Ten bold, black letters of the Armenian alphabet are etched across Razmik Tchakmakian’s left upper arm, the letters comprising a powerful word that has been central to the plight of Armenians and significant to our endurance as a people: Veradznoont, or rebirth. Above it rests a symbol of Armenian survival: Tsitsernakaberd, the Armenian Genocide Memorial with a flame emerging from the steel slabs.

Razmik Tchakmakian

Though born thousands of miles away from the monument and his homeland, Tchakmakian and his two childhood friends, Sevag Titizian and Sevag Haroutunian, feel their submerged patriotism is not only skin-deep but entrenched in their hearts. So much so that these former Armenian School classmates decided to parlay their individual passion for music and join a band to continue the musical traditions of our culturally rich past.

“Pyunik,” which means “phoenix” in Armenian, pays homage to the lineage of talented Armenian musicians and singers who have helped sustain the unique melodies and compositions of our musical traditions.

“It was kind of like a young band rising out of the ashes of those artists before us,” said Tchakmakian.

Playing everything from covers of Harout Pamboukjian’s patriotic tunes to Tata’s crowd pleasers, “Pyunik” seeks to entertain and enliven the spirit of Armenian kef, no matter the occasion.

Formed in 2006 by Haroutunian, the group had its beginnings at St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church in Toronto, where members practiced in the church’s hall, under the auspices of Fr. Meghrig Parikian. Although the group has shifted its members over time, it has found a successful harmony among its current members, who have all been musically inclined since childhood.

Haroutunian, 25, Titizian, 25, and Tchakmakian, 23, each brought a range of talents to the band, and grew up with a great appreciation for music and the arts in their households.

Playing the violin at the age of nine, Haroutunian switched to piano when his older brother brought a keyboard home one day. He soon began taking private lessons with teachers who were experienced in jazz, classical music, and the Divine Liturgy.

Sevag Titizian

Veering more towards percussion, Tchakmakian started playing the drums at 10 and picked up the dhol and dumbeg over the years. Titizian, who sings vocals for “Pyunik,” also plays the piano and drums.

The band members’ musical influences also show diversity, which add to their originality as a group. As a vocalist, Titizian has been heavily influenced by Paul Baghdadlian, Stevie Wonder, James Brown. and Frank Sinatra.

“Armenian music has been a big influence in my life,” said Tchakmakian, who cites Harout Pamboukjian and Ruben Hakhverdyan as singers who have inspired him. “But rock music and classic rock have also played a significant role.”

Haroutunian’s musical interests also span genres and include French-Armenian favorite Charles Aznavour, Canadian guitarist Jesse Cook, and the American heavy metal band Metallica.

“They all paint different colors in my palette, which allows for interpretation and usage of elements from each type of genre,” said Haroutunian.

Throughout our modern history, Armenian musicians and singers have rejuvenated our culture, which has been vulnerable to fading away. Preceding visionaries such as Gomidas and Sayat Nova preserved our music, ensuring that it wouldn’t be lost, and the more contemporary singers, such as living legends Harout Pamboukjian and Adiss Harmandian, modernized them. “Pyunik,” as a young Diasporan Armenian group, is continuing the trend and using their musical talents to engage our generation in the music of our people, while putting their own modern spin on it.

“Armenian music is close to my heart,” said Haroutunian, who sang in the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) Armenian School of Toronto’s school choir and church choir. “And we believe that young people our age need to listen and dance to more Armenian tunes.”

Sevag Haroutunian

Tchakmakian echoed Haroutunian’s words, and though he has played in rock music bands, says Armenian music “is our own and the younger generation has to carry it on.”

Music, in all ethnicities, is one of the simplest and most effective ways to keep a people united. If not for the arts, Armenians from Toronto to Buenos Aires to Sydney wouldn’t know the familiar sound of an oud, the universal steps to a “shoorch bar,” or the symbolic words to our folkloric songs. And if it weren’t for those dedicated to continuing our traditions, we would be overshadowed in a world comprised of more populous and powerful ethnic groups.

“Pyunik,” which has steadily been making a name for itself over the years, has performed at a plethora of Armenian events both in Canada and in the U.S., including the AYF Olympics in Chicago, Montreal’s Kermesse, and Toronto’s Winterfest. Their most recent performance was on the Armenian Heritage Cruise earlier this year, which displayed their talents to a wider audience.

“Performing on the cruise was great,” said Tchakmakian. “There’s a cultural aspect that people may not have access to in their own communities.”

“It was a different dynamic to perform for people from all over the world,” said Titizian. “The vibe was great and it was nice to see everyone having a great time.”

The band would like to continue performing, writing more of their own music and eventually putting out an album. In the meantime, they are focused on their professions and their own independent projects. The childhood friends support each other’s creative endeavors, such as Titizian’s recently released “Du Im Sern Es,” a contemporary Armenian song with an energetic dance beat. Haroutunian composed the musical arrangements and Tchakmakian makes a cameo in the popular music video, which was shot on location in downtown Toronto. The song, written by Titizian, has already reached over 10,000 hits on YouTube. Tchakmakian’s YouTube channel, “Chaks Drums,” has already reached over 7,000 views in its short history.

“We are all children of a great community and an even greater culture who have lots to offer to the world,” said Haroutunian.

Their devotion to Armenian music brought them together. The commitment to their culture will keep them connected for years to come.

“All of us have the same passion of being Armenian and supporting Armenian causes,” said Titizian. “We are trying to keep our culture alive. If we don’t do it who will?”

The post Young Diasporans Keeping Our Culture Alive, One Song at a Time appeared first on Armenian Weekly.

TORONTO, Canada—More than 1,500 Toronto-Armenian community members came together to celebrate the 95^th anniversary of the independence of the first Republic of Armenia during several events held at the Armenian Community Center and Armenian Youth Center of Toronto between May 30 and June 2. The events were organized by the ARF “Soghomon Tehlirian” Chapter and co-sponsored by all of the organizations that work under the auspices of the Armenian Community Center of Toronto.

A scene from the celebrations

The celebratory weekend began with an art exhibition entitled “Independence,” featuring the works of renowned artist Meruzhan Khatchatryan, which opened on May 30 and ran through Sun., June 2. The exhibition, sponsored by the Hamazkayin “Klatsor” Chapter and the “Arshile Gorky” Art Gallery, was dedicated to the heroes of the first republic and featured several of their portraits. Master of ceremonies Rupen Janbazian welcomed guests and announced the opening of the events dedicated to the 95^th anniversary. Khatchatryan, who was invited from Armenia, addressed the crowd and expressed his gratitude to the greater Toronto-Armenian community. Very Rev. Meghrig Parikian, pastor of St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church of Toronto, blessed the exhibition and the events that would follow.

On Fri., May 31, more than 300 community members were treated to a theatrical monologue by celebrated actress Marie-Rose Abousefian, entitled “Tigran Medz.” Her two-hour individual performance at the Hamazkayin Theatre of Toronto mesmerized and captivated the audience, and brought to life one of the most glorious time-periods of Armenian history. After her monologue, master of ceremonies Sevag Haroutunian invited the chair of the anniversary committee, Hagop Janbazian, to the stage. Janbazian presented Abousefian with a congratulatory citation from the community of Toronto, thanking her for her years of dedication to Armenian literature and culture.

A scene from the celebrations

On the evening of June 2, more than 600 Toronto-Armenians came together at the Community Center of Toronto for a performance featuring Nersik, Aghasi, and Arapo Ispirians, who were exclusively invited from Armenia for the event, and the Hamazkayin Toronto “Erebuni” Dance Ensemble. Master of ceremonies Sevan Hajiartinian opened the evening by inviting 95 members of the ARF Junior Organization of Canada (Badanegan) Toronto Chapter to sing the Armenian national anthem. The enthusiastic crowd then enjoyed traditional, popular, and patriotic Armenian songs until the early hours of the morning.

The traditional blessing of the Armenian tricolor and flag-raising ceremony took place on Sunday afternoon, after Holy Mass. Very Rev. Meghrig Parikian and Father Gomidas Panossian conducted the blessing of the flag, which was raised by the Homenetmen Toronto Chapter Scouts group and accompanied by the Homenetmen Fanfare marching band. The unveiling of a statue of ARF co-founder Stepan Zorian (Rosdom) in the Armenian Community Center took place on Sunday evening. The statue, located at entrance of the Hamazkayin “H. Manougian” Library, is the work of Toronto-Armenian sculptor Taline Iskedjian.

