Greek Canadians
Greek Canadians are Canadian citizens who have full or partial Greek heritage or people who emigrated from Greece and reside in Canada. According to the 2016 Census, there were 271,405 Canadians who claimed Greek ancestry.
Demographics
Provinces and territories with the highest population of Greek Canadians, according to 2016 Census:Province or territory | Greek Canadians | Percentage |
271,410 | 0.79 | |
148,555 | 1.12 | |
71,330 | 0.90 | |
24,460 | 0.54 | |
15,025 | 0.38 | |
4,130 | 0.33 | |
3,360 | 0.37 | |
2,880 | 0.27 | |
950 | 0.13 | |
380 | 0.07 | |
175 | 0.13 | |
90 | 0.26 | |
50 | 0.12 | |
20 | 0.06 |
Census Metropolitan Agglomerations with the highest population of Greek Canadians, according to 2016 Census:
CMA | Greek Canadians | Percentage | |
Toronto | 99,145 | 1.69 | |
Montreal | 66,395 | 1.66 | |
Vancouver | 16,085 | 0.66 | |
Ottawa - Gatineau | / | 8,005 | 0.62 |
Hamilton | 6,940 | 0.94 | |
Calgary | 6,770 | 0.49 | |
London | 5,365 | 1.10 | |
Edmonton | 5,015 | 0.39 | |
Oshawa | 4,690 | 1.25 | |
Kitchener - Cambridge - Waterloo | 3,885 | 0.75 |
Cities with the highest population of Greek Canadians, according to 2016 Census:
City | Province | Greek Canadians | Percentage |
Toronto | 57,420 | 2.13 | |
Montreal | 29,060 | 1.75 | |
Laval | 20,385 | 4.96 | |
Mississauga | 7,490 | 1.05 | |
Ottawa | 6,975 | 0.76 | |
Markham | 6,215 | 1.90 | |
Calgary | 6,150 | 0.50 | |
Vancouver | 5,760 | 0.93 | |
Vaughan | 5,065 | 1.67 | |
Hamilton | 5,030 | 0.95 |
Ridings with the highest percentage of Greek Canadians, according to 2016 Census:
Riding | Province | Greek Canadians | Percentage |
Laval—Les Îles | 13,190 | 12.46 | |
Toronto—Danforth | 7,655 | 7.26 | |
Papineau | 5,490 | 5.01 | |
Saint-Laurent | 4,795 | 4.92 | |
Scarborough Centre | 4,945 | 4.48 | |
Beaches—East York | 4,585 | 4.23 | |
Ahuntsic-Cartierville | 4,695 | 4.18 | |
Vimy | 4,335 | 4.07 | |
Don Valley East | 3,785 | 4.06 | |
Pierrefonds—Dollard | 3,680 | 3.43 |
List of notable Canadians of Greek ancestry
Academics
- Andreas Mandelis – expert on photonics, member of the Canadian Academy of Engineering; awarded the 2014 Killam Prize
Authors
- Pan Bouyoucas – finalist for the Governor General's Literary Award, 2001
- Tess Fragoulis – writer and educator
- Thomas King – writer and broadcaster presenter
- Dimitrios Roussopoulos – politician and activist
Professors
- Athanasios Asimakopulos – Professor of Political Economy in the Department of Economics, McGill University
- Nick Bontis – DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University 3M National Teaching Fellow
- André Gerolymatos – Hellenic Studies
- Dimitri Kitsikis – Professor Emeritus of History, Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
- Fotini Markopoulou-Kalamara – Physics
- John Mylopoulos – Computer Science
- Nikolaos Oikonomides – Byzantine history
- David N. Stamos – Philosophy
- Anastasios Venetsanopoulos – Vice President of Research and Innovation at Ryerson University
Business and philanthropy
- Jack Agrios – former director and executive member of the Edmonton Eskimos
- Andreas Apostolopoulos – real estate
- Chris Giannou – war surgeon
- Sam Kolias – founder, Chairman and CEO of Boardwalk REIT
- Mike Lazaridis – founder and co-CEO of Research In Motion, creator of BlackBerry
Creatives
Artists
- Eleonora Dimakos – model, actress, journalist and makeup artist
- Billy Mavreas – cartoonist
- Paul Soulikias – artist painter
- Chrysanne Stathacos - multidisciplinary artist
- George Trakas – environmental sculptor
Sport
Athletics
- Nicolas Macrozonaris – 100m sprinter
Baseball
- Alex Anthopoulos – Vice President of Baseball Operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers, former Blue Jays General Manager
- George Kottaras – Major League player
- Vickie Panos – player, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in
Boxing
- Hercules Kyvelos – boxer
Chess
- Peter Biyiasas – chess grandmaster
Diving
- Alexandre Despatie – diver, Olympic silver medalist
Field hockey
- Ernie Cholakis – player
Football
- Dave Sapunjis – CFL all-star receiver, Calgary Stampeders
Ice hockey
- Andreas Athanasiou – NHL player for the Detroit Red Wings
- Chris Kontos – former National Hockey League player
- Nick Kypreos – former NHL player, Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers
- Jordan Kyrou – NHL player for the St. Louis Blues; gold medalist at the 2018 World Junior Championships, former NHL player, Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers
- Dave Nonis – former Canadian ice hockey defenceman; former general manager and executive of the National Hockey League's Vancouver Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs.
