Greek Canadians () are Canadian citizens who have full or partial Greek heritage or people who emigrated from Greece and reside in Canada. According to the 2021 Census, there were 262,140 Canadians who claimed Greek ancestry.
Demographics Provinces and territories with the highest population of Greek Canadians, according to 2016 Census:
Province or territory Greek Canadians Percentage Born in Greece 271,410 0.79 148,555 1.12 36,57571,3300.9018,420 24,460 0.543,63515,0250.382,005 4,130 0.33 820 3,3600.37 510 2,8800.27605 9500.1395 380 0.07 30 175 0.13 15 90 0.26 10 50 0.12 10 20 0.06 10
Census metropolitan agglomerations (CMAs) with the highest population of Greek Canadians, according to 2016 Census:
CMA Greek Canadians Percentage Born in GreeceToronto99,1451.6927,890Montreal66,3951.6617,890Vancouver16,0850.662,890Ottawa - Gatineau / 8,0050.62990Hamilton6,9400.941,620Calgary6,7700.49940London5,3651.101,180Edmonton5,0150.39655Oshawa4,6901.25715Kitchener - Cambridge - Waterloo3,8850.75580 Cities with the highest population of Greek Canadians, according to 2016 Census: City Province Greek Canadians Percentage Born in GreeceToronto57,4202.1319,240Montreal29,0601.759,150Laval20,3854.965,940Mississauga7,4901.05Ottawa6,9750.76Markham6,2151.90Calgary6,1500.50Vancouver5,7600.93Vaughan5,0651.67Hamilton5,0300.95 Ridings (federal electoral districts) with the highest percentage of Greek Canadians, according to 2016 Census: Riding Province Greek Canadians PercentageLaval—Les Îles13,19012.46Toronto—Danforth7,6557.26Papineau5,4905.01Saint-Laurent4,7954.92Scarborough Centre4,9454.48Beaches—East York4,5854.23Ahuntsic-Cartierville4,6954.18Vimy4,3354.07Don Valley East3,7854.06Pierrefonds—Dollard3,6803.43
Religion
+ Greek Canadian demography by religionReligious group20212001 Christianity 203,460 197,290 Islam 1,605 535 Judaism 1,480 895 Irreligion 54,355 15,915 Buddhism 230 155 Hinduism 85 45 Sikhism 55 25 Indigenous spirituality 55 100 Other 830 140 Total Greek Canadian population 252,135 215,110
+ Greek Canadian demography by Christian sectsReligious group20212001 Catholic 25,640 19,960 Orthodox 155,175 158,305 Protestant 11,095 15,530 Other Christian 11,550 3,495 Total Greek Canadian Christian population 203,460 197,290
List of notable Canadians of Greek ancestry Academics Andreas Mandelis – expert on photonics, member of the Canadian Academy of Engineering; awarded the 2014 Killam Prize
Authors Pan Bouyoucas – finalist for the Governor General's Literary Award, 2001 Tess Fragoulis – writer and educator Thomas King – writer and broadcaster presenter Dimitrios Roussopoulos – politician and activist
Professors Athanasios Asimakopulos – professor of Political Economy in the Department of Economics, McGill University Nick Bontis – DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University 3M National Teaching fellow André Gerolymatos – Hellenic Studies Dimitri Kitsikis – professor emeritus of History, fellow of the Royal Society of Canada Nikolas Kompridis – Philosophy Fotini Markopoulou-Kalamara – Physics John Mylopoulos – Computer Science Nikolaos Oikonomides – Byzantine history David N. Stamos – Philosophy Anastasios Venetsanopoulos – vice president of Research and Innovation at Ryerson University
Business and philanthropy
Sophia Aggelonitis – businesswoman Jack Agrios – former director and executive member of the Edmonton Elks Andreas Apostolopoulos – real estate Steve Apostolopoulos – real estate Chris Giannou – war surgeon Sam Kolias – founder, chairman and CEO of Boardwalk REIT Mike Lazaridis – founder and co-CEO of Research In Motion (RIM), creator of BlackBerry Sam Panopoulos – chef and businessman best known for his invention of the Hawaiian pizza
Creatives
Artists Thalia Assuras – television journalist Eleonora Dimakos – model, actress, journalist and makeup artist Helen Lucas – artist Billy Mavreas – cartoonist Pythia – drag queen Paul Soulikias – artist painter Chrysanne Stathacos – multidisciplinary artist George Trakas – environmental sculptor