Immediately after the unveiling, the official commemoration of the anniversary of the first Armenian Republic took place at the Armenian Community Center. Master of Ceremonies Daron Keskinian welcomed guests to the concluding event and thanked them for being a part of the weekend’s commemorative events. The Hamazkayin Toronto “Klatsor” Chapter children’s choir performed three Armenian songs, while members of the Hamazkayin literary committee recited parts from Antranig Dzarougian’s “Tought ar Yerevan.” AYF Canada Toronto “Simon Zavarian” Chapter members Ara Ghukasyan and Garen Hasserjian performed a duet of a song written and dedicated to the heroes of 1918. Then Armenian Ambassador, H.E. Armen Yeganian, who sponsored the official commemoration, addressed the crowd and congratulated those in attendance on behalf of the Republic of Armenia. The evening’s keynote speaker was long-time Armenian activist and intellectual Mihran Kurdoghlian, who was invited to speak from Athens, Greece. In his speech, Kurdoghlian noted the importance of the first Republic of Armenia and its significance in Armenian history, as well as the role the diaspora must have in ensuring a prosperous future for Armenia. After his keynote address, Kurdoghlian was given the Armenian Community Center of Toronto commemorative medallion by the center’s president, Varant Barsamian. Famed Armenian singer Nersik Ispirian then sang two patriotic Armenian songs, after which Daron Keskinian concluded the event with his closing remarks.

In anticipation of the 100^th anniversary of the first Republic of Armenia, the Toronto-Armenian community renewed its oath to the heroes of Sardarabad, Kharakilisa, and Bash-Abaran, promising that their legacies will live on for generations to come.

The post Toronto Armenians Celebrate 95th Anniversary of First Republic over Four Days appeared first on Armenian Weekly.

TORONTO, Canada—The running of the 12^th annual Genocide & Human Rights University Program (GHRUP) couldn’t have been timelier considering the atrocities and human rights violations currently taking place in Syria, Egypt, and several countries in the Middle East and Africa. This year, 22 university students came to Toronto from 10 countries to meet and study with 10 distinguished genocide scholars.

Many of the students—Kurds, Nigerians, Pakistanis, Armenians, Jews, Muslims, and Christians—came from backgrounds where gross violations of human rights and genocide are a part of their national or personal experience. There were several students who work to provide aid to affected communities, such as those of Guatemala and Sudan. Perhaps even more remarkable was the number of students who do not have a direct connection, yet are deeply motivated to understand human rights violations and genocide, and how to raise awareness to prevent them around the world.

“Several students who are teachers commented on how much they learned from watching the pedagogy of different instructors, as well as from the course content,” said the course director, Prof. Joyce Apsel of New York University. “Other students consulted me and other instructors about which directions and schools to pursue for graduate education. They proved to be an outstanding group of students, and it was a privilege to have two weeks in and out of the classroom to exchange ideas and interests.”

Indeed, the students brought many diverse experiences to the classroom. One student, who is a journalist by trade, described to the class, based on a personal visit to North Korea, the importance of maintaining a critical perspective on decades-old yet still ongoing human rights abuses there. Another student presented the current and historical human rights abuses of disabled peoples affected by policies of eugenics in the United States, a group she works with in her field of social work and disability studies. Yet another brought the class to tears by discussing her own family’s history of having suffered chemical attacks in the Halabja massacre of March 16, 1988.

The GHRUP allows students the opportunity to voice these backgrounds, to analyze comparatively how genocides unfold, and their immediate and transgenerational effects on people, and to explore how we can stop them.

It was remarkable to see descendants of perpetrator and victim groups in the Armenian Genocide—students of Armenian, Kurdish, and Turkish background—find common interests with each other and, within the academic environment of the program and based on historical facts, explore issues of stereotypes, memory, denial, and reconciliation together, and see each other through the prism of humanity.

One student from Pakistan, currently a member of the UNAMID effort in Darfur, Sudan, brought to the course the perspective and the dedication of those who work to prevent genocide in the field.

This year, a business student audited the course. At the end of the course, this student made a spontaneous and moving speech saying the students had restored her faith in humanity. The GHRUP evokes a powerful sense of enthusiasm and commitment from students and faculty alike, and makes them reflect on their own lives and the lives of others in the world.

Explaining his perception of the program’s greatest strength, one student commented, “I think the GHRUP does an amazing job of providing an incredibly comprehensive course in such a short period of time. The quality of the scholars and students, and the incredible range of experiences and backgrounds, are unparalleled.” Another student wrote, “This program is life- and career-changing. It focuses on the history of genocide, the patterns of genocide, the denial and prevention of genocide.”

The Zoryan Institute and its subsidiary, the International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies, is the first non-profit, international center devoted to the research and documentation of contemporary issues with a focus on genocide, diaspora and Armenia.

For more information contact the Zoryan Institute by e-mailing zoryan@zoryaninstitute.org or calling (416) 250-9807.

The post Zoryan Hosts 22 Students to Study Genocide and Prevention appeared first on Armenian Weekly.

MONTREAL, Canada—Attorney-author Matthew Karanian spoke to large crowds in the Canadian cities of Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto last month as part of his three-city tour of Canada to promote his latest book, Armenia and Karabakh: The Stone Garden Travel Guide.

Matthew Karanian (right) presents a copy of his book ‘Armenia and Karabakh: The Stone Garden Travel Guide’ to Harold Albrecht, Canadian Member of Parliament, at the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Ottawa.

On Nov. 21, Karanian addressed a crowd of about 100 people at the Armenian Community Centre in Montreal, and showed photographs from his book.

He also presented Armenia and Karabakh to capacity crowds at the Armenian Community Centre in Toronto, and at the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Ottawa on Nov. 23.

The events in Montreal and Toronto were sponsored by the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society. The entire tour was under the auspices of the Armenian Embassy in Canada.

The book presentation at the Armenian Embassy in Ottawa was standing-room-only, as guests filled the parlor of the diplomatic house to capacity. The event was hosted by Ambassador and Mrs. Armen Yeganian, and was attended by diplomats, Canadian Members of Parliament, and leaders of the Armenian community.

Megerdich Megerdichian, the chairman of the All Armenia Fund in Canada, served as master of ceremonies for the event in Toronto, and introduced Karanian with an enthusiastic endorsement of his book.

At each event, Karanian discussed the journey of creating the book, and narrated a photographic slide featuring stunning photography from Armenia and Artsakh.

Karanian told the story of how he created Armenia’s first travel guide more than a decade ago, and how that guide has grown and evolved through three editions to become the award-winning book that was recently released.

“The beauty of Armenia never ceases to amaze me,” Karanian said. “I want to do what I can to help share it with as many people as possible.”

Armenia and Karabakh: The Stone Garden Travel Guide is available for purchase from the Armenian Community Centres of Montreal and Toronto, and from Amazon.com. Book details are online at www.ArmeniaTravelGuide.com.

The post Karanian Presents ‘Armenia and Karabakh’ Book in Canada appeared first on Armenian Weekly.

TORONTO, Canada—On Jan. 19, the Toronto Armenian community gathered to commemorate the 7th anniversary of the assassination of Hrant Dink. More than 500 people filled the Armenian General Benevolent Union Centre to capacity, with standing room only. The keynote speaker was renowned Turkish journalist and author Hasan Cemal, who also happens to be the grandson of Cemal Pasha, one of the three leaders of the Committee of Union and Progress (Ittihat ve Terakki), which planned and perpetrated the Armenian Genocide in 1915.

