Comments on: Growing up Greek in Nova Scotia

By: Rob

Rob — Fri, 29 May 2009 22:27:19 +0000

Bessy,
Though you’re East Coast by Choice, those of us in the midlands (can I coin that term for the part of Canada that is neither east coast nor west coast?) are gonna keep claiming you for our own. Like Canadians do with Jim Carey, William Shatner, basketball and Celine Dion. OK, maybe not Celine.
Can we come to Greek Fest in Halifax?

By: Thenewcomer

Thenewcomer — Fri, 29 May 2009 18:29:30 +0000

I get so annoyed with my compatriots here who shorten or anglicize their names- I thought it was our own anglophilia. Your experience with your teacher asking for a shorter anglicized name shows that this was a far more long-running phenomenon. I don’t think Vasiliki is hard to pronounce at all…

BTW- we also have Baklava in Iran- but I have never tried to make it.

By: Bessy

Bessy — Fri, 29 May 2009 18:03:23 +0000

Ha! it is so true! After having lived in a city like Toronto, where diversity is embraced and really defines what Toronto is – it saddens me to see that Halifax (and NS) still promotes itself the way it does.. there is so much more to this province than tartans & haggis – here here!

By: Gifted Typist

Gifted Typist — Fri, 29 May 2009 14:57:29 +0000

Lovely Bessy, the Greek culture adds much life, colour and flavour to the dour Scots heritage of this province.

I heard a curious statistic recently: Only 23% of Nova Scotians have Scots heritage.

It’s too bad the tourism folks wouldn’t wake up to the fact that the ethnic tapestry of this province is much richer than they would have us believe. The Tartan dominance is getting tired and dull.

Put away the tartan and and haggis and break out the Baklava, I say!