• Awarded on: November 16, 2005

Arhondoula Vassiliadou-Augoustis, Montreal, Park-Extension, Quebec
Governor General's Caring Canadian Award

In 1976, Arhondoula Augoustis established a home economics program in the basement of her community's Greek Orthodox church. The program, which included a religious instruction component, ran for 10 years and enabled girls from disadvantaged Greek families to learn traditional sewing, cooking, embroidery, knitting, handiworks, and social manners. With an amazing missionary spirit, she provided sewing machines, supplies and groceries at her own expense, and helped some of the students to pursue secondary education through the ''Benevolent Fund'' she had set up. Over the years, hundreds of students have benefited from her teachings and legacy.