Cemal (L) and Bedrosyan

Mgrditch Mgrditchian was the master of ceremonies. After a beautiful rendition of Sari Aghchig and Cilicia by young soprano Lynn Anoush Isnar, Raffi Bedrosyan, one of Hrant’s friends, introduced Hasan Cemal. Bedrosyan explained that Hasan Cemal worked for many years (until 1992) as the editor-in-chief of the Cumhuriyet daily, the official mouthpiece of the Kemalist state and the defender of the denialist official version of history related to the 1915 events. Hasan Cemal then moved on to Sabah newspaper, the newspaper with the largest circulation at the time, as editor (until 1998), and then to Milliyet until March 2013, when he had to resign under pressure from Prime Minister Erdogan for criticizing the anti-democratic policies of the government. In recent years, Hasan Cemal got influenced by the writings of journalist Hrant Dink and historian Taner Akcam, and started questioning the veracity of the state version of history. As a result, he went through a gradual intellectual transformation, until he reached the conclusion that those events were indeed a genocide. In 2008, the year after Hrant Dink was assassinated, he went to Armenia and visited the Genocide Memorial, placing flowers there for Hrant and all the past genocide victims, sharing their pain. In 2012, he wrote a book titled 1915: Armenian Genocide in Turkish. The book, explaining his personal evolution, became a bestseller.

In his speech, Hasan Cemal stressed the need to separate personal family history from general history. He gave examples as to how he had to distinguish between his grandfather’s actions versus his stand against the genocide, and his dramatic meeting in Yerevan with the grandson of one of the planners of Cemal Pasha’s assassination in Tbilisi in 1922. Hasan Cemal also explained the long journey he had to go through from having a “captive” mind, based on the state version of history, to an “emancipated” or “liberated” mind, after seeking and finding the facts and truth about the 1915 events. Cemal stated that a small but fast increasing segment of the Turkish civil society has already started to acknowledge the truth about the genocide, and urged the Turkish state also to face its past and acknowledge and apologize for the 1915 events.

After his speech, there was a short discussion session among Hasan Cemal and two Zoryan Institute representatives, president Kurken Sarkissian and Executive Director George Shirinian, moderated by Raffi Bedrosyan, about the significance of building a “common body of knowledge” regarding the historic facts of 1915, in order to be able to have meaningful and constructive dialogue toward reconciliation between Turks and Armenians.

The Toronto commemoration was another proof that Hrant Dink’s legacy lives on and gains more momentum every year, both within Turkey and in all four corners of the world, with demands of truth and justice to prevail for the 1.5 million Armenians plus one.

The post Hasan Cemal Speaks at Dink Commemoration in Toronto appeared first on Armenian Weekly.

QUEBEC—Poets, wordsmiths and fans of literature from all around the world gathered at the 30th International Poetry Festival at Trois-Rivières in Quebec from Oct. 3-12. Among the writers invited to share their work was New York poet Lola Koundakjian.

Lola Koundakjian, the New York writer known for her popular Armenian Poetry Project

“Lola is the first Armenian poet coming to Trois-Rivières,” said festival president and founder Gaston Bellemare. “I am very happy to welcome her to our city for our 30th Festival International de la Poésie.”

The 10-day festival featured hundreds of events and attracted more than 35,000 participants and spectators from all seven continents, as well as national and international media.

“I had the fortune of reading at least three times a day,” Koundakjian told the Armenian Weekly. “The festival is one of the top gatherings for poets in the world. It’s organized by a dedicated staff of four individuals who work year round and a group of volunteers who help host each reading.”

Koundakjian’s poems have appeared in print and online and have been translated into French, Spanish and Ukrainian.

“I met Lola at a poetry festival two years ago in Lima, Peru,” said Bellemare. “I listened to her readings, read her poems over again, and I immediately put her name on my future list of guests. I was and still am sure people will strongly love her.”

Koundakjian has been a relentless, driving force in bringing Armenian poetry to non-Armenians, international audiences and younger generations of Armenians.

For more than two decades, she has organized the Dead Armenian Poets’ Society gatherings, where people recite the poetry of deceased Armenian poets in Armenian or in translation and share biographical notes about the authors.

She is also the creator and curator of the online Armenian Poetry Project, which launched in 2006 and features extremely popular podcasts.

“It’s humbling to share the stage with notable and award-winning poets from around the world,” said Koundakjian. “Yeah, it’s a bit unnerving but a great opportunity to share my words and our culture with fellow poets and international audiences.”

Koundakjian appeared more than a dozen times during the festival, and she read her work in Armenian, English and French.

“What makes the Trois-Rivières Festival so fascinating is its broad reach to multiple audiences,” said Koundakjian.

Koundakjian has spent decades writing and reporting in Armenian media. She reads her poetry regularly in the Big Apple, its tri-state area and both coasts of the United States. She has also appeared at international poetry festivals including ones in Medallín, Colombia, and Ramallah, West Bank.

By day, the poet is an internet technologies professional for one of the largest international media conglomerates. She used her IT know-how and skills to bring Armenian poetry into the 21st century and information age through multiple internet platforms. Hundreds of thousands of readers and listeners from more than a hundred countries access the content of her sites regularly.

“I started the Armenian Poetry Project in 2006 as a free community service and made it available on RSS, Twitter, SoundCloud and iTunes,” explained Koundakjian. “Currently it has more than 2,100 poems by Armenian poets. It also features non-Armenian poets writing in various languages about Armenian subjects.”

The Armenian Poetry Project also contains works from more than a hundred poets from Armenian communities around the globe. The poetry chronicled ranges from the 19th century to contemporary poets. The site also includes some classical and medieval Armenian poetry.

Post-Genocide era Armenian poetry was the subject of an article Koundakjian co-edited in 2012 with Catherine Fletcher for the Rattapallax literary journal and database.

Koundakjian’s translations of modern Istanbul poets have been included in Dora Sakayan’s newest edition of the Western Armenian language teaching manual.

Her first collection of poetry, The Accidental Observer, was published in 2011. Her second manuscript, Advice to a Poet, was a finalist in Armenia’s Orange Book Prize in 2012. It is due to be published later this year.

 To learn more about Koundakjian’s work, visit her website.

The post Poet Lola Koundakjian Shares Armenian Literature at International Festival appeared first on Armenian Weekly.

On Jan. 18, the Toronto-Armenian community gathered to commemorate the 8^th anniversary of the assassination of editor and journalist Hrant Dink, who was murdered in Istanbul on Jan. 19, 2007, in front of the “Agos” newspaper offices.

More than 700 people filled the Armenian Community Center to hear keynote speaker Fethiye Cetin, one of the most prominent lawyers in Turkey. Cetin was Hrant Dink’s lawyer while he was alive, and continued to serve as his family’s lawyer after his assassination, relentlessly pursuing and investigating the perpetrators of the still-unsolved murder.

I was the master of ceremonies of the event. The commemoration started with a candlelight vigil and a moment of silence remembering Hrant Dink, as well as the latest victims of intolerance toward free press, the murdered journalists of the Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris.

Hrant Dink

I explained how Hrant Dink became a target of Turkish ultranationalists within the “deep state” that planned his murder, and how officials in the intelligence bureaucracy and state police didn’t move a finger to prevent his murder, even though there was overwhelming evidence related to its preparation and implementation. After a beautiful rendition of Gomidas’s “Andouni” and of “Anin Desnem ou Mernem” (words by Hovhannes Shiraz, music by Majag Toshikyan) by young soprano Lynn Anoush Isnar, accompanied by pianist Lena Beylerian, I introduced Fethiye Cetin.

Cetin was born in Maden, Elazig province, and studied law at Ankara University. She is recognized as being the foremost human rights lawyer in Turkey, specializing in minority rights cases. She defended Hrant Dink against charges brought by the state for “insulting Turkishness,” only because he dared to speak about the Armenian Genocide. In 2004, Cetin wrote a book, titled My Grandmother, revealing her Armenian roots. In it, she explained how her Armenian grandmother was captured as a nine-year-old orphan by a Turkish soldier during the death march of 1915. Although her grandmother was Islamicized—and her name changed from Heranoush to Seher—she kept her Armenian roots secret until she was 70 years old, and opened up to her granddaughter, Fethiye Cetin, asking her to find her long-lost brother. After years of searching, Fethiye did find her Armenian relatives in New Jersey, but only after her grandmother had passed away.

