The Ottawa Association of Friends of the Canadian Institute in Greece

The Ottawa Association of Friends of the Canadian Institute in Greece (CIG) continues the hard work and the legacy left behind by the late Helen Webster because it strongly believes in the aims and objectives of the Institute. To this end, the Association organizes each year a number of lectures by renowned North American speakers, experts on topics related to Archaeological work carried out in Greece by Archaeologists and on Greek culture in general.

Such lectures are attended by a large number of guests with different educational backgrounds, who are eager to enrich their knowledge of the history of Greece, and students who have travelled to Greece with their professors to perform digs. These students I call Greece’s little ambassadors, as they speak with passion about what they are doing and of the thrill and excitement an archaeological finding presents to them. The presence of the Greek Embassy and that of other Embassies at the lectures is always welcomed as these people speak highly of CIG’s achievements.

In order to attract more people to the lectures, the Ottawa Association of Friends has established cultural partnerships with “sister Societies” in Ottawa, such as the Archaeological Institute of America (Laura Gagne, President), the Canadian Institute of Mediterranean Studies (Louise Terrilon MacKay, President), and the Parnassos Hellenic Cultural Society (Margaret Zafiriou, President).

While increasing awareness of Greek culture and CIG’s projects and activities in Greece is our primary goal, the Ottawa Association of Friends of CIG also strives to increase membership to the Institute knowing that membership support is an important element for the survival of the Association and CIG in general. In addition, the Ottawa Association enjoys the support of a number of donors including Peter Fustanellas, Efi Kyriakatos, Vera Mammari, Alecos Michaelidis, Robert Peck, Efi Pezoulas, Stelios Pneumatikos, , Bill Sioulas, and Leander Tryphonas, who with their generous contributions have made it possible for the Association to organize the many interesting events for the public to enjoy free of charge.

This year marks the 40^th anniversary of the CIG and for this the Ottawa Association of Friends of CIG would like to acknowledge the several significant contributions of CIG to promoting Greek culture. We, the Ottawa Friends, also wish to express our gratitude to David Rupp, Director, Jonathan Tomlinson, Assistant Director, Gerry Schaus, past President, Angus Smith, President, Ian Begg, editor of the CIG Bulletin, Jeff Banks, Treasurer, and all those energetic people whose enthusiasm and hard work ensure the survival of CIG through Greece’s hard times and who so generously have helped in the survival of the Ottawa Association through the years.

In closing I wish to bring to your attention the following two upcoming lectures:

1. 20 November, 2016, 2:00 p.m. R303 Patterson Building, Carleton University. Lecture entitled: Hoplites and Heroes: Homer on the Battlefields of Classical Greece, by John Serrati.
2. 22 January, 2017, 2:00 p.m. R303 Patterson Building, Carleton University.. Lecture entitled: The Antikythera Mechanism, by Daryn Lehoux.

Helen Tryphonas, Ph.D.
Chairperson, Ottawa Association of Friends of CIG