Effie Tsatsos
Effie Tsatsos grew up in Nafpaktos, Greece, with four older sisters. After graduating in 1958, she started working as a primary school teacher. At the age of 24, Effie left all she knew in Greece for a new life in Canada.
Because of her courage and drive to succeed, she was able to get over the Canadian culture shock. She built the Greek Heritage program, which led to other languages being taught through the Ontario Government in the GTA boards of education. She is a member of many organizations that focus on supporting families in need.
She took advantage of opportunities that were in front of her (building day care centres, obtaining grants offered by federal, provincial, and municipal governments). She is a pioneer in arranging subsidized child care in the GTA.
About the Book
History is full of pioneers; from those who have discovered new continents to those who have discovered life-saving drugs. Then there are social pioneers––who change the face of society, who treat everyone the same, irrespective of colour, nationality and religion, and in doing so teach those around them to do the same. Effie Tsatsos is such a person. Immigrating from Greece in the 1960s, Effie spent approximately a year in Vancouver before finally settling in Toronto, where her adventure truly began!
In It’s All Greek To Me, Effie recounts her journey from a small town in Greece to becoming a pioneer in the child care industry, creating day care centres for families relocating from Greece as well as working parents from all nationalities residing in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Her heart-warming biography is testament to her tenacity to succeed, and the many testimonies from friends and family give an insight into what it was like to work for and be inspired by this delightfully dynamic lady.
Life is a ride... without a return ticket.Enjoy it, and always forget you are old.
How to stay young always:
- Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay them!
- Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down!
- Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever, even ham radio! Never let the brain idle. ‘An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.’ The devil’s family name is Alzheimer’s!
- Enjoy the simple things.
- Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
- The tears happen. Endure, grieve and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life is ourselves, Be ALIVE while you are alive.
- Surround yourself with what you love, whether it’s family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants and hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
- Cherish your health. If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
- Don’t take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.
- Tell the people you love that you love them at every opportunity. ALWAYS REMEMBER - life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away!
