On November 17, 2023, the HHF Chair in Modern Greek History, the HHF Greek Canadian Archives, York University Libraries, and the Hellenic Canadian Academic Association of Ontario hosted Democracy’s Echo: Toronto Commemorates the Athens Polytechnic Uprising at the Collaboratory Space at Scott Library. The event was organized by Vasilis (Bill) Molos, Director and Research Lead of the HHF Greek Canadian Archives at York University, and by Sakis Gekas, Associate Professor of History and the HHF Chair in Modern Greek History at York University.
The student uprising of November 17, 1973, was pivotal in recent Greek history. In particular. Andreas Papandreou, a York faculty member in the Department of Economics, founded the most organized resistance movement (Panhellenic Liberation Movement) during the dictatorship period 1967-1974, where Papandreou then became Prime Minister in 1981. The event highlighted the role of those migrant activists, the role of A. Papandreou and the role of Greek associations during the period. In the second half of the event participants heard stories from people who participated in the anti-dictatorship movement in Toronto and the music scene of the Danforth that blossomed with places where political music that was banned in Greece could be performed here.
The event would not have been possible without the support of the Faculty of LA&PS and of Clara Thomas Archives and Special Collections.