A Fabulous Introduction to Romanian Wines!

Justine Frangouli-Argyris

A wine tasting event for journalists, oenologists and wine importers featuring top notch Romanian wines as part of Carrefour's "Open The Romanian Wine" program, was co-organized by The Iconic Estate winery, a member of the Alexandrion Group, at Avra Madison Restaurant in Manhattan.

 The wines were presented by wine critic-author, Marinella Ardelean, who guided the attendees not only through their distinct flavors and aromas but also to the areas of Romania where vineyards sprouted rapidly after the end of the Ceausescu era and have now gained a prominent position in Europe. Marinella Ardelean noted that Romanian wines, which now rank 6th in European production and have won numerous awards from European and world organizations, have not, however, yet gained the place they deserve in the all important U.S. market.

“Romania is truly a hidden gem when it comes to wine and some of its finest, most valuable varieties are little known. In this  program we took on the mission to change that. I am proud and excited to host our industry leaders  in New York to taste a small sampling of Romania’s winemaking history. This event coincides with our celebration of the upcoming National Romania Day which was on December 1^st,”stated Ms. Ardelean.

 The event, organized in part by the Alexandrion Group under the co-ordination of its American director, Greta Kamaterou, was attended by group CEO, Stelios Savva. Mr. Savva referred to the development of Romania over the course of the last 14 years, emphasizing that wine production has grown rapidly not only due to the cultivation of vineyards in fertile areas with their many grape varieties but also because of the perfection and standardization of the production process itself.

 It should be noted that oenologists and journalists alike tasted the wines and were impressed by the quality of all the products presented including ”The Iconic Estate Rhein Extra Magnifique Brut,” "The Iconic Estate Hyperion Feteasca Neagra,” "The Iconic Estate Hyperion Rose,” "La Sapata Babeasca Neagra,” “Avincis Olt de Vie Negru de Dragasani,”  and the “Domeniile Averesti Busuioaca de Bohotin.”

 An important element of the Alexandrion Group is the fact that President Nawaf Salameh, born in Syria in 1966, has already begun to expand its distillery activities to Greece, in the region of Kavala. Mr. Salameh, who studied medicine in Greece and speaks Greek fluently, began his medical career at the Tzanio Hospital in Piraeus before founding his first company in Crete.in Kavala, the Alexandrion group intends to produce whisky, thereby marking Greece’s foray into whisky production. 

 The Alexandrion Group is headquartered in Romania where its winery and distillery is located. There, workers work feverishly in the vineyards to gather the must to be fermented in huge metal containers. In the cellars, the wines are aged in wooden barrels one level below the cauldrons with the spirits. When ready, the bottles go by the thousands to be labeled before being put in boxes for shipping.

 "We are currently exporting to about 60 countries,” said Stelios Savva, who divides his time between Cyprus, Greece and Romania."We wanted to invest in Greece for many years and now is the right time as the government is supportive of investments and provides us with whatever help we require.”

 With its eye on Kavala for whisky production and the promotion of its Romanian Iconic Estate wines in the U.S.A., the Alexandrion group hopes to soon become one of the major players in the international market for wines and spirits.

Author-Journalist Justine Frangouli -Argyris between  oenologist-author, Marinella Ardelean and Alexandrion Group Director in USA Greta Kamaterou. Below: Ceo of Alexandrion Group Stelios Savva with Publisher Paul Kotrotsios.

Ceo of Alexandrion Group Stelios Savva with oenologist
-author, Marinella Ardelean

ICC WOMEN HELLAS: A beacon for Women's Equality in Business and Careers!

 A report written by Maria Pantazis-Peck co-chair coordinator of the ICC WOMEN HELLAS/Canadian Cluster in reference to all the activities of ICC WOMEN HELLAS for 2020-2021!

