Farewell dinner for the Hellenic Defence Attache
Colonel George Bourdekas and his family
June 8th, 2002

As we all know Colonel George Bourdekas was the Defense Attache of Greece to Canada for a term of approximately 2 years. This term will come to end in Fall of 2002. During his stay in Canada, Colonel Bourdekas has contributed to Hellenes, in
Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and to Canadians alike a great deal. Above all
Colonel Bourdekas has established numerous solid friendships with all those
who had the pleasure and honor to know him.
Naturally, we will all miss Colonel Bourdekas and his family.

To say farewell to this great friend of ours, The Samian Society of Ottawa Polycrates with full collaboration of all the Hellenic Community Associations, had organized a dinner/dance evening which was hosted June the 8th, 2002, at 7p.m.

We had the honor to have with us the following Associations. Ahepa, Arcadians, Cypriots, Eveotes, Daughter of Penelope, Maids of Athena, Phyloptohos , Lacones, Kretans, Senior Citizens, Macedonians, Dafniotes,Parnassos Cultural Society and Samiotes. A painting of a well know Canadian Artist was presented to the Bourdekas Family on behalf of all the above Associations. The painting shows the Parliament Building with the Bytown Canal and tulips. Above the painting is outlined so you can enjoy it and the Bourdekas Family to keep it as a souvenir from this great Capital City of Ottawa.

Also we had the honor to have with us From the Attache Community in Ottawa the following distinguest guests with their wives. Colonel Pierre Boucher. Ministry of National Defence of Canada. Colonel Horacio Bosich. Embassy of the Republic of Argentina Colonel Jie Li. Embassy of the people's Republic of China. Colonel Bernard Couture. Directorate of Protocol and Foreign Liaison 3.

This special message came from Colonel B. Couture and his wife.

Dear Manos, Please convey our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the members of the
organizing committee for the very special evening in honour of George and Fotini Bourdekas.
Like you, we have become fast friends with all of the members of the Bourdekas family during the past two years.
They are indeed, very special people and deserve every honour that comes to
them.
George has contributed to the attache committee and has help to further the already close ties that Greece and Canada have fostered over the years.
Fotini has also made a variety of unique contributions, using her art and intelligence to promote a number of very worthy causes. We will miss them very much.
You were perfect hosts. The meal was delicious and we loved the dancing although some of the steps were a bit complicated for the uninitiated! We have come to know several members of the Ottawa Greek Community during our time with DND Protocol and Foreign Liaison and certainly look forward to continuing our association and friendship.

Our sincere thanks, Elizabeth and Berny Couture.

From the Hellenic Community we had the honor to have with us the President of the Hellenic Community of Ottawa and District, Mr. Stelios Ramphos and his wife Doris. Mr. Ramphos presented Colonel Bourdekas with a special plaque on behalf of the Community.

Manos Orphanos was the Master of Ceremonies for the evening.
He presented Mrs. Fotine Bourdekas with A bouquet of Bleu and white roses, in heartfull appreciation for her art work designing this special web page for The Samian Society of Ottawa and district.

Our Association will always remember the Bourdekas Family and will never forget this special contribution from Fotine. In the years to come we and our children and grandchildren will search the web and in their mind will be who else but Fotine. Again We thank you Fotine and George for all your hard work. May God Give you many years of health, and when you get back to our homeland please don't forget The Samiotike family, because they will never forget you.

I, Manos Orphanos as a President of the Samian Society of Ottawa for a number of years, like to give Colonel George Bourdekas, his wife Fotini
and children, Despoina, Eva and Panagiotis a special thank you and again have a nice trip back home good luck and God Bless you.