THE CENTER FOR BYZANTINE & MODERN GREEK STUDIES AND THE FEDERATION
OF CEPHALONIAN&ITHACIAN
SOCIETIES “ODYSSEUS”
Cordially invite you to join us
for the presentation of the book
The Straits of Chimera
The Adventures of the Greek Navigator Juan De Fuca
The first European in today's SW Canada
By Evridiki Livada Duca
Introduction by the Author
Evridiki Livada Duca
Book presentation by
Professor Louka T. Katseli
University of Athens
Former Minister of National Economy
Thursday, October 30th, 12:15-1:30pm
Rosenthal Library, Rm 230
Queens College
65-30 Kissena Boulevard, Queens, NY 11367
The book was published by
The Federation of Cephalonian & Ithacian Societies "Odysseus"
Under the auspices of
The Center for Byzantine & Modern Greek Studies
Translation was Funded by
The Maria Tsakos Foundation
Lunch Reception to Follow
RSVP by October 23, 2014: Email: qc.byzantine.center@gmail.com
Center Tel: 718-997.4520 Federation Odysseus Tel :718-415-7101
The true story of the first European in West Canada, the life and adventures of the Greek navigator Ioannis-Apostolos Focas-
Valerianos whose Spanish name-Juan de Fuca-was given to the straits between the southern part of Vancouver Island and the north of
the Olympic Peninsula, somewhere in the faraway boundaries between Canada and the U.S.A.
He was born in Kefallonia, Greece, around 1532. Enchanted by the sea at an early age, he soon became an excellent navigator and
sailed through Venice to Spain, where he decided to stay. He changed his name to Juan de Fuca and in 1556 enlisted in the Spanish
Navy, which he served for over forty years. On December 5, 1578, he was captured by the
English corsair Francis Drake who used him as navigator on his ship to guide him to unknown territories.
In 1588 Juan de Fuca was captured once more, this time by Thomas Cavendish.
The Viceroy of Mexico proposed to de Fuca to explore the northern shores of America and discover the mythical “Straits of Anian”
that would enable the Spanish to safely transport their treasures-promising him a generous compensation which was never given.
His first attempt in the spring of 1589 was unsuccessful. In 1592 he discovered the Straits which today separate Vancouver Island and
the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State. In 1594 he decided to set sail for his
native country. In 1596 he found himself in Venice where he met Michael Lok, English Consul in Aleppi, Syria.
Disillusioned and saddened by the Spanish, Juan de Fuca shared his story with Lok and asked if he could act as a mediator between de
Fuca and the English, proposing to lead them to the “Straits of Anian.” In 1596 Juan de Fuca reached his native island of Kefallonia
and maintained a correspondence with Lok for the next five years. When Lok finally obtained the necessary funds to finance the
expedition, he immediately went to Zakynthos and tried to contact his friend.
Unfortunately, the long awaited news never reached de Fuca for he had passed away, sometime around 1602.
Cordially invite you to join us
for the presentation of the book
The Straits of Chimera
The Adventures of the Greek Navigator Juan De Fuca
The first European in today's SW Canada
By Evridiki Livada Duca
Introduction by the Author
Evridiki Livada Duca
Book presentation by
Professor Louka T. Katseli
University of Athens
Former Minister of National Economy
Thursday, October 30th, 12:15-1:30pm
Rosenthal Library, Rm 230
Queens College
65-30 Kissena Boulevard, Queens, NY 11367
The book was published by
The Federation of Cephalonian & Ithacian Societies "Odysseus"
Under the auspices of
The Center for Byzantine & Modern Greek Studies
Translation was Funded by
The Maria Tsakos Foundation
Lunch Reception to Follow
RSVP by October 23, 2014: Email: qc.byzantine.center@gmail.com
Center Tel: 718-997.4520 Federation Odysseus Tel :718-415-7101
The true story of the first European in West Canada, the life and adventures of the Greek navigator Ioannis-Apostolos Focas-
Valerianos whose Spanish name-Juan de Fuca-was given to the straits between the southern part of Vancouver Island and the north of
the Olympic Peninsula, somewhere in the faraway boundaries between Canada and the U.S.A.
He was born in Kefallonia, Greece, around 1532. Enchanted by the sea at an early age, he soon became an excellent navigator and
sailed through Venice to Spain, where he decided to stay. He changed his name to Juan de Fuca and in 1556 enlisted in the Spanish
Navy, which he served for over forty years. On December 5, 1578, he was captured by the
English corsair Francis Drake who used him as navigator on his ship to guide him to unknown territories.
In 1588 Juan de Fuca was captured once more, this time by Thomas Cavendish.
The Viceroy of Mexico proposed to de Fuca to explore the northern shores of America and discover the mythical “Straits of Anian”
that would enable the Spanish to safely transport their treasures-promising him a generous compensation which was never given.
His first attempt in the spring of 1589 was unsuccessful. In 1592 he discovered the Straits which today separate Vancouver Island and
the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State. In 1594 he decided to set sail for his
native country. In 1596 he found himself in Venice where he met Michael Lok, English Consul in Aleppi, Syria.
Disillusioned and saddened by the Spanish, Juan de Fuca shared his story with Lok and asked if he could act as a mediator between de
Fuca and the English, proposing to lead them to the “Straits of Anian.” In 1596 Juan de Fuca reached his native island of Kefallonia
and maintained a correspondence with Lok for the next five years. When Lok finally obtained the necessary funds to finance the
expedition, he immediately went to Zakynthos and tried to contact his friend.
Unfortunately, the long awaited news never reached de Fuca for he had passed away, sometime around 1602.