Cover of ‘The Grandchildren’

My Grandmother has been translated into more than a dozen languages. It immediately became a best-seller in Turkey, and opened the floodgates to hundreds of similar stories about hidden, Islamicized Armenians. As a result, Fethiye Cetin, in collaboration with Ayse Gul Altinay, edited another book, called The Grandchildren, a compilation of dozens of stories of hidden Armenians. She also initiated a restoration project for destroyed Armenian fountains in her hometown village of Habap in 2009; several Armenian, Turkish, and Kurdish youth from Turkey, the United States, and France came to Habap to collaborate with local villagers and reconstruct the historic fountains that supplied water to the village.

After Hrant Dink’s assassination, Fethiye Cetin represented his family in the murder trials and investigations, which are still unresolved and continue to this day. In 2013, she presented the failure of the judicial system in finding and sentencing the real perpetrators of the Dink murder, as well as the gross negligence and cover-up of state officials, in a book titled, I Am Ashamed: The Trials of the Hrant Dink Murder Case.
In a moving speech at the Jan. 18 event, Cetin explained the struggle between individuals’ memory and conscience versus state pressure to make people forget past crimes. Below are excerpts from the speech.

***

“My grandmother was about 70 years old when she told me her story, as seen by her as a 9-year-old girl, about the 1915 disaster, the death march, followed by silence, pain, and loneliness. Nearly 60 years had passed after the terror that she experienced, but my grandmother still remembered very clearly her village, her house, all the names of her relatives, including her grandmother, her grandfather, her cousins, even the name of the village official. Despite all the external attempts to make her forget, she remembered everything that she and her family had lived through. It was as if she had kept repeating the story to herself for 60 years, in order not to forget.…

Fethiye Cetin (Photo: Hetq.am)

“The official state version of history in Turkey is also subject to a similar policy of permanent amnesia regarding the 1915 events. A typical example is a statement given by Sevket Sureyya Aydemir, the author of Mustafa Kemal’s biography: ‘I believe the fighting and settling of accounts between Turks and Armenians is a page of human history best to be forgotten. Which side was responsible? Who was guilty? I think it is better not to find out answers to these questions and forget these events forever.’…

“But unfortunately, despite all attempts, laws, and pressures to make people forget these events forever, this policy cannot be implemented.…

“On the other hand, the state which forces individuals to forget the past keeps all the information, records, documents about the past under its control, in locked safes and rooms, in places beyond the reach of the public, in order to bring them out and use them as discriminatory policies against the minorities, the ‘sword leftovers,’ the ones defined as ‘others.’ In other words, in one hand the state uses every means to make people forget the past, but on the other hand the state never forgets the past and keeps reminding the people about the differences in the minorities. As a result, the forced amnesia policy becomes converted to a policy of continuous remembering.…

“With the emergence in recent years of many stories about the past, with biographies, books, films, documentaries, panels, and conferences, one can conclude that the monopoly of the state in controlling the past has come to an end.…

“Local memories have started a revival because the great crime was witnessed by all local people. Despite the attempts to wipe out traces of the past, it is impossible for the local memories to be forgotten.…

“Remembering and facing the past is now a must for the Turkish people.…

“Truth and justice are deadly fears of the perpetrator. The perpetrator attempts to hide the truth with all its might, mechanisms, and institutions. This is why memory is the enemy of the government.…

“In my country the most important name of this resisting force is Hrant Dink. Because Hrant Dink, with his stand, kept on reminding them of their past full of crimes, the past which they desperately tried to make people forget. Because Hrant Dink not only kept reminding them of the truth about the past, but everyone that he touched with his words—his readers, his listeners, his followers, people in the street—everyone believed him. They murdered Hrant Dink, because he stood right where the state had drawn the red lines, the taboos that it feared. Hrant Dink became the only visible target for the historical hatred against Armenians, and he stood in the crosshairs of both opposition and government forces.…

“The hatred for Armenians also became quite apparent in all the trials and investigations following the murder, as the perpetrator of the crime—the state—ensured that all the state officials would be exempt from any investigation. During these eight years since the murder, the competing forces in the government still use the murder as war material against each other.…

“I am one of the closest witnesses of Hrant Dink’s murder. I was with him in the court cases throughout the long preparation stage of the murder. My evidence is based on my eyewitness account. I presented and continue presenting to the judiciary and prosecution all I know, I see, I think about this murder. But unfortunately, all my efforts so far have ended up in countless binders or in notes attached to desk calendars. They were not included in formal prosecution inquiries, evidence that I pointed out was not investigated, suspects that I pointed out were not questioned.…

“The history of this country is full of cases where criminals are not tried, even if tried are not punished, where the perpetrators do everything possible to make the society forget the crime. Our history has countless political assassinations and unsolved murders.…

“I acted as Hrant Dink’s lawyer before his murder, and I am his family’s lawyer after the murder. Obviously I do not possess the force and resources of the prosecutor to uncover the real planners and perpetrators of this murder. I don’t have intelligence organizations at my control either, which could provide me with clues and information. I base my case only on what I witness, and what I see in the trial documents.

“Yes, our history is full of shameful events, unaccounted crimes, unsolved murders. We inherited this shame from the past, but we are responsible not to pass it on to future generations. I want to pledge, with you as witness, that I will try to bring to account all the shame and present a clean future to the next generations. My promise is a promise to Hrant, that I will continue to seek truth and justice, to the utmost of my abilities and until the end of my life.”

***

The Toronto commemoration was more proof that Hrant Dink’s legacy lives on and gains more momentum every year, both within Turkey and in all four corners of the world, with demands of truth and justice to prevail for 1.5 million Armenians plus one—for Hrant Dink himself.

The post Fethiye Cetin Speaks at 8th Hrant Dink Commemoration in Toronto appeared first on Armenian Weekly.

VANCOUVER, Canada—The 130th annual Modern Language Association (MLA) Convention—the largest conference of academic humanities in the world, where several thousand conference papers are given each year—was held in Vancouver this year from Jan. 8-11 and featured a prominent panel titled, “The Armenian Genocide in Literature and Memory.”

(L-R) Professor James Najarian, Boston College; Professor Eda Dedabas Dundar, University of Nevada , Reno; Professor Peter Balakian, Colgate University; and Professor Walter Kalaidjian, Emory University

The panel was convened and moderated by James Hiester Najarian, Professor of English at Boston College. The three papers given covered a wide range of literature. Prof. Peter Balakian of Colgate University presented a paper titled, “Yeghishe Charents, ‘Dantesque Legend,’ and the Poetics of Atrocity,” which dealt with the young Armenian poet Charents and his transformative poem about the Turkish atrocities he witnessed on a volunteer mission in 1915.

Prof. Eda Dedebas Dundar of University of Nevada, Reno, presented, “The Islamized Armenians of Turkey and Historical Dialogue and Awareness through Fethiye Cetin’s ‘My Grandmother’ and ‘The Grandchildren.’”

Prof. Walter Kalaidjian’s “The Glare of the Real: Light, Trauma, and Genocidal Memory in the Writings of Peter Balakian,” dealt with the poetics of perception in Balakian ‘s memoir Black Dog of Fate and in his poetry.

The panel and discussion was attended by academics and a large number of Vancouver’s Armenian community.

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Special for the Armenian Weekly

While volunteering at the Montreal General Hospital, 17-year-old Anya Pogharian was fascinated by the dialysis machines. With her high school science fair around the corner, she found herself working on a new prototype that she hoped would revolutionize the dialysis process—in terms of cost and efficiency.

With her high school science fair around the corner, Pogharian found herself working on a new prototype that she hoped would revolutionize the dialysis process—in terms of cost and efficiency. (Photo: Anya Pogharian)

At the hospital, Pogharian volunteered in different units, but spent much of her time at the hemodialysis unit. “This gave me the chance to spend a lot of time with dialysis patients and to get to really know them,” said Pogharian, who took a break from studying for her upcoming midterms to speak to the Armenian Weekly. “There, I learned a lot about dialysis—the process, and how everything works. I found it interesting how this machine can purify one’s blood in such a simple process.”

Dialysis is the process of removing waste from the blood, and is usually used for people who have kidney disease. The treatment typically takes place at hospitals, and lasts around four hours. Patients often have to receive this treatment two to four times a week.

Anya Pogharian and her dialysis machine (Photo: Emily Brass/ CBC)

Pogharian’s interest soon turned into an idea. When assigned a high school science project, she decided to work on developing a new dialysis machine—one that would be simple and highly affordable, especially for the developing world.

