TORONTO – His Eminence Archbishop Sotirios joined the Hon Rod Phillips, Minister of Long-Term Care; the Hon Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities; Parliamentary Assistant Effie Triantafilopoulos; John Fanaras, President and Chair of the Board of Directors for the Hellenic Home for the Aged; and, Kosta Kostouros, Chief Executive Officer of the Hellenic Home for the Aged, for an important long-term care announcement.

The event, which included a number of other community dignitaries as well, took place at the Hellenic Home for the Aged on Winona Drive in Toronto. The Government of Ontario announced an investment of up to $100 million to add an additional 2,000 nurses to the long-term care space.

His Eminence spoke to participants, highlighting the need to honor, assist, and sacrifice for all long-term care residents – who he reminded are “our parents and grandparents” – just like they sacrificed for their own children and grandchildren when they were growing up. In concluding his remarks, the Archbishop sincerely thanked Messrs. Fanaras and Kostouros and all Hellenic Home officials for their exemplary work, together with the entire government, including Premier Doug Ford, for their ongoing support of the Hellenic Home and the work being done to improve the long-term care sector in the province, especially within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following the formal announcement, His Eminence toured the nursing home with the Ministers and PA Triantafilopoulos, greeting many of the residents, whom he’s known for years. The Archbishop also led the residents in the singing of the national anthem of Greece, as well as the Apolytikion of the Holy Anargyroi. In completing the tour, the assembled guests and His Eminence visited the chapel located within the Hellenic Home.