Soccer
- David Fronimadis – player
- Stathis Kappos – player
- John Limniatis – player
- Nick Papadakis – player
- Peter Sarantopoulos – player
- Kenny Stamatopolous – player, former Toronto FC and Kalamata
- Theo Zagar – player
Strength athletics
- Dominic Filiou – strongman
Water skiing
- George Athans – water-skier
Wrestling
- Bret Hart – former pro wrestler, multiple World Champion in the WWF and WCW; of Greek ancestry; mother is half Greek
- Trish Stratus – former professional wrestler
Film, TV and stage
Actors and performers
- Marie Avgeropoulos – actress, Tracers, Supernatural, Fringe
- Alex Carter – actor
- John Colicos – actor
- Chris Diamantopoulos – actor
- John Ioannou – actor
- John Kapelos – actor
- Athena Karkanis – actress, The Border, Lost Girl, Low Winter Sun, The Lottery
- Argiris Karras – actor
- Alex Karzis – actor, singer and musician
- Elias Koteas – actor, Crash
- Natasha Negovanlis – actress and web host
- Nikki Ponte – singer
- Cristine Prosperi – actress
- Daniel Samonas – actor
- Sofia Shinas – singer, actress, The Crow
- Tracy Spiridakos – actress, Being Human, Revolution
- Elias Toufexis – actor
- Angelo Tsarouchas – comedian/actor It's all Greek to Me Comedy Show
- Nia Vardalos – actress, screenwriter, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, actress My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Directors and producers
- Tony Asimakopoulos – documentary film director
- Stephano Barberis - music video director
- Watts – music producer, born Austin Garrick
Entertainers
- Rex Harrington - ballet dancer
- Ariana Chris – mezzo-soprano
- Christine Cushing – celebrity chef
- Dini Dimakos – comedian/actor, Video on Trial,Love Court
- DVBBS – electronic duo, most famous for their joint international hit with Borgeous, Tsunami
- Hannah Georgas – singer/songwriter
- Alex Karzis – actor, voiceover artist, musician and singer
- KO – musician
- Sid Krofft – puppeteer
- George Sapounidis – musician, troubadour, statistician, Sinophile; subject of documentary Chairman George
- Teresa Stratas – soprano OC; retired Canadian operatic soprano; known for her award-winning recording of Alban Berg's Lulu; born in Toronto, Ontario
- Angelo Tsarouchas – comedian/actor, It's all Greek to Me Comedy Show
- Phil X – prolific session guitarist
Journalists and broadcasters
- Ernie Afaganis – retired CBC-TV Sports and Olympics anchor. Mannie Buzunis - Vancouver radio talk show host and news anchor
- Thalia Assuras – anchor and reporter
- Athena King – newscaster on Naked News
- Steve Kouleas – sports anchor and reporter
- George Lagogianes – television personality, currently reporter and anchor for CP24; host of Auto Shop
- Peter Loubardias – sportscaster
- Ioanna Roumeliotis – CBC Newsworld reporter
- Lou Schizas – equities analyst
- George Stroumboulopoulos – host, CBC Newsworld's The Hour, former MuchMusic VJ
- Christina-Laia Vlahos – OMNI 1 presenter
- Antonia Zerbisias – Toronto Star columnist
- Vassy Kapelos — host, CBC News Network's Power & Politics, former Global News Ottawa bureau chief
Historical figures
Immigrants
- Ioánnis Fokás Juan de Fuca – first Greek-Canadian
Politicians
- Annie Koutrakis - Liberal MP for Vimy, Quebec
- Sophia Aggelonitis – former Liberal MPP for Hamilton Mountain
- Niki Ashton – NDP Member of Parliament for the electoral district of Churchill, Manitoba
- Eleni Bakopanos – former Liberal MP for Saint-Denis
- Staff Barootes – former Conservative Senator
- Marie Bountrogianni – former Liberal MPP for Hamilton Mountain
- John Cannis – former Liberal MP for Scarborough Centre, 1993 to 2011
- Tony Clement – Member of Parliament for Muskoka, and President of the Treasury Board
- Mary Fragedakis – Toronto City Councillor for Ward 29, Toronto-Danforth
- Peter Fragiskatos – Liberal MP for London North Centre
- Philippe Gigantès – former Liberal Senator
- Leo Housakos – Conservative Senator
- Maurine Karagianis – New Democratic Party of British Columbia MLA, former Esquimalt – municipal councillor, British Columbia
- Jim Karygiannis – Toronto City Councillor
- Chris Kibermanis – Liberal candidate
- Labi Kousoulis – Nova Scotia Liberal MLA for Halifax Citadel-Sable Island
- Emmanuella Lambropoulos – Liberal MP for Saint Laurent
- Costas Menegakis – Former Conservative Party of Canada MP for Richmond Hill
- Pana Merchant – Liberal Senator from Saskatchewan
- Christina Mitas - PC MPP for Scarborough Centre, 2018 to present
- Constantine George Mitges – former PC MP, first Greek elected federally
- George Samis – former Ontario New Democratic Party MPP, first Greek elected to a Canadian legislature
- Christos Sirros – former Quebec Liberal MNA and provincial cabinet minister
- Gerry Sklavounos – Liberal Member of the Québec National Assembly
- Dimitri Soudas – Former Communications Director to the Prime Minister of Canada
- Diane Stratas – former Progressive Conservative MP for Scarborough Centre, 1979 to 1980
- Effie Triantafilopoulos - PC MPP for Oakville-North Burlington, 2018 to present
Judiciary
- Justice Andromache Karakatsanis – Supreme Court of Canada, 2011 to present
- Justice David Stratas – Federal Court of Appeal, 2009 to present
Religious figures
- Nicholas Salamis – priest
- Christophoros – bishop
Order of Canada recipients
- Teresa Stratas – soprano OC; retired Canadian operatic soprano; known for her award-winning recording of Alban Berg's Lulu; born in Toronto, Ontario