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Saints Constantin and Helen Greek Orthodox Parish

INTRODUCTION

The Greek Orthodox Community of West Island is organized under the Uniform Community Regulations of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto (Canada), a charitable non-profit organization incorporated under the laws of the Province of Quebec, Canada. The community was founded in 1979 and is part of the Greek Orthodox parish of Saints Constantine and Helen that serves the west part of the Montreal Island and extend to Ile-Perrot, Vaudreuile, Hudson and St-Lazare.

The Community comprises many individuals who have contributed to their community history and are passionate about their future and the challenges that they face, in these ever changing times.

The community goal is to enhance the lives of the members of the Greek Orthodox Community of West Island, and in order to accomplish that, all individuals and committees working for the benefit of the common good, must aspire toward the attainment of the goals and values set herein.

The Community has many demands and responsibilities. To fulfill its commitments, the organization is heavily dependent on a strong network of volunteers. The membership and the volunteers over the years are the heart and soul of the organization.

SITE OF THE GREEK ORTHODOX COMMUNITY OF MONTREAL WEST ISLAND

The Community site including our Church is located at 20 Brunswick, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, (at the corner of Brunswick Boulevard and Spring Garden Street).

The site lot is approximately 80,000 Square feet. The church building occupies about 15% of the lot area, while 25% of the remaining lot is paved and used as parking.

The church was built in 1984. The building complex was of a simple, basic design consisting of an elevated basilica-style church and a semi-basement reception area. At that time, the needs of the Greek community of the West Island of Montreal were commensurate with those of the population that had recently begun to settle in the area.

The church of Saint Constantine and Saint Helen was built thanks to the generous donations and support of the Montreal Greek Community and prominent benefactors and donors of the West Island Community. The church interior has been continuously been upgraded making every part of the building functional for the intended purpose.

The basement includes a reception hall area for about 250 persons, a small kitchen area, storage areas and bathroom facilities. The basement has been upgraded so that it can be functional and be used as a community gathering hall, and as a reception hall for community and ecclesiastical events.

The Philoptochos uses the basement hall to hold fundraising lunches on Sundays after the church service to fund various renovation church renovation projects. The Philoptochos also provides coffee and refreshments after funeral and memorial services. The Philoptochos has funded funded some of the church renovations and upgrades, including the air-conditioning system.

The exterior of the church has not changed much since it was built, other than been maintained.

However, more than 25 years have passed since our church was built and the needs of the population have increased. The demographic composition of the West Island Greek community of the 1980s has since changed dramatically, a factor which must be taken now into consideration.

The Greek Orthodox Community of West Island Councils have been studying a much-needed expansion and renovation whose purpose is to bring new members to the church and also to render the space more functional for the parishioners participating in the sacraments and liturgies, the operation for the Greek School Pythagoras and for other members taking part in the community’s social functions.