I rise today to recognize Hellenic Heritage Month in Ontario. Our Legislature is the only one in Canada to officially recognize this celebration. As an Ontarian of Hellenic origin, I am proud to see our cultural history recognized and celebrated.

The Hellenic community has had a long and proud history in Canada, dating back to before Confederation. In Ontario, and in my own riding of Oakville North–Burlington, our community has committed to the province’s growth and prosperity by establishing schools, churches and businesses.

This month provides an opportunity for all Ontarians to celebrate the contributions of Hellenic Canadians to our province and country. The ancient Greeks, whose ideas and innovations in philosophy, science, medicine and the arts, laid the foundation for the freedoms and democracy that we enjoy today. On March 25, 1821, the Greek Revolution began, leading to the liberation of Greece from the Ottoman Empire’s 400-year occupation. Greek Independence Day celebrates the triumph of this revolution, which restored Greece’s sovereignty and allowed its people to regain their freedom after centuries of oppression.

In recognition of this, I invite all my colleagues to join me at the annual Greek Independence Day parade this Sunday on the Danforth in Toronto.