08/01/2019
The guests and volunteers of our Friends of Canada (FoC) ‘Canada Nights’ continue to make our events powerful, high-spirited happenings. Despite days of snowy weather warnings, the pizzeria was jam-packed with warm faces. One guest remarked: ‘We’re family…’
We were honoured to welcome Canada’s brand new ambassador to Greece, Mark Allen, who good-naturedly cut – and served – the vasilopita, along with FoC coordinator Kathryn Lukey-Coutsocostas. The winner of the lucky coin (flouri) for 2019 happened to be our very own FoC network (bravo!). The winner of flouri in the individual vasilopitas was discovered later at home, by Christopher McClinton. We owe him a lucky mug – and wish him every Blessing in the New Year!!!
Following our FoC tradition, we each wrote down a New Year’s resolution – 9 lucky winners got door prizes for resolutions like ‘I will tell no more lies’, ‘I will read more books’ (this person happened to win a book!) and ‘I will not change my bad habits, they are glorious!’
Before we all left, our FoC Welfare Network (in collaboration with the Salvation Army) collected items brought by guests for the Salvation Army’s ‘Green Light Project’ (for the sexually exploited): baby wipes, adult women’s socks, and adult women’s underwear.
FoC sincerely says THANK YOU to the following:
FOR THE VASILOPIA :
Jim Kromida – Chartered Professional Accountant - www.kromida.com – www.greecetaxes.com
FOR GOOD PRICES:
La Piazza pizzeria (https://www.facebook.com/lapiazza.lapiazza/ ) for great prices, and sponsorship of ambassador’s meal
Vellis bakery (https://www.facebook.com/Vellis1991/) for good vasilopita price
FOR THE VASILOPITA PRIZE:
Fran Kaltsiki for a merry mug
FOR THE DOOR PRIZES (alphabetically):
Diana Farr Louis, writer, for her book ‘111 places in Athens that you shouldn’t miss’ (https://www.accartbooks.com/uk/store/pv/9783740803773/111-places-in-athens-that-you-shouldn-t-miss/alexia-amvrazi-diana-farr-louis-diane-shugart/ ) – signed!
JoAnn Lukey-Eliuk for two pairs of Canadian socks
The Morrills (former ambassadorial couple) for two mug warmers and Canadian mini-football
Judit Neurink, writer, for her books ‘Slaves wives and brides: Women under the rule of ISIS’ (https://www.amazon.com/Slaves-wives-brides-Women-under/dp/1718116098/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1539678159&sr=8-1&keywords=slaves+wives+and+brides ) and ‘The Jewish Bride: Iraq's lost past ‘ (https://www.amazon.com/Jewish-Bride-Iraqs-lost-past-ebook/dp/B079R1J8XV/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1545399956&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Jewish+Bride ) – signed!
The Pecks (former ambassadorial couple) for Canadian notepad
FOR VOLUNTEER DUTY (alphabetically):
Cathy Alexiou, Kathleen Caswell, Eva Evdokia Filippou, Ray Lamont, Dawn Lefakis, Sophia Panagos, Katerina Papamarkou, Doris Pavlou, Marie-Thérèse Rolland, and Stephanie Sampson
Report by: Kathryn Lukey-Coutsocostas, FoC coordinator
Photos by: Kathryn Lukey-Coutsocostas and Dawn Lefakis
More at http://www.friendsofcanada.gr/events/207-2019-january-athens-canada-night-happy-new-year.html