Written by Maria Pantazis

I thought I would summarize some of the discussion that took place this week on a Zoom call organized by ICCWH. The call took place on July 7 at 18:00pm  Athens times (11:00 am Canada EST) and close to 50 people were on the call with some dropping out due to other commitments. The objective was to introduce cluster members to each other and to outline the ICCWH Strategic Plan for the coming year including seeking input from all clusters. The ICC President Petros Doukas also joined the call while driving fresh from the EU XI Gender Equality Meeting in Higher education held in Madrid. 

Each cluster introduced themselves and their members  - Washington, New York, Paris, Canada together with new clusters Australia, London, UK and Dubai, UAE and presented the list of activities undertaken successfully and to support the program of ICCWH.

Ioustini Frangouli presented the Canada Cluster list outlined in her earlier message and highlighted the list of Canadian Programs in support of women developed by the federal government that piqued the interest of the Greek government. Also of special interest to the ICCWH was the participation of Melissa Kargiannaki in a virtual webinar on Female Leadership for a Sustainable Growth in Greece: The New Digital era. They would like to include her in future speaking events. Bravo Melissa!

 

On Future Strategy, The ICCWH adopted the new branding strategy for Vodafone whose slogan "Together We Can" the power that comes from combining human ambition with technology. The ICCWH which has seen its membership grow from 25 to 200 members with the inclusion of many new clusters and is an excellent example of global collaboration in support of Greek women in the diaspora and very much appreciated and supported by ICC Hellas.  On July 1st, they signed an MOU with the Ministry of Agriculture to deepen collaboration in the Agri-Food sector. They have also become official partners of Elevate Greece, an initiative launched by the Greek Government, intended to identify promising startups and support their growth using a digital gate through which Greek startups can apply for official accreditation.  Priority sectors of focus are - Agri-Food, Tourism, Information Technology and Climate Change. 

Other notable projects include:

- the Vamvaka Revival which aims to commemorate the birthplace of Vamvaka Village in Laconia of notable Greek Philanthropist Stavros Niarchos (1873-1955), 

- as dictated by the EU regulations, ensure that Greece adheres to 25% women CEOs in public and private sectors.

- in November organize an event to celebrate world renowned Greek lawyers and their contributions to enhance the Legal Field and Profession.

- offer to host the next European Meeting on Global Gender Equality in Higher Education 2023 in Greece.

-creation of a female Olympic Athletes group under ICCWH.

-Government lobbying initiatives such as meet next week with the Minister of Diaspora Greeks and Kyriakos Pierrakakis, computer and political scientist and Minister of State and Digital Governance in the Cabinet of Kyriakos Mitsotakis to bring to his attention the work of ICCWH.

-create a Platform to permit all Greek ICC Women to upload their personal profiles and interests with a view to fostering collaboration within the Global ICC Network.

 The ICCWH will host a networking event on Wednesday, September 15 in Athens at the St George Lycabettus Hotel and any ICC members who will be in Athens on that date are invited. More Information will follow.

 I invite both Ioustini and Aphroditi Salas to add any details that I may have missed.Overall the group is quite dynamic and active and is striving to make its mark.  We have many accomplished women here in Canada that could benefit from further collaboration with the ICCWH however we need to make them aware of our cluster and its benefits and get them to join.

 

Maria Pantazi Peck

 

 

 

So Long Aunt Katina !

 

So Long Aunt Katina !

by Justine Frangouli-Argyris

 

My aunt Katina was a girl among the many children born to the Vlachos family, in the mountainous village of Exanthia, in Lefkada. This did not bode well for the youngsters, especially for the girls, as the village and its surrounding area were located in a barren region of the island.

 In her early youth, however, she received an invitation from her siblings who had immigrated to Sydney and, thus, happily found herself in Australia. There, she began to work for her own well-being, to build her dowry, as well as for that of her family back home.

 Voyaging by ocean liner to Australia, she followed the fate of thousands of Greek immigrants who sought a better life abroad. With her brothers’ support and with her youth and desire for work, she had reached thirty by the time she was ready to wed.

