of The GreekTown on the Danforth BIA; Hon. Dimitris Azemopoulos, Consul General of Greece in Toronto.