“Dialysis machines that you would find in a hospital or at home cost around $30,000 (CAD) [just over $24,000 USD]. Mine ended up costing about $500 [about $400 USD],” explained Pogharian, who consulted with many nephrologists and dialysis experts while working on her project.

She spent around 300 hours on her invention—far longer than the mandatory 10 hours her teacher required. “I had to log and record how many hours I spent working on each step for the project. I logged around 300 hours. To date, I’ve probably spent closer to double that.”

One of the major challenges for Pogharian was learning how to program; she had no exposure to coding before the project. “It’s basically like learning a completely new language—so that was difficult. But it was necessary for the project, and I was determined to make it work,” she explained.

Pogharian was born and raised in Montreal. After receiving her elementary and secondary education in French, she decided to switch to an English-language program for college. “My father’s side is Armenian and my mother’s side is American, so we speak Armenian and English at home,” she added.

Her ambitious science fair project has since earned her several scholarships, awards, and even a summer internship with Héma-Québec, a non-profit organization that manages the blood supply for the Canadian province of Quebec, to try out her inventions at their labs with human blood.

When asked about her future plans, Pogharian says she’s already back to the drawing board. She is currently working on a second prototype, looking at ways to improve the efficiency and functionality of her machine.

Although Pogharian hasn’t yet had the opportunity to visit Armenia, she hopes that one day her work will help its citizens. “I haven’t really looked into how dialysis is performed there, but I hope that they can benefit from my prototype one day,” she said.

In the meantime, Pogharian will be busy studying for her midterms.

The post Pogharian’s High School Science Fair Project Leads to Medical Possibilities appeared first on Armenian Weekly.

TORONTO, Canada—More than 5,000 Torontonians commemorated the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide on April 19 in an event at Queen’s Park that honored the victims of the genocide and celebrated a people’s survival. All levels of government were represented at the commemoration event, where passionate speeches were delivered to a large and diverse crowd.

Thousands marching united along Queen St. in downtown Toronto (Photo: Ishkhan Ghazarian)

Premier Kathleen Wynne called the Armenian Genocide “a terrible tragedy” and “a dark moment in human history.” She went on to say that “the passage of a century has not diminished the horror of these events, nor has it diminished the importance of recognizing the atrocity in Armenia as genocide.”

Defense Minister Jason Kenney and Toronto Mayor John Tory addressed the crowd. Armenian-Canadian film director Atom Egoyan delivered an inspiring keynote address. Members of parliament, foreign diplomats, and consul generals of Germany, Lebanon, Argentina, and Cyprus were also present.

Those in attendance were asked to support Motion M-587—a motion that aims to designate the month of April as “Genocide Remembrance, Condemnation, and Prevention Month”—which will soon be introduced and voted on in the Canadian House of Commons.

(L-R, front row) Armenian National Committee of Toronto member Mark Atikian; Toronto Mayor John Tory; the Hon. Jason Kenney, Canadian Minister of National Defense; John Carmichael, Canadian member of parliament; Soo Wong, Ontario member of provincial parliament; and the Hon. Kathleen Wynne, premier of Ontario. (Photo: Ishkhan Ghazarian)

Following the commemoration, supporters took to the streets, marching to raise awareness of all genocides. The march, organized by the Armenian community, also included representatives from the Jewish, Ukrainian, Assyrian, Pontian, Kurdish, and Rwandan communities.

The march was led by a group of boy scouts representing the Georgetown Boys, a group of Armenian orphans who were given shelter by Canada in 1923 in what became known as Canada’s Noble Experiment. The procession ended at the Metropolitan United Church where an ecumenical church service was led by the archbishop of the Toronto Roman Catholic Church, Cardinal Thomas Collins.

The unity march came just a week after Pope Francis called the slaughter of 1.5 million Armenians “genocide” and called on Turkey to take responsibility for its actions.

Several other events, including a sold-out Toronto Symphony Orchestra concert presenting “Sounds of Armenia,” are planned locally and across the country leading up to the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide, commemorated internationally on Fri., April 24.

Toronto Mayor John Tory accompanied by members of the Toronto City Council. The mayor reaffirmed his promise to build a public monument in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide. (Photo: Ishkhan Ghazarian)

Standing room only at the Metropolitan United Church in Toronto where the ecumenical church service was held led by Thomas Cardinal Collins, archbishop of Toronto. (Photo: Ishkhan Ghazarian)

The post Thousands of Torontonians Commemorate Genocide Centenary   appeared first on Armenian Weekly.

OTTAWA, Canada—Matthew Karanian, the author of Historic Armenia After 100 Years, will present his groundbreaking new book in Canada during a three-city tour of the country in September.

Karanian in Ani

The Canada book tour is organized under the auspices of the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia to Canada, and commemorates the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide.

Historic Armenia After 100 Years (Stone Garden Press, 2015) is the first-ever historical guide to the ancient Armenian homeland. The book includes 125 color photographs and maps that show Western Armenia as it appears today.

The premiere event is at 9 p.m. on Fri., Sept. 11, at the Tekeyan Center, 825 Rue Manoogian, St. Laurent, Quebec. This event is hosted by the Tekeyan Cultural Association.

Karanian will also speak at 1 p.m. on Sat., Sept. 12, at the Armenian Embassy, 7 Delaware Ave., Ottawa, Ontario. The event at the Armenian Embassy is hosted by Ambassador and Mrs. Armen Yeganian.

The concluding event for will begin at 2 p.m. on Sun., Sept. 13, at the Armenian Community Center, 45 Hallcrown Place, Toronto, Ontario.

The Toronto event is co-hosted by the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) of Toronto, the Hamazkayin Educational and Cultural Society of Toronto, the Toronto Hye Agoump, and the Bolsahay Cultural Assocation Toronto. The entire tour is under the auspices of the Armenian Embassy in Canada.

The author will be available to sign copies of Historic Armenia After 100 Years at each event. For more book tour details, visit www.HistoricArmeniaBook.com.

By Dr. Roubina Yeghoyan

Hamazkayin’s 10^th annual Pomegranate Film Festival (POM) will take place in Toronto, Canada, from Nov. 16-22. In honor of the festival’s 10th anniversary and the Centennial commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, POM will present a week-long program featuring a diverse range of films, performances, and artistic exhibitions. One particularly noteworthy presentation is “Operation Nemesis,” showcasing films that pose moral and intellectual questions related to the genocide. More specifically, each film grapples with an ethical dilemma, one that presents complex situations for both victim and perpetrator, as each face the harsh reality of the genocide.

The first, “Straw Dolls,” by New Jersey resident Jon Milano, tells the story of how a father and daughter make unbelievable sacrifices out of their compassion for a mother and her young daughter who are facing grave danger. “Immersion into the Fire,” directed by Hamlet Dulyan, delves right into the horrific violence that destroyed the homes of the Ottoman Empire’s Armenian citizens. The plot deals with the pressures on a Turkish soldier who is forced to enter a home that has been a familiar one to him for many years. Memories of his exchanges with the family become a heavy burden and he must decide whether to become a predator or fall prey to the wrath of his army superiors. The film does not justify his actions, but rather explores the triggers and pressures that impact the course of events. “Homo Politicus” was produced by Turkish director Haci Orman. A ground-breaking film in Turkey, it focuses on a meeting of two prominent historical figures: German missionary Johannes Lepsius and Enver Pasha. While the conversation is diplomatic, the film offers a powerful, intense dialogue between two different worldviews, perceptions, and aspirations, as one strives for compassion towards humanity, and another is fueled by a bleak political vision that reduces humans to mere chess pieces. Orman recently gained critical acclaim for his film, which has been screened at festivals in Yerevan and Istanbul.