Sport Athletics Nicolas Macrozonaris – 100m sprinter
Baseball Alex Anthopoulos – president of Baseball Operations for the Atlanta Braves, former Blue Jays general manager George Kottaras – Major League player Vickie Panos – player, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in
Basketball Ammanuel Diressa – player with Scarborough Shooting Stars of the Canadian Elite Basketball League Naz Mitrou-Long – NBA player, Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers Elijah Mitrou-Long – player with PAOK of the Greek Basket League
Boxing Hercules Kyvelos – boxer
Chess Peter Biyiasas – chess grandmaster
Diving Alexandre Despatie – diver, Olympic silver medalist (Greek grandmother)
Fencing Joseph Polossifakis – sabre fencer, 2016 Olympian, Pan-Am Games medalist
Field hockey Ernie Cholakis – player
Figure skating Madeline Schizas
Football Stavros Katsantonis – CFL defensive back, Hamilton Tiger-Cats Dave Sapunjis – CFL all-star receiver, Calgary Stampeders
Ice hockey
Andreas Athanasiou – NHL player for the Chicago Blackhawks Steve Gatzos – former NHL player, Pittsburgh Penguins Tom Karalis – former AHL player Chris Kontos – former NHL player Chris Kotsopoulos — former NHL player, New York Rangers, Hartford Whalers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Detroit Red Wings Tom Kostopoulos – former NHL player, Pittsburgh Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes, Montreal Canadiens and Calgary Flames Nick Kypreos – former NHL player, Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers Christian Kyrou – NHL player for the Dallas Stars Jordan Kyrou – NHL player for the St. Louis Blues; gold medalist at the 2018 World Junior Championships Dave Nonis – former Canadian ice hockey defenceman; former general manager and executive of the National Hockey League's Vancouver Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs José Théodore – former NHL player; Hart Memorial Trophy winner in 2002 with the Montreal Canadiens Carson Lambos - NHL Player for the Minnesota Wild
Mixed martial arts Smealinho Rama – light heavyweight Elias Theodorou – former UFC middleweight
Paralympics Marissa Papaconstantinou
Soccer Themi Antonoglou – player David Fronimadis – player Costa Iliadis – player, Toronto FC II Ilias Iliadis – player, FC Montana Stathis Kappos – player Jace Kotsopoulos – player John Limniatis – player James Pantemis – goalkeeper, CF Montréal Lucas Papaconstantinou – goalkeeper Nick Papadakis – player Peter Sarantopoulos – player Bobby Smyrniotis – coach, former player Kenny Stamatopolous – player, former Toronto FC and Kalamata Sarah Stratigakis – midfielder, Michigan Wolverines, Canadian Women's National Team Theo Zagar – player
Strength athletics Dominic Filiou – strongman
Water skiing George Athans – water-skier
Wrestling Bret Hart – former pro wrestler, multiple World Champion in the WWF and WCW; of Greek ancestry; mother is half GreekBret Hart's mother is half Greek as is published in his autobiography Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling Owen Hart – former pro wrestler, WWE Intercontinental Champion, European Champion and Tag-Team Champion, brother of Bret Teddy Hart – pro wrestler, nephew of Owen and Bret Jim Korderas – former WWE referee, television commentator Natalya Neidhart – pro wrestler, former WWE Women's Champion, niece of Bret and Owen Hart Trish Stratus (aka Patricia Anne Stratigias) – former professional wrestler, seven time WWE Women's Champion, former WWE Hardcore Champion John Tolos – former professional wrestler and professional wrestling manager
Film, TV and stage Actors and performers