 As most of her compatriots, she desired to wed a 'man from her hometown' and, thus, uncle Leonidas Frangoulis, the youngest of my respected father's brothers, came into the picture. “Uncle Leonidis,” as he was called back home in Englouvi where he was destined to a life grazing the family’s sheep, was a delicate creature who did not take to agricultural work. When a marriage proposal with Katina’s picture arrived depicting her black hair and dark, glowing look, he instantly decided to depart for Sydney, to marry her and start a family.

 I remember, there in her paternal house, in the middle of Exanthia, at the engagement party that was held, the groom dancing with the photo of the bride he had received and impatiently waiting to meet her upon his arrival in the distant world down under. The guests danced the “tsamiko” and the “kalamatiano” and they sang and played the violins while uncle Leonidis was full of emotion as he would be off to a better life in Australia but leaving his family and homeland behind.

 Aunt Katina welcomed him there. He fell in love with her warm personality and liveliness and they soon became a couple before God. They sent us the very large wedding photos that showed Katina wearing a beautiful wedding dress with a white tulle. I remember this photo that sat on the buffet in my grandmother Konstantia's house in Englouvi.

As children, we had never met aunt Katina but we learned to love her from afar because uncle Leonidis would send letters every month that my father would read aloud to us.

 Katina helped Leonidas start out and, together, they worked hard to make a good home. Soon, their only child, the beautiful Konstantina,(Kossy) was born who took the colors of her mother and the “Frangoulis” features of her father.

 After 12 years, along with 10-year old Konstantina, they finally returned to Greece for the first time. And they brought goodies from Australia, I do not remember what and how, only that a set of “formal” cutlery was given to my Mother who was always quick to mention this at our special family gatherings.

 Aunt Katina was a sweet yet dynamic woman, a quiet force, who stood strongly by her family but never failed to support her extended family in Lefkada. They visited their homeland many times over the years and my Mom was happy with her sister-in-law , for her kindness, immediacy and honesty. Although separated by continents and oceans, whenever they got together they spoke like sisters who had never been apart.

 Aunt Katina was happy to see her daughter Konstantina graduate from Univeristy, marry her love, John, and have two exceptional children, Chris and Katerina,( who took her grandma’s name). She was very active, an excellent cook and housewife and, when we visited them in 2012, she opened her big arms and welcomed us lovingly. She organized a big feast with all the Greek specialties and treated us as if we were her own. Our unforgettable moments in Australia with uncle Leonidis and aunt Katina are recorded forever in my memory and my heart.

 In her final years, Aunt Katina suffered as her beloved Leonidis was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and was unable to recognize her. As such, perhaps it's better that she left, and he will not realize it. However she departed tragically and abruptly hit by a car in the middle of the road.

 Have a good trip to heaven Aunt Katina. We will remember you with a lot of love for what you were to all of us. Warm greetings to my grandparents, your brothers-in-law and cousins. And a special hug to our “Butterfly.”  I promise you will be in the best company! Until we meet again!

Recipes and Stories from Athena's Kitchen!

 A beautiful cook book with personal narratives from battered women who have found shelter in the SHIELD OF ATHENA has recently been published with the proceeds going towards the new shelter in Laval that is currently under construction.

The book comprises recipes from women of many origins who have been the victims of domestic violence. Their journey, from being battered to attaining their freedom, is a worthy read and the recipes from their countries of origin and are truly interesting.

Buy it now to become a partof a collective memory and to help women free themselves from conjugalviolence!

 

JOIN US ON AN AMAZING JOURNEY 

AROUND THE WORLD!

"Recipes and Stories from Athena's Kitchen"

A compilation of recipes and messages of strength and courage

from survivors of intimate partner violence.

 

SOPHIE GRÉGOIRE TRUDEAU opens The Shield’s cookbook with a forward dedicated to the women of Athena’s House, in recognition of their inspirational journey towards a life free of violence.  

