Giorgos Rigas lives in Montreal, Canada, with family roots in a village in Messinia, near Kalamata. This year he is participating in the Symposium for the first time, following an invitation he received from the Greek Consulate in his city.
He speaks about the powerful experience of meeting young Greeks from 30 countries around the world, about his love for Hellenism, and about the energy he puts into living up to the expectations placed upon him as he strives to represent his homeland in Canada in the best possible way.
Although he is a second-generation Greek, he speaks the Greek language very well and explains how important it was that his Canadian mother chose to send him to Greek school in Canada. He also speaks warmly of the Greek Community of Montreal, which is highly active and has managed to maintain several Greek schools.