Eric Bogosian

Following the screening, an exclusive panel discussion will take place involving actor/author Eric Bogosian and Prof. Marian Mesrobian MacCurdy. Bogosian, a celebrated director and playwright, has recently explored “Operation Nemesis,” named after the Greek goddess of divine retribution, in his new book. The covert name was for a series of assassinations carried out by a secret group under the leadership of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation; the targets were the Ottoman perpetrators for their role in the genocide. MacCurdy, an eminent academic with an expertise in composition theory and for her poetry, has recently written Sacred Justice: The Voices and Legacy of the Armenian Operation Nemesis, an astounding multi-faceted work that provides in-depth documentation and memoirs to shed light on the group of Armenians who supported vengeance as a result of their traumatized experiences following the genocide. Her analysis reveals how her grandfather Aaron Sachaklian, along with Armen Karo, organized the assassinations in the 1920’s. Both authors will be available to sign copies of their books following the panel.

Prof. Marian Mesrobian MacCurdy

Complementing the short films related to “Operation Nemesis” is French-Armenian director Robert Guediguian’s new feature film, “Don’t Tell Me the Boy was Mad.” The film is a thought-provoking historical action/drama that commences with a re-enactment of Soghomon Tehlirian’s assassination of Talaat Pasha in Berlin in 1921 and then traces a series of bombings of Turkish embassies and consulates throughout Europe. This star-studded epic was filmed in Armenia, France, and Lebanon, and is loosely based on a book written by Spanish journalist Jose Antonio Gurriaran. After being accidentally injured following an explosion in Madrid in 1980, Gurriaran decided to research the Armenian cause and eventually became a spokesperson for genocide recognition, and has written several books about the topic. Gurriaran ultimately found and met members of the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) near Beirut, where he provided them with a gift, a book by Martin Luther King, to think about the path they have chosen.

The “Operation Nemesis” presentation is co-sponsored by the Armen Karo Student Association.

More than 50 films from 20 countries will be presented at POM 2015. Tickets are available by visiting www.pomegranatefilmfestival.com, where out-of-town guests can also take advantage of a special rate of $99/night at Radisson Toronto East, located next to Toronto’s Hamazkayin Theatre.

Special for the Armenian Weekly

The phones ring continuously at the Armenian Community Center of Toronto SAH office. (Photo: Toronto Star)

TORONTO, Canada—The phones ring continuously. “Parev, Torontoyi Hay Getron,” greet the office workers in Armenian. Tinges of Arabic and English mix into their dialogue as they communicate sternly and urgently. Sponsoring families are desperate to help relatives, acquaintances, and even strangers who are trying to flee the Middle East as a result of the Syrian crisis—the largest migration crisis since World War II.

Lorig Katerjian and Angelique Astourian-Kirijian, who have dedicated themselves to helping those torn by the Syrian war, are answering the phones. Their office is located on the upper floor of the Armenian Community Center, adjacent to St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church and the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) Day School. Across from them sit anxious individuals gripping on to their families’ applications, seeking to sponsor their relatives who are caught in the chaos of the war. Angelique was born in Aleppo and immigrated to Canada prior to the outbreak of the civil war. Since the Syrian conflict, she has been volunteering much of her time at the Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAH) office, helping Syrian Armenians connect with sponsors to facilitate their immigration to Canada.

“Many of my friends and family who are back in Syria or who have managed to flee to Lebanon call me and beg me to sponsor them to come to Canada. However, I simply can’t. You have to have a lot of resources to bring an individual or a family to this country, and I can’t sponsor everyone,” says Angelique.

Armenians have lived in Syria and other neighboring Middle Eastern countries for over a century. “During the Armenian Genocide, which occurred during World War I, many who survived the death marches through the Syrian desserts of Der Zor began new lives in countries like Syria and Lebanon, and have inhabited that region for over a century,” says Antranik Tchilingirian, a Toronto-Armenian resident who migrated from Lebanon in the 1970’s.

Maria Karageozian is reunited with her father Hagop, a Syrian refugee, at the Armenian Community Center of Toronto
(Photo: Mark Blinch/Reuters)

The SAH office, which was the initiative of the Armenian Community Center of Toronto, has been open for four years. Members first began by helping Iraqi families during the war there. In its first year of operation, the SAH sponsored only five individuals. That number has grown to include 350 individuals over the first 4 years. Yet, it has received more than 2,000 applicants this year alone as a result of the Syrian crisis; this is consistent with Canada’s plan, under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government, to help resettle 25,000 refugees in Canada by February. Just this week, the government announced plans to increase that number to 50,000 by the end of 2016.

The Karakouzian family came to Canada through the assistance of the Armenian Community Center’s office. They have been in Toronto since July. Hagop’s sister, Sosse, and her husband, Hratch Aynedjian, sponsored Hagop, a welder, his wife Lucine, and their two children, Sako and Hushig. They had filed their papers in November of last year; the process took eight months.

Prior to coming to Canada, the Karakouzian family had to go through a security process that is conducted by Canadian officials. Canadian visa officers stationed abroad ensure the papers check out to confirm refugee status. Each member of the family that is applying must be interviewed. Once a visa officer decides that a refugee’s application is credible, they are able to come to Canada. If questions arise, the applicant must meet with Canadian Security Intelligence, which can lengthen the process by 18-24 months. However, if the interview goes well, the process typically takes 8-10 months, as was the case for the Karakouzians.

“Individuals or families send us an application, we make sure they are correct, we send them to the processing office, and they wait for an interview with a government official to receive approval,” says Angelique. The interviews could be in Jordan, Turkey, or— as was the case for the Karakouzians—Lebanon.

The Karakouzians had to cross the Syrian international border to reach Lebanon. They had to take a route that was government-controlled from Aleppo to Damascus, because these routes were safe from ISIS militants. They began in Aleppo, went to Hama Homs, traveled back north due to unsafe roads, made it to Latakia, and then got to Tripoli before safely reaching Beirut. A five-hour trip under normal circumstances took them an entire day. They spent about four months in Lebanon, with Hagop working odd jobs in Beirut, while his wife tended to the kids, who weren’t attending school.

Bishop Meghrig Parikian, Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Canada, greets a Syrian newcomer. (Photo: CTV)

The community center’s sponsorship office also plays a key role in helping refugee individuals and families transition to Canadian life. “Upon their arrival we assist with their resettlement needs—social insurance, medical papers—essentially everything you need to come to Canada,” says Angelique.

Hagop’s family of four lives in a Scarborough bungalow with Sosse’s family of five. Sosse attests that the family dynamic and their living conditions have changed drastically. “We have to be careful what we watch on television because sometimes my brother’s kids get scared because they see something that reminds them of the war,” Sosse says.

Sosse’s husband also stresses the financial burden it has placed on their family. “I need to account for four more people in addition to my family. For the year that I am responsible for them, it will likely cost me around $25,000 to support them and get them on their feet,” he says.

The office has also worked hard to find Syrian refugees jobs. Lorig Katerjian says that nearly all of the Syrian refugees they’ve helped come to Canada—besides the elderly and children—have found jobs within the first week. The office helps pair employers with refugees through community contacts that speak Arabic and Armenian to help with the language barrier. “They’re mostly minimum wage jobs, but it’s a start. Some are cashiers at ethnic grocery stores, or pastry chefs at Middle Eastern bakeries, or servers at Mediterranean restaurants,” says Lorig. Furthermore, the community’s ARS Armenian School is helping refugee children by providing their first year at the school tuition-free.

On Dec. 11, about 90 Syrian Armenians reached Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, where Prime Minister Trudeau and Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne greeted them, and provided them with winter apparel and other necessities. (Photo: CTV)

Sponsors are responsible for providing essentials during the first year, including shelter, transportation, food, and clothing. An article in the Toronto Star estimates the annual cost of sponsoring an individual at $12,000 for the first year. Sponsors must also ensure that refugees stay in Toronto for the first year.

As for Sosse’s brother, he has found work in his trade as a welder, and he and his family are gradually adapting to Canadian life. His children are attending the Armenian school along with Sosse’s children, and they are happy to be safe in a peaceful country.

On Dec. 11, about 90 Syrian Armenians reached Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, where Prime Minister Trudeau and Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne greeted them, and provided them with winter apparel and other necessities. The newly arrived refugees were taken to the Armenian Community Center to meet with their sponsors and loved ones. Since then, several more government-sponsored planes have arrived in Canada, carrying refugees looking for a safer life.

