Expats in Calgary await results of Greek election

Greek-Canadians in Calgary are anxiously awaiting the results of Sunday’s cliffhanger election, which will dramatically affect the future of their debt-stricken homeland.

About 7,000 Calgarians of Greek descent are feeling “anxiety, frustration and anticipation” for friends and family back home, said John Yannitsos, president of the Hellenic Society of Calgary.

Greece has been rocked by a financial and economic crisis, which has fostered high unemployment, poverty and political instability.

“We’re all very concerned here,” Yannitsos said. “We have a lot of friends and family and business interests in Greece.”

Many society members also travel back in the summer, he added.

“They want to see the beautiful country they came from.”

The country’s two front line parties are locked in a political battle as the conservative New Democracy party is running neck-and-neck with the leftist Syriza party, according to polls.

Both parties are showing extreme views, said Andre Gerolymatos, director of a centre for Hellenic Studies at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver.

“Canadians can help by being openminded about what’s happening in Greece right now,” Gerolymatos said. “The sky isn’t going to fall.” Gerolymatos said tourism is a lifeblood of the economy and encouraged Canadians to visit.

In Calgary, Yannitsos urged supporters to check out next weekend’s Greek festival.

Details of the local event are available at calgaryhellenic.com.