The living memories of Toronto’s August 1918 anti-Greek riots may have faded, but the metropolis’ Greek residents still commemorate the disturbing events of that day, just before the end of WWI, when the world changed forever for Greek-Canadians in the city.
The unrest ended only after scores of injuries and the inflicting of the equivalent of $1 million in damage to the Greek community’s properties—and only after Toronto mayor Tommy Church invoked the Riot Act and military police were called into the streets of Canada’s largest city.
Toula Drimonis, a Montreal-based writer and editor, wrote a story for MacLean’s Magazine recalling the ugliness of that time when an alcohol-fueled rant quickly escalated into an incredibly violent display of hatred against Greek-Canadians—something which is nearly impossible to imagine today.
Toronto’s 1918 anti-Greek riot was one of largest in the world
The unrest still stands as one of the largest anti-Greek riots—perhaps numbering 50,000 antagonists—to take place anywhere in the world.