“Throughout history, the kitchen has been a friendly and joyful place to gather and to share our stories and our sorrows. But if our potential and talent is to continue to spread in different spheres of society over time, the work for equity and social justice must continue.” Sophie Grégoire Trudeau

Available in both English and French, the Shield of Athena’s cookbook offers readers an insight on the women who have stayed at our shelter, Athena’s House, and their journey towards a life free of violence.  

The book is comprised of 34 recipes of appetizers, main dishes and desserts. Twenty different countries are represented! Amongst these delicacies, the reader will be inspired by the women’s stories as they share their struggles and their triumphs.

These recipes were shared during our therapeutic cooking activities and helped foster a sense of normalcy and safety to the participants.

We dedicate this book to the women of Athena’s house and to the universal language of food that transcends our differences and connects us all.

Buy it here!

Recipes and Stories From Athena's Kitchen – Shield of Athena's Art Sale (myshopify.com)

The “Doveegene” Genomic Pap Test: Not a Cause but, Rather, a Destination!

 

The “Doveegene” Genomic Pap Test:

Not a Cause but, Rather, a Destination!

 

On May 12th, with the participation of more than 200 registrants, the Lyceum of Greek Women of Montreal (LGWM), in co-operation with the MUHC Foundation, organized the “Joanne and Melina Virtual Event” that focused on the clinical trials of the “Doveegene” genomic pap test under renowned oncologist/gynecologist of MUHC/McGill, Dr. Lucy Gilbert.

 Aphrodite Salas, professor of Journalism at Concordia University, graciously hosted the event which was enriched by the presence of Dr. Pierre Gfeller, President and CEO of the MUHC. Dr. Gfeller began by introducing the Canadian Minister of Health, the Honorable Patty Hajdu, who noted the government’s efforts to fund medical research projects, some of which focus on gender equality. Patty Hajdu emphasized the importance of the “Doveegene” clinical trials and an end result that will save millions of women’s lives in the future.

 This was the third year that the Lyceum of Greek Women of Montreal organized an event dedicated to fundraising for the "DOvEEgene Project" which focuses on the early detection of ovarian and endometrial cancers.

 The LGWM has already contributed $100,000.00 to the project to date. With this fundraising event, the goal is to collect an additional $50.000.00.

 The audience was captivated by the narratives of the event’s main figures, Melina Tsagaropoulos, a 31-year old mother, and Joanne Photiades, vice-president of the “Doveegene” Genomic Pap Test fundraising campaign, who related their experiences with ovarian cancer, bringing tears to people’s eyes.

 Justine Frangouli-Argyris, President of the LGWM, said that as a journalist and woman who lost her younger sister to ovarian cancer, she feels the need to help in the prevention of this silent killer. She said that “Doveegene” is not a cause but, rather, a destination.

 Dr. Lucy Gilbert, named one of Canada's "Top 25 Women of Influence for 2021" and a global expert in gynecology/oncology and genomics at the MUHC, presented the “DOvEEgene” test which aims to make a significant scientific breakthrough for the early diagnosis of ovarian and endometrial cancers. She invited all women aged 45 to 70 years to participate in the “Doveegene” clinical trials by registering with her team.

 To get this project from the research laboratory to a clinical-grade test, the MUHC Foundation is raising $2M with its “Stop the Silent Killer” campaign. The plan is to leverage public funding to triple this amount.

While many researchers are working on ovarian and endometrial cancers, Dr. Gilbert is the sole researcher developing an early detection test and she is uniquely positioned to achieve this goal.

Even though laboratories in the U.S. may have superior funding, Dr. Gilbert’s expertise as a physician and her access to a diverse group of women given our public healthcare system will enable her to finish the clinical study required to confirm her discovery.

 In her closing remarks, Julie Quenneville, CEO of the MUHC Foundation, reiterated how important it is to have the “Doveegene” Genomic pap test become a tool for every woman in order to prevent endometrial and ovarian cancers.