Marie Avgeropoulos – actress, Tracers, Supernatural, Fringe, The 100 Alex Carter – actor John Colicos – actor Chris Diamantopoulos – actor Vasilios Filippakis – actor Jordan Gavaris – actor John Ioannou – actor Demetrius Joyette – actor John Kapelos – actor Athena Karkanis – actress, The Border, Lost Girl, Low Winter Sun, The Lottery, Manifest Argiris Karras – actor Alex Karzis – actor, singer and musician Elias Koteas – actor, Crash Melissanthi Mahut – actress Natasha Negovanlis – actress and web host Alexandra Ordolis – actress Nikki Ponte – singer Cristine Prosperi – actress Daniel Samonas – actor Sofia Shinas – singer, actress, The Crow Tracy Spiridakos – actress, Being Human, Revolution, Chicago P.D. Venus Terzo – actress Elias Toufexis – actor Angelo Tsarouchas – comedian/actor It's all Greek to Me Comedy Show Nia Vardalos – actress, screenwriter, My Big Fat Greek Wedding Marie Wilson – actress, Days of Our Lives, General Hospital
Directors and producers Tony Asimakopoulos – documentary film director Stephano Barberis – music video director Constant Mentzas – filmmaker Watts – music producer, born Austin Garrick
Entertainers Ariana Chris – mezzo-soprano Christine Cushing – celebrity chef Anesti Danelis – comedian, musician Dini Dimakos – comedian/actor, Video on Trial, Love Court Katerine Duska – singer DVBBS – electronic duo, most famous for their joint international hit with Borgeous, "Tsunami" Hannah Georgas – singer/songwriter Theo Goutzinakis – musician Rex Harrington – ballet dancer Alex Karzis – actor, voiceover artist, musician and singer KO – musician Sid Krofft – puppeteer George Sapounidis – musician, troubadour, statistician, Sinophile; subject of documentary Chairman George Teresa Stratas (born 1938) – soprano OC; retired Canadian operatic soprano; known for her award-winning recording of Alban Berg's Lulu; born in Toronto, Ontario Angelo Tsarouchas – comedian/actor, It's all Greek to Me Comedy Show Phil X (born Phil Xenidis) – prolific session guitarist and Bon Jovi's guitarist Chris Yonge – rapper
Journalists and broadcasters Ernie Afaganis – retired CBC-TV Sports and Olympics anchor Thalia Assuras – anchor and reporter Vassy Kapelos — host, CBC News Network's Power & Politics, former Global News Ottawa bureau chief Athena King – newscaster on Naked News Steve Kouleas – sports anchor and reporter George Lagogianes – television personality, currently reporter and anchor for CP24; host of Auto Shop Nik Nanos – political commentator and founder of Nanos Research Ioanna Roumeliotis – CBC News reporter Lou Schizas – equities analyst George Stroumboulopoulos – host, CBC Newsworld's The Hour, former MuchMusic VJ Christina-Laia Vlahos – OMNI 1 presenter Antonia Zerbisias – Toronto Star columnist
Historical figures Immigrants Ioánnis Fokás Juan de Fuca – first Greek-Canadian (1592)
Politicians Annie Koutrakis – Liberal MP for Vimy, Quebec Sophia Aggelonitis – former Liberal MPP for Hamilton Mountain Niki Ashton – NDP Member of Parliament for the electoral district of Churchill, Manitoba Eleni Bakopanos – former Liberal MP for Saint-Denis Staff Barootes – former Conservative senator Marie Bountrogianni – former Liberal MPP for Hamilton Mountain John Cannis – former Liberal MP for Scarborough Centre, 1993 to 2011 Tony Clement – member of Parliament for Muskoka, and president of the Treasury Board Mary Fragedakis – Toronto city councillor for Ward 29, Toronto-Danforth Peter Fragiskatos – Liberal MP for London North Centre Philippe Gigantès – former Liberal senator Faith Goldy – right-wing political commentator, former Toronto mayoral candidate Leo Housakos – Conservative senator Maurine Karagianis – New Democratic Party of British Columbia MLA, former Esquimalt – municipal councillor, British Columbia Jim Karygiannis – Toronto city councillor Labi Kousoulis – Nova Scotia Liberal MLA for Halifax Citadel-Sable Island minister of Finance and Treasury Board, minister of Inclusive Economic Growth (formerly Business), and minister of Trade Emmanuella Lambropoulos – Liberal MP for Saint Laurent Costas Menegakis – former Conservative Party of Canada MP for Richmond Hill Pana Merchant – Liberal senator from Saskatchewan Christina Mitas – PC MPP for Scarborough Centre, 2018–present Constantine George Mitges – former PC MP, first Greek elected federally Nick Mantas – Toronto city councillor, Ward 22, Scarborough - Agincourt