An Act to designate the month of March as Hellenic Heritage Month

Bill S-259 was the Senate companion to Bill S-220 of 45-1 establishing March as Hellenic Heritage Month nationally. Approximately 262,135 Canadians reported Greek origin on the 2021 Statistics Canada census, concentrated in Toronto (the Danforth's Greektown), Montreal (Park Extension), and Vancouver. Greek immigration to Canada began in the 1820s with the first sailors and merchants, accelerated after WWII (1947-1965) with roughly 100,000 arrivals, and continued through the 1980s. The Hellenic Heritage Foundation has lobbied for federal recognition since 2014. Ontario formally established Greek Heritage Month in 2016 (Bill 12). S-259 did not pass third reading in 44-1; reintroduced as S-220 of 45-1.