 Messages of praise and good wishes were delivered to Dr. Gilbert and the LGWM from the following local female politicians:

Emmanuella Lambropoulos, M.P. for Saint Laurent;

Annie Koutrakis, M.P.for Vimy; 

Sandra El-Helou, City Councillor for Souvenir-Labelle;

Mary Deros, City Councillor for Villeray, St-Michel-Park Extension;

Aglaia Revelakis, City Councillor for Chomedey

 A song by well known Greek-Canadian singer, Maro Lytras, was aired, soothing the audience.

 The LGWM would like to thank its major sponsors: 

1) the City of Laval and Municipal Councillor for Souvenir-Labelle, Sandra El-Helou; 

2) Ernst and Young; 

3) real estate agents Vicky Georgiadou and Nancy Zentefis of Les Immeubles Charisma;

4) Gestion Immobiliere Provision; 

5) Thalia Greek wines; 

6) Global Imperial;

7) radio station CFMB; 

 Many thanks to all our donors and especially to Dr. Athena Diamandis and Dr. Andre Shenouda for their very generous contribution.

Congratulations and heartfelt thanks to Mary Arvanitis and Lisa Mastroianni for co-ordinating the virtual event on behalf of the MUHC Foundation!

Click here to donate now Lyceum of Greek Women of Montreal (akaraisin.com)

·         If you want to participate in the clinical trials register here:

·         doveegene@mcgill.ca/contact

·         Or call at 1 866 716 3267

 

The Chaotic Pandemic Crisis in Canada

 

By Justine Frangouli-Argyris

 Progressive Canada, a member of the seven most developed countries in the world, is proving, after 10 months of the pandemic, that it has been unable to handle the crisis, registering thousands of deaths while continuously moving towards harsher and harsher lockdown measures.

With 708,619 cases and 18,014 deaths at the time of writing, the country is constantly teetering between an economic catastrophe and an explosive spread of the virus which remains impervious to the ever stricter measures of confinement.

The popular Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, has reached an impasse, constantly printing money to distribute to the unemployed and shuttered businesses, with seemingly no plans to revive the economy and an inability to promptly secure a vaccine for its 38 million inhabitants. The government plans to spend $322.3 billion on business and population relief of which, according to the national broadcaster, CBC, it had already dispersed $240 billion as of the end of November.

To complicate matters, in the midst of the crisis, Justin Trudeau was implicated in the infamous “WE” scandal when his government approved a $900 million contract to the aforementioned NGO whose co-presidents were personal friends of the Prime Minister and had paid large sums to his mother Margaret for public speaking engagements. 

Trudeau’s Finance Minister, Bill Morneau, was forced to resign as a result of the scandal as he partook in approving the contract while having accepted free travel from the organization, contrary to Canada’s code of conduct.

Currently, another scandal is haunting the internationally popular prime minister given that his government decided to order vaccines from China—orders that have been neither approved nor fulfilled—leaving behind potential supplies from major U.S. and European manufacturers. 

To date, the country has vaccinated only 1.55% of the population, far behind other western countries, leaving frontline doctors and hospital staff indignant and nursing homes taking court action over the delay.

Regardless, the Prime Minister continues to reassure the population that all is well and that all those who want a vaccine will get one by the end of September.

In the meantime, Canada is teetering on the limits of the absurd. Its borders have been closed since March with all non-Canadians barred from entering the country. Returning citizens are still leaving its airports without their temperature being taken nor being subjected to any rapid testing for the diagnosis of the virus. A strict 14-day quarantine continues to be imposed on those entering the country regardless of their condition while the land border with the U.S. has remained closed since last April.

Passport renewal offices as well as the issuance of diplomatic visas at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs remain dormant resulting in citizens without valid passports having to wait until the end of the crisis before being able to travel.

All restaurants and retail have been locked down in Ontario and Quebec, Canada's most populous provinces. Only grocery stores, pharmacies and banks remain open. Indoor gatherings are strictly forbidden with only one visitor allowed in houses with only one resident.

At the same time, huge queues form outside the government-run monopolies that sell alcohol and cannabis. Citizens are outraged that retail shops suffer while young people are permitted to buy booze and hash that are consumed in secret parties that are major sources of transmission of the virus.

