The story of Adelphotis Arahoviton began more than eight decades ago. The first Adelphotis Arahoviton Toronto was actually a chapter of the Adelphotis Arahoviton Association based in Gastonia, North Carolina, USA. The Gastonia organization was formed in September 1923, while the Toronto Chapter was established six months later, on February 3, 1924, with four Arahovitans as directors: Konstantinos Y. Boukidis � President, Paraskevas P. Mentavlos � Vice-President, Nikolaos Y. Matalas � Secretary, and Anastasios P. Copsiaftis � Treasurer. The Gastonia organization also supported chapters in New York, Chicago and Boston.

For approximately 30 years, the Toronto Chapter worked closely with the other chapters as well as with Gastonia, to do anything they could to help out their village. Raising $8,500 for the rebuilding of the church located in the main square "Ayios Andreas", is just one example.

By 1950, the village had been ravaged by the Second World War and by the civil war that followed. Many emigrants left Greece for a better life and the Arahovitan diaspora reached as far as Australia, the United States, Canada and developed European countries, particularly Germany. More than half of the Greeks who emigrated to Toronto after 1950 originated from the Peloponese, which was a region particularly hard hit by economic depression. The new Arahovitan immigrants to these countries sought jobs, a higher standard of living and an opportunity to start again. Many planned to stay in their new countries only long enough to earn enough money to return to their beloved Arahova.

As the years passed more and more Arahovitans continued to emigrate to Toronto, with the greatest number arriving in the early 1950s. As a result of the influx of new Arahovitan blood, discussions began with the objective of establishing Adelphotis Arahoviton Toronto as an autonomous organization. One of the major reasons for the push to form a new organization was to provide assistance to the family members and friends who were left behind in Greece.

After extensive discussions and work, the new organization was formed on December 14, 1954. It was known as "Adelphotis Arahoviton of Toronto, Canada". The 13-members credited with the founding of the new Adelphotis were:

Sotiros Th. Karavos	Konstantinos Karagiannis
John Th. Karavos	Paraskevas N. Theodorakakis
John A. Karavos	Nick J. Theodorakakis
George Macheras	Demetrios Boukidis
Bill Sciouris	Peter N. Boukidis
Nick Kerhoulas	Theotokis Mavraidis
Panos Mavraidis

On May 31, 1955, the first Board of Directors of the new Adelphotis was elected and its members were:

President	George Kerhoulas
Secretary #1	John A. Karavos
Secretary #2	Konstantinos Karagiannis
Director	George Macheras
Director	Nick Kerhoulas
Director	Konstantinos Boukidis

Even though a new Adelphotis was now established, the main focus continued to be provision of assistance to their village. From 1955 to 1975, all funds the Adelphotis raised through various functions were sent to Arahova for small and large projects. Funds were raised to help bring drinking water to the village, to electrify the main square, establish a medical facility, purchase and install iconography in the churches, build the porch of the Karyatides, etc.

On July 15, 1975, the Adelphotis decided to become incorporated as a not-for-profit organization. Thus the new name "Adelphotis Arahoviton Ai Karyai Toronto". After 1975 the Adelphotis continued to grow, not just in the number of members but in the success of its functions. Year after year, the dances of the Adelphotis grew larger and larger, and were among the most successful of other Greek organizations in the City of Toronto. As a result many members began discussing the purchase of a piece of property, someplace the Adelphotis could call its own, a place to gather with family and friends to reminisce about the past and plan for the future. The idea was supported by more and more members, particularly when they came to the realization that their village, Arahova, was on its feet, and did not require the massive financial support of the past. They could now focus on growing the Adelphotis here in Toronto, doing more for the Greek Community in Canada and to promoting our rich heritage. A decision was made in early 1978 to purchase a piece of land, a park, a place to build a little piece of Arahova in Canada. The search was on and many evenings and weekends were spent scouring the countryside around Toronto to find this "little Arahova". What we now refer to as "Karyai Park" was purchased on July 15, 1978 for $35,000. The 50-acre park is located at 5932 Concession 2, Clearview Township, Ontario. The land needed to be extensively cleared and a well had to be dug to supply water. It would take a lot of hard work and a lot of money to bring this property to where the Adelphotis could realize a dream of holding a two-day festival (panygiri), to celebrate the Saint days of Ayias Paraskevis and Ayios Panteleimonos, corresponding to the same panygiri held in Arahova every year.

Many functions were held, and private donations and loans were made from almost all of the members to the Adelphotis, in order to raise $69,000 for the construction of the first three buildings: a dance pavilion, an administrative building, and a beautiful chapel. This piece of land was now a park and no longer a farm. The work did not stop there. Bulldozers and graders were brought in to level areas for parking, playgrounds, soccer and baseball fields. Another building was needed for storage and to house food and beverage facilities, so the hard work continues until today, 26 years and 24 panygiria later.

Although the main focus of the Adelphotis became the Park, it did not stop the organization from continuing to support Arahova, and the Greek Community of Toronto, in various ways. We are proud to be members of and take part in the functions of the Greek Community of Toronto, the Pan-Laconian Federation, and the Hellenic-Canadian Congress. We see it as our duty to help where we can, physically and financially. Continuous donations to the Hellenic Home for the Aged, as well as a donation of $11,500 to the Greek Community of Toronto for the construction of the new community centre, are just a few examples.

The Adelphotis has several set functions every year for its members and friends. They are:

Makaronada - A masquerade dance celebrating the Lent period, held 40 days before Easter where we indulge in large platters of spaghetti and prizes are given out for best costumes to young and old.

Official Opening of the Park � Held on the last Sunday in May, also celebrating the Saint days of Ayiou Konstantinou and Ayias Elenis, and as a memorial to those family and friends who have passed away.

Panygiri � Our two-day festival held on the last weekend of July, celebrating the Saint days of Ayia Paraskevis and Ayios Panteleimonos with music, dancing, roast lamb, and fun and games for all.

Corn Roast at the Park � Held on the second weekend of September, the Adelphotis supplies and cooks corn on the cob and potatoes, and everyone brings food and beverages.

Children's Christmas Party � Open to all members to come and enjoy. Santa distributes gifts.

With the help of its members, friends and Board of Directors, the Adelphotis continues the vision of the founding members and strives to keep the dream alive.

Current Board of Directors:

President	Stavros Dalakouras
Vice-President	John G. Diamantouros
Vice-President	Jim P. Diamantouros
Secretary	Triantafili Velonis
Treasurer	Bill G. Macheras
Director	Mary Homatidis
Director	Helen Kerasiotis
Director	John H. Theodore
Director	George Sciouris
Director	Jim Bouzios

After 50 years in existence, we must be proud our Adelphotis has endured and grown into such a great organization � all of the hard work was worth it. This organization has been considered one of the largest, strongest, and most progressive of its type in the Greek Community in Toronto. This is especially significant when considering the fact that we represent just a single village, not a group of villages or a region, but a single beautiful village, KARYES, LACONIAS, GREECE.

We thank those that came before us and who worked tirelessly since 1954 to keep our heritage alive. We would like to wish all of our members and all of our friends and their families health and happiness, and to the future Board of Directors, strength and courage to not only continue what has been accomplished in the last 50 years, but to move forward and make the Adelphotis stronger for the next 50 years.