Written by Justine Frangouli-Argyris
The Montreal Greek community
recently lost a patriot, a proud Greek, a patron who supported and strengthened
the community and its members.
Stratton Stevens, one of the most
prominent personalities of Hellenism in Canada, lost his battle with life last
week. He was often voted Montreal's most eligible bachelor and
was well known for the glamorous receptions at his impressive residence on
Montreal’s Golden Mile. He was a true cosmopolitan who
did not limit himself to the Greek environment of Montreal but became a man of
the world through his relationships with the most important people on the
planet.
His most famous friendship was with
legendary Canadian Prime Minister Pierre-Elliott Trudeau with whom he enjoyed dinners, conversations and trips to the
Greek islands, in the immediate vicinity of which current Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, was
often to be found.
Due to his closeness with the Trudeau
family, Stratton Stevens was able to help politicians of Greek origin stand out
in the Liberal Party while also supporting them economically at the same time.
Stratton Stevens, or Stratos
Skafidas, was born in Montreal, Canada on April 15, 1932 to Greek parents. His
father, Dionysios Tipaldos-Skafidas, hailed from the island of Cefalonia while
his mother, Eugenia Poulides, was from Constantinople and Prussia. Her father,
Efstratios Poulides, arrived in Canada in 1866.
Stratos' father, who was born in Typaldata,
a village just outside Lixouri, emigrated to Canada in 1902 (the day his mother
was born), first arriving at New York's Ellis Island and then, by train, to
Dalhousie Station at Place Viger in Montreal. He was a little boy, only 11
years old, and Stratos loved to relate the story that his Dad claimed to be 17
in order to land a job in the construction company that built the Québec City
bridge, only to be turned down because he looked so young.
His father would return to
Montreal and begin working in fruit distribution, initially earning $100 a year
and eventually opening his own store in 1912. He would go on to support George
Tzanetakos, the originator of United Amusements, a company that held the
distribution rights to many films. However, his wealth would came in large part
from the stock market.
Stratos' parents married in 1923
and bore five children: Harry, who would become the
first surgeon of Greek descent in Canada and take on the position of director
at the Reddy Memorial, one of the country's oldest hospitals, two beautiful
girls, Andrianna and Helen, as well as Stratton and his twin brother, George, a
chartered accountant.
Stratton Stevens began working hard
early on, opening his first restaurant at a very tender age. Anxious and smart,
Stratton would quickly expand his business interests to include two hotels,
other restaurants and even some kiosks at Montreal’s memorable World's Fair,
Expo 67. He became a shipowner and made several acquisitions in real estate,
making him one of the richest Hellenes in Canada.
The genius of the man lied in the
fact that he did not simply amass material wealth but, given his charismatic
persona, was able to create lifetime friendships with many prominent
individuals and families---from the Guccis to the Trudeaus.
His friendship with late Prime
Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau was a very close one and they were often seen eating
together in Greek restaurants and holidaying in Greece. He maintained close
ties with the whole Trudeau family including current Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau.
Canadian Supreme Court Justice, Antonio Lamer, was also
a close friend and regular attendee at Stratton’s receptions where he would
join the elite of the political and business world of Montreal.
Stratton Stevens was awarded the
Order of Canada,
the highest award given to a Canadian Citizen.
Stratton
will be remembered as a distinguished Canadian and a true Hellene!
