Toronto Greek Community’s OXI Day Parade to take place along Danforth Avenue on Sunday, Oct. 27

By ISABELLE FERNANDES

The Toronto Greek Community will host its OXI Day Parade on Danforth Avenue this weekend.

On Sunday, Oct. 27, OXI Day Parade will take place from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The parade will proceed along Danforth Avenue from Donlands Avenue will end at Broadview Avenue.

Oxi Day marks Greece’s defiance against fascism during the Second World War. On Oct. 28, 1940, Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas said ‘Oxi’ (no) to Italian dictator Benito Mussolini’s demands that Italy be given control of strategic sites in Greece or face a declaration of war. By saying ‘Oxi’ to Italy, Greece entered the Second World War fighting against the fascist forces of both Italy and Germany.

The Greek Community of Toronto marks OXI Day annually with a parade along Danforth Avenue in Toronto’s historic Greektown. The parade will be followed by a wreath laying ceremony at Alexander the Great Parkette (corner of Logan and Danforth avenues) at 3 p.m.

According to the Greek Community of Toronto website, the parade will feature “Greek schools, dance groups with ethnic costumes, associations and Orthodox Clergy from the GTA”.

East Toronto residents should note that road closures for the parade will be in effect from noon to 4 p.m. on Oct. 27 for Euston Aveneue, and Danforth Avenue from Donlands to Broadview avenues.

Motorists can expect delays in the area and should consider alternate methods of transportation; the TTC may also experience delays. To check for transit updates, please visit https://www.ttc.ca/

For more information on the parade and the Greek Community of Toronto, please visit https://www.greekcommunity.org/