ST. CATHARINES, Canada—“On this day, we gather to unveil the Armenian Genocide Monument of St. Catharines, which commemorates the tragic loss of life of the Armenian population during the waning days of the Ottoman Empire in 1915,” said Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a statement that was read at the official unveiling and dedication ceremony of the Armenian Genocide Memorial in St. Catherines on April 30.

Hundreds of community members from the Niagara Region and elsewhere gathered at the Armenian Community Center of St. Catherines for the ceremony. (Photo: Harout Kassabian)

Hundreds of community members from the Niagara Region and elsewhere gathered at the Armenian Community Center of St. Catherines for the ceremony.

The 11-foot-tall monument that was unveiled on the front lawn of the Armenian Community Center, will stand to observe the memory of the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide.

The 11-foot-tall monument that was unveiled on the front lawn of the Armenian Community Center, will stand to observe the memory of the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide.

“The unveiling of this monument in the historic Armenian community of St. Catharines will first of all serve to show our collective commitment towards remembering our past and demanding justice to take its course and also to educate the upcoming generations about what occurred in the past and how we should stand together today, as guardians of our identity and history,” said Sevag Belian, member of the Armenian National Committee (ANC) of St. Catharines-Niagara, and a member of the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) of Canada.

Along with hundreds of attendees, His Excellency Armen Yeganian, the ambassador of the Republic of Armenia in Canada, Mr. Marc Trouyet, the consul-general of France in Toronto, Members of the Clergy, Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Bureau member Hagop Der Khatchadourian, members of the ARF Canada Central Committee and the Armenian National Committee of Canada, elected officials from all three levels of Canadian government, and the Mayor of St. Catharines were given the honor to unveil the monument. A traditional Armenian cross-stone (Khatchkar) was also placed in front of the monument, symbolizing the spiritual ties of the Armenian people to the Christian faith. The Khatchkar was ceremoniously consecrated under the auspices of Archbishop Suren Kataroian and Bishop Abgar Hovakimian—the Primates of Canada—as well as Bishop Vazken Mirzakhanyan, the Primate of Georgia.

Representatives of the ARF Bureau and Central Committee of Canada with Ambassador Yeganian and Mayor Walter Sendzik

Despite the passage of a century, the Armenian community in Niagara dedicated the monument as a sign of perseverance and a solid commitment to not forget the legacy of their victims that died in the name of humanity and for the sake of justice.

“The struggle that was faced by our forefathers is as significant to us today, as it was 101 years ago. Therefore we urge and implore upon every single member of our community to provide their unconditional commitment and support to the collective efforts that are directed towards properly remembering and upholding the legacy of our martyrs and the eternity of our perseverance,” said Garbis Kavazanjian, chairman of the ANC of St. Catharines-Niagara.

The following is the message from Prime Minister Trudeau that was read at the event:

On this day, we gather to unveil the Armenian Genocide Monument of St. Catharines, which commemorates the tragic loss of life of the Armenian population during the waning days of the Ottoman Empire in 1915.

Both the Senate of Canada and the House of Commons have adopted resolutions referring to these events as genocide.

This monument will help preserve the memory of those who lost their lives, and those who suffered during this genocide and pay our deepest respects to their descendants, including those who now call Canada home.

Canadians of all backgrounds and faiths stand together in reaffirming our collective commitment to the values of pluralism, human rights, and diversity.

As we dedicate this monument, please join me in my hope for a peaceful future based on tolerance, respect, and reconciliation.

The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P.
Prime Minister of Canada

March for Humanity Also Honored All Victims of Genocides of the 20^th Century

MONTREAL, Canada—Thousands of activists marched in downtown Montreal on May 8, in honor of the memory of genocide victims of the 20^th century, as well as to raise awareness to help prevent atrocities from taking place.

Thousands of activists marched in downtown Montreal on May 8. (Photo: Nareg Rezian)

“It is our duty, as victims, but also as Quebecers, to fight denial, fight indifference, and force governments into action where help is needed,” said Hrag Jinjian, Chair of the Armenian Genocide Commemoration Committee of Quebec.

The march was organized in honor of the memory of genocide victims of the 20th century, as well as to raise awareness to help prevent atrocities from taking place. (Photo: Nareg Rezian)

The March for Humanity and Prevention of Genocide (M4H) began at Montreal’s Cabot Square, as participants marched towards the Quartier des Spectacles along Sainte-Catherine Street. Participants included political figures such as Minister of Canadian Heritage Mélanie Joly, Quebec Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie Christine St-Pierre, and former Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism and Minister of Defense Jason Kenney. Several ambassadors, including Armenia’s Ambassador to Canada Armen Yeganian, foreign diplomats, and representatives of the mayors of the cities of Montreal and Laval participated in the march.

(L to R) Ambassador Armen Yeganian, Minister of Canadian Heritage Mélanie Joly, Archbishop Souren Kataroyan, and Pontifical Representative of the Armenian Prelacy of Canada (Photo: Nareg Rezian)

The event was organized by the Armenian Genocide Commemoration Committee of Quebec in collaboration with the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (MIGS), the Alliance for Genocide Awareness and Remembrance (AGAR), the Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), and Amnesty International Canada. Members of the Jewish, Rwandan Tutsi, Cambodian, Ukrainian, Assyrian, Lebanese, and Pontian Greeks also participated.

Members of the Rwandan Tutsi community participating in the march (Photo: Nareg Rezian)

“I congratulate you all on continuing this initiative that commemorates the numerous victims of genocides, whether from Armenia or elsewhere around the world,” declared Quebec Minister of International Relations Christine St-Pierre.

The March for Humanity and Prevention of Genocide (M4H) began at Montreal’s Cabot Square, as participants marched towards the Quartier des Spectacles along Sainte-Catherine Street. (Photo: Nareg Rezian)

Following the march, a cultural program took place, including a performance by Sebu Simonian, lead singer of the award-winning band Capital Cities.

Members of the Jewish, Rwandan Tutsi, Cambodian, Ukrainian, Assyrian, Lebanese, and Pontian Greeks also participated in the march (Photo: Nareg Rezian)

International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies’ 2016 University Program

“A Genocide is not an accident; it is a choice. It occurs because human beings make it happen and let it happen,” said Roger Smith, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies,  in his closing remarks following the 2-week seminar recently held in Toronto.

TORONTO, Canada—The International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies, a Division of the Zoryan Institute, conducted its 15th annual Genocide and Human Rights University Program (GHRUP) in partnership with the University of Toronto from Aug. 1 to 12. Students from around the world come to the University of Toronto each year for a comprehensive course on genocide and human rights and leave empowered with the tools to understand and to help prevent genocide. “One of the [institute’s] goals are to turn the emotional energy about the subjects, into an intellectual energy,” says Jessica Adach, Zoryan Institute’s Program Coordinator.

The program participants

Joyce Apsel, the Course Director and renowned scholar and master teacher, believes that part of the program’s value stems from its multidisciplinary nature.

“Specialists are brought into the program from the social sciences, to humanities, to international law and from different countries… It is an extraordinary opportunity for students to actually ask questions to different specialists,” said Apsel. “The faculty and the different voices that we bring have evolved over time—we shift things, we invite new people in, we want to keep changing and have new perspectives going on.”

This year’s class was composed of a diverse group of 18 students from countries including Argentina, Armenia, Brazil, Canada, France, Iran, Israel, Turkey, and the United States. One student, a lawyer from Argentina, appreciated the course’s unique opportunity to learn from some of the most renowned scholars in the field:

“In my opinion, the GHRUP is highly recommendable. Not only academically, but also in emotional terms. The highlight of the course is the academic level of professors and especially the interdisciplinary profile of the program. Each day issues were addressed by professors from different disciplines with different methodological approaches. I lived the experience as a privilege—the possibility to be in direct contact with excellent professors who were always ready to answer our questions, suggestions, and doubts, and also support us when emotions overwhelmed.”

Professor William Schabas, a prominent law professor at Middlesex University in the United Kingdom and Leiden University in the Netherlands, taught the unit on international law and genocide. Schabas, like the students in the program, sees the immense value in the program, and how it serves as a method for challenging, reconciling and raising awareness of gross violations of human rights.

