2025 Annual Lecture: Dr. Themistoklis Aravossitas

For the 2025 Annual Lecture of the Hellenic Canadian Academic Association and the Hellenic Heritage Foundation, Dr. Themistoklis Aravossitas presented his research on Advancing Greek Heritage Language Education in Canada. Dr. Aravossitas presented key challenges, including declining enrollment, the impact of demographic shifts, and the urgent need for modernized teaching resources and professional development for educators. Importantly, our speaker outlined a comprehensive Action Plan—a roadmap for strengthening Greek heritage language programs through community-driven initiatives, institutional support, and strategic policy recommendations. The discussion was moderated by Phil Triadafilopoulos, Professor of Political Science at the University of Toronto and vice-president of HCAAO, and Sakis Gekas, Associate Professor, the Hellenic Heritage Foundation Chair in Modern Greek History at York University and president of HCAAO. The lecture was well-attended and participants left with novel insight into how we can contribute to sustaining and revitalizing Greek language education in Canada—whether through curriculum innovation, funding strategies, or grassroots activism.