2020 Speakers

Canadian Senator

 Tony Loffreda is a Canadian politician, philanthropist, community leader and a former banker. He was appointed as a Canadian senator representing the province of Quebec in July 2019. Tony received his Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation from the University of Illinois and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree (BCom) from Concordia University. He worked in the financial services industry for over  three decades, having held numerous positions of responsibility ranging from senior auditor and Regional Vice President, to his final position with RBC as Vice-Chair for Wealth Management. 

Loffreda is an active member of the Montreal Community. He is on the Concordia University Board of Governors, the Integrated Health and Social Services University Network for West-Central Montréal, Montréal International, the Fondation communautaire Canadienne-Italienne, and the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Canada and is a member of the Independent Senators group.He has also served as a member of the executive committee of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal. He was granted several recipient awards such as the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Governor General of Canada Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers, the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec’s Gold Medal for Exceptional Merit, the Canadian Senate’s 150th Anniversary Medal and the Philhellene of the Year Award by the Hellenic Community of Greater Montréal.

Financial Consultant – Tax and Accounting Expert

 With diligent experience spanning over three decades, Irene Koumarianou-Kanakis is an accomplished and highly educated professional in the accounting and financial sectors. Having earned a BA in Business Administration (Quantitative Analysis) from St. John’s University, New York City (USA) and being a certified accountant (AIA-Association of International Accountants), Irene has established herself as a specialized financial advisor with a strong understanding in all aspects of accounting and financial management. Her vast experience will guide us through the current tax legislation and requirements for establishing successful business relations with Greece.

Civil Engineer, Certified Property Appraiser

Chris Berlemis has earned his professional reputation by offering superior and highly specialized real estate services for over ten years. He obtained his Bachelor’s of Arts in Civil Engineering from the University of Patras and a Masters Degree from the University of Athens. Chris is a licensed property appraiser and a member of the Athens Association of Real Estate Agents as well as the Professional and Scientific Association of Civil Engineers. His thorough experience in research and market analysis has provided him with a strong knowledge of financial trends and principles. He will provide us with insights of the current situation of the immovable property market in Greece.

Notary and Legal Advisor

Sam Eleftheriou is a well-recognized notary and legal advisor within the Hellenic community of Montreal. He obtained a Bachelor of Law degree from L’Université du Québec à Montréal and a graduate certificate in Notarial Studies from Sherbrooke University. His multilingual fluency (English,French,Greek) allows him to accommodate Hellenic-Canadians with their affairs in several areas of practice such as real estate law, law of succession & estates, as well as corporate and commercial law.  Sam administers oaths, authenticates legal documents, contracts, and takes affidavit and declarations on several legal matters. Sam’s in depth understanding of both the Canadian and Greek government legislations allows him to help individuals manage their wills, mortgage or other legal documents.