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Bill 77, Hellenic Heritage Month Act, 2019

Triantafilopoulos, Effie J.

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Bill 77 Original (PDF)

EXPLANATORY

NOTE

The

Bill proclaims the month of March in each year as Hellenic Heritage Month.

Bill 77 2019

Act to proclaim a month to celebrate Hellenic heritage in Ontario

Preamble

More

than 270,000 people of Hellenic descent live in Canada today and over half of

them live here in Ontario. Canadians of Hellenic descent have contributed to

every field of life in Ontario, have enriched our culture and have strengthened

our economy. Hellenes, also known as Greeks, began to arrive in Canada in the

early nineteenth century, with the vast majority coming after 1950. They have

made significant contributions across many fields, including education, law,

medicine, science, politics, business, sport and many more.

The

history and heritage of Greece, historically known as Hellas, extends back

thousands of years, with Greek cities being the first to govern themselves as

democracies, a legacy that extends through history to Canada today. The

heritage of philosophy and learning of Ancient Greece underpins the societies

of the nations of the West as well as the Islamic world and others.

Since

long before the Roman Empire, Greeks travelled and founded new communities,

first around the Mediterranean, and then around the world. Greece gave the

world great leaders such as Pericles and Alexander and philosophers such as

Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. The great Byzantine Empire was a Greek nation

until its fall. March 25, 1821 marks the beginning of modern Greece, as Greeks

declared their independence from the Ottoman Empire on that day, an anniversary

that is celebrated every year as Greek Independence Day.

Thousands

of Canadians visit Greece every year, enjoying the country's impressive

history, culture and philoxenia. Greece today is a strong ally of Canada as a

member of NATO and the two countries share strong economic ties. Canadians of

Hellenic descent can be proud of their legacy of contributions to Canada and

all Canadians can be proud of this legacy and owe a debt to the culture and

civilization of Greece.

Therefore,

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of

the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Hellenic

Heritage Month

The

month of March in each year is proclaimed as Hellenic Heritage Month.

Commencement

This Act comes into force on the day is receives Royal Assent.

Short

Title

The

short title of this Act is the Hellenic Heritage Month

Act, 2019 .

Date Bill stage Event Outcome Committee

March 28, 2019

Second Reading

Ordered referred to Standing Committee

Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly

March 28, 2019

Second Reading

Vote

Carried

March 28, 2019

Second Reading

Debated

March 6, 2019

First Reading

Vote

Carried

Debates and Progress

First Reading

March 6, 2019

Committee

Second Reading

March 28, 2019

Ms. Effie J. Triantafilopoulos, Mr. Peter Tabuns, Mr. Michael Coteau, Hon. Michael A. Tibollo, Ms. Rima Berns-McGown, Mrs. Belinda Karahalios, Mr. Tom Rakocevic, Miss Kinga Surma, Mr. Aris Babikian

March 28, 2019

Declared carried. Referred to the Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly.

Committee

Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly

Third Reading

Royal Assent

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