2011 Parnassos Award

The 2011 recipient of the Parnassos Award was the Hon. Steve Ashton, Manitoba Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation. Mr. Ashton is the founding member and Chair of the Canadian Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles. The Committee was formed in 2000 to raise public awareness and provide support to the cause for the return of the Parthenon Marbles. Among other activities the Committee launched a successful campaign to collect 100,000 signatures from Canadians in support of the cause. The Committee was also responsible for the House of Commons resolution calling for the repatriation of the Parthenon Marbles. Mr. Ashton also served as Canadian delegate to the International Association for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures, where, reflecting the Canadian concern for the protection of world cultural heritage, he declared “The Parthenon Marbles are of universal cultural significance. They were literally chiselled off the Parthenon and taken to Britain by Lord Elgin in the early 19th century.” Noting Greece's immense contribution to Canada and the world throughout history, Mr. Ashton proclaims "it's time that Canada and the world to return something to Greece".

2010 Parnassos Award

The 2010 recipient of the Parnassos Award was Wendy Wynn-Jones. Wendy has been an active member of Parnassos for several years. She has been President of the Canadian Institute for Mediterranean Studies (CIMS) since 2000. In her capacity as President of CIMS, she has selected and sponsored under the CIMS umbrella, and in collaboration with Parnassos and the Embassy of Greece, several lectures on Greek culture and civilization. In addition, as a member of Parnassos and CIMS, she has been active in promoting Parnassos events beyond the Greek community and assisting with the organization of Parnassos events.