The chaos is worsening with Justin Trudeau now threatening to ban all flights leaving Canada. The country’s main carriers, Air Canada and WestJet, continue to protest, pointing out that the government’s policies are “incoherent and inconsistent” to no avail. Left with little choice, they continue to lay off thousands. 

Restaurants, a large majority of which are Greek-owned, are dying with modelling showing that 30% may never re-open once public money stops flowing.

And all this chaotic, untenable dependence on public money has created an environment that has Justin Trudeau smiling smugly, anxiously waiting for the earliest opportunity to call a snap election and improve his government’s standing to a majority.

A Sexist Slap in the Face to Canadian MP, Emmanuella Lambropoulos

 

By Justine Frangouli-Argyris

I followed the conversation with Ville Saint-Laurent MP, Emmanuella Lambropoulos, and Commissioner of the Official Languages, Raymond Théberge, which took place virtually a few days ago.

 Emmanuella Lambropoulos, a Greek-origin MP in her early 30’s currently serving her second term in Parliament as a member of the ruling Liberal Party, is there defending the rights of the English-speaking minority of Quebec. In this capacity, she conveyed certain questions to Théberge, noting that unilingual anglophones in Quebec are experiencing difficulties in the workplace due to a lack of knowledge of French where it is very difficult for all non-French speakers to secure employment.

Emmanuella Lambropoulos did not make any statement, but, rather, asked the following question to the Commissioner for Official Languages: 

"I have another question along the same lines. We hear that the French language is declining in Quebec. I don't want to call it a myth; I'll give it the benefit of the doubt. I've heard that on several occasions. I have to see proof in order to believe that."

 It is at this point that Conservative MP, Alain Rayes, and Bloc Québécois MP, Stéphane Bergeron, stood up and demanded her expulsion from the Commission. In fact, similar remarks were made in Parliament by other MPs from the New Democratic Party and the Conservative Party. How could Emmanuela Lambropoulos dare challenge the concept of the use of the French language in Quebec, they intended?

 Of course, without any valid reason, the knives were out for the ethnic MP Lambropoulos in the French media. The result being that some MPs from the Liberal Party attacked Lambropoulos (Propos d’Emmanuella Lambropoulos sur le français | « J’étais vraiment abasourdie » (lapresse.ca)

 It should be noted that the attack on Emmanuella Lambropoulos culminated in an ugly sketch published in the vaunted Montreal French-language newspaper, “La Presse,” where she appears to be slapped by a Liberal colleague while others await their turn in line to do likewise.

Needless to say, the sketch had Canada’s Greek community up in arms. The Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal, the Hellenic Congress of Quebec and the Lyceum of Greek Women of Montreal addressed statements to the Prime Minister's Office, the Inter-Party Committee for Official Languages ​​and to “La Presse” condemning the sexist and misogynistic depiction of the young Lambropoulos being subjected to violence by men in a country of democracy and equality such as Canada.

The falsification of Emmanuela Lambropoulos' question by opposition MPs, but also by those of her own party, clearly shows that it is fodder for any politician of any faction to try and take advantage of the sensitive issue of the French language in Quebec. It can offer political benefits and all sides are eyeing the many seats in Canada’s French-speaking province, knowing full well that an election could be around the corner.

Quebec’s anglophones often do not dare ask the obvious questions about the use of the English language and the difficult realities of their monolingualism. Those belonging to ethnic communities, even though often trilingual, continue to be bullied and made to feel like second class citizens by those allegedly cut from the French-speaking cloth of Quebec society.

The Greek community of Quebec and Canada  is fully supportive of Ms. Lambropoulos and may end up being indifferent for the Liberals in the next federal election, especially in Justin Trudeau's Greek-heavy riding of Papineau. 

 It is noteworthy that, although this shameful sketch should have been a rallying point for an “egalitarian” party like the Liberals, neither the Prime Minister nor anyone in his parliamentary caucus has come out with an official condemnation!