A scene from one of the classes

“I love coming for the program and if it means having to flying in one day and fly out that night I’ll do it,” said Schabas. “This is a very special course. I do a lot of teaching on summer courses that are there for university students and others who want to learn about specialized areas in human rights, but this is quite a unique course on genocide and it’s interdisciplinary. I think it makes a huge contribution. Education in this area is important…and I wish they had such a thing when I was a student. I never had such an opportunity.”

During this two-week period, the students live and swap stories together at a dormitory at the University of Toronto. This intensive and collaborative immersion enables students to swiftly build friendships and breakdown geopolitical barriers. An anthropology MA student who travelled from Brazil to partake in the course had this to say: “My Armenian background was how I became interested in this field, because of my great-grandfather’s history. I see myself applying my newfound knowledge on the Armenian Genocide that I gained from the course discussions to my studies when I return home. My Master’s thesis was about the memory of the Armenian population in Brazil and the Genocide as the main feature of this memory.”

Another participant, an MA student from Israel, found that the course content was “immensely valuable for [her] research and also thought-provocative.” She especially found Dr. Bergen’s seminar on the Holocaust intriguing, adding: “her pedagogical sense was evident which led me to learn a new way of teaching and understanding the Holocaust.”

Some of the participants during a visit to Niagara Falls

A human rights activist and a Political Science and International Affairs graduate from the American University of Armenia, also had positive things to say about her experience: “With what I have learned in this course, I would like to spread awareness in the community as a way of prevention. As an Armenian, it is important for me to see that those crimes will never be repeated again.”

The University program was officially launched in 2002 in Toronto, Canada and has welcomed 418 students from over 40 countries since its inception. Greg Sarkissian, President of the Zoryan Institute, emphasized how “the program seeks to help develop an academic support system for those who work toward the prevention of genocide. By studying the genocidal trauma of many different groups of peoples, the GHRUP strives to show that genocide is a shared human experience and as such, must be the concern of all individuals and institutions.” This program is a vehicle for young scholars to study with many of the best minds in the field, learning through an interdisciplinary analysis, the Jewish Holocaust, the Cambodian, Rwandan, Guatemalan Genocides, and the genocide of Indigenous Peoples, in comparison with the Armenian case, the prototype genocide of the 20^th century.
The Zoryan Institute and its subsidiary, the International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies, is the first non-profit, international center devoted to the research and documentation of contemporary issues with a focus on Genocide, Diaspora and Homeland. For a complete list of the course faculty, material and application process for the Genocide and Human Rights University Program please visit www.genocidestudies/GHRUP.org.

TORONTO, Canada—The 2016-2017 Armenian Relief Society (ARS) Armenian Private School year opened Sept. 6, with a generous donation of one million dollars (CAD) by Mr. and Mrs. Varoujan and Silva Lapoyan. The announcement was made during the opening assembly held at Toronto’s St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church. Hagop Janbazian, President of the Armenian Community Centre of Toronto, was joined by Varoujan and Silva Lapoyan, in revealing the donation in front of the school’s student body, parents, teachers, administrators, and board members.

Benefactors Varoujan and Silva Lapoyan handing the donation to ACC Toronto Chair Hagop Janbazian

Joining in the announcement were the Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Canada Archbishop Papken Charian, representative of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Canada Central Committee Norair Berberian, the Chair of the school’s Board of Directors Sevag Kupelian, and school Principal Dr. Armen Martirossian, along with representatives of several Toronto-Armenian organizations and Armenian Apostolic and Catholic Church Clergy.

In honor of the benefactors, the ARS Armenian School’s High School will be named ARS Lapoyan High School. The name will be listed along with the names of the other levels of the school – ARS Roubina Nursery, Babayan Kindergarten, and Kololian Elementary.

Mr. and Mrs. Varoujan and Silva Lapoyan with Reverend Fathers, ACC Toronto Chair, and ARS Armenian Private School Chair and Principal at the school’s opening assembly

The ARS Armenian Private School was founded in 1979 with 75 students and is the only Armenian-Canadian day school in Ontario. The school has experienced significant growth over the past five years with enrollment levels now exceeding 600 students. From nursery through to twelfth grade, Armenian language and cultural studies are weaved into the general curriculum in adherence with the provincial Ministry of Education guidelines. The ARS Lapoyan High School graduates continue to attend their preferred colleges and top Canadian and international universities.

To guide the future development of the school and to maintain a high caliber of graduates, the ARS Armenian Private School’s Board of Directors appointed a strategic planning committee earlier this year, to create a five-year strategic plan. Led by this plan, the school will continue expanding, enriching its academic and non-academic offerings, and enhancing the Armenian curriculum, all while continuing to strive for academic excellence and preparing students for post-secondary education.

For more information about the ARS Armenian Private School, visit www.arsarmenianschool.ca.

OTTAWA, Canada—A joint delegation of the Armenian National Committee International Council (ANC International) and the Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC), headed by ANC International Chair, Hagop Der Khatchadourian, met with the Honorable Stéphane Dion, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.

(L to R) Sevag Belian, Hagop Der Khatchadourian, Minister Dion, and Girair Basmadjian

Dr. Girair Basmadjian, Past President of the ANCC and Sevag Belian, Executive Director of the ANCC were a part of the delegation that engaged in a friendly and constructive discussion with the minister and his directors about various topics of interest to Canadian-Armenians and to Canadian diplomacy in general. Discussions were held about the recent escalation of violence in Nagorno-Karabagh (NKR/Artsakh), Canada-Armenia bilateral relations, and the current undemocratic developments in Turkey.

In regards to the NKR conflict, the importance was emphasized for Canada to play an enhanced role within the framework of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group initiative in peacefully resolving the conflict and advocating for the immediate implementation of monitoring mechanisms along the line of contact.

Despite the warm bilateral relations between Canada and Armenia, the ANC delegation emphasized the vital need for Canada to upgrade its diplomatic representation in Armenia by establishing an embassy in Yerevan and increase the economic and political cooperation between the two countries. The delegation also encouraged the minister to visit Armenia in the near future.

The meeting also discussed the recent escalation of sociopolitical tensions in Turkey and its regime’s violent anti-democratic crackdown. ANC representatives requested that Canada forcefully address this issue by unequivocally condemning the violence and the dictatorial tendencies of the Turkish president and demand that the fundamental rights and safety of all national minorities of today’s Turkey be assured by the state.

Minister Dion actively engaged in the discussions and promised to carefully consider all the concerns that were brought to his attention.

The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian grassroots human rights organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range of issues and works to eliminate abuses of human rights throughout Canada and the world.

The Hamazkayin Toronto Klatsor chapter’s eleventh annual Pomegranate Film Festival (POM XI) concluded a five-day program  of engaging cinema and unforgettable discourse celebrating filmmaking talent from around the world on Nov. 20. Thirty-eight films were screened from 14 countries. The Festival began with a special presentation of the brand new motion picture “Earthquake,” followed by a screening of Atom Egoyan’s latest masterpiece, “Remember,” at Silver City Fairview Cineplex.

Members of the POM committee, volunteers, filmmakers, and guests (Photo: White Photo)

Armenia’s Ambassador to Canada, H.E. Mr. Armen Yeganian, welcomed participants and introduced the opening film, “Earthquake,” following introductory remarks to a packed auditorium delivered by the chair of the Hamazkayin Toronto Klatsor chapter, Tamar Donabedian. “Earthquake” is based on the true acts of heroism that transpired during and after the ferocious calamity that took place in Armenia on Dec. 7, 1998.

The second film on opening night, “Remember,” the audience had the exclusive opportunity to converse with director Atom Egoyan about human memory when grappling with the complexities of trauma. Egoyan engaged the audience during an intimate question and answer session following his feature, which was preceded by a short film that Egoyan narrated and was commissioned by the Canadian Museum of Human Rights about a German soldier who became the chief archivist and photographer of the Armenian Genocide during World War I. Dr. Jeremy Maron, a curator from the Museum in Winnipeg, introduced the short film about Armin Wegner, the German soldier whose photographs to this day remain among the most authentic evidence of the Armenian Genocide that began in 1915.

The evening of Nov. 17 was a magical affair as filmmakers Aren Pedeci and Ela Alyamac from Istanbul attended the sold-out Canadian premiere of their groundbreaking film, “Lost Birds,” at Silver City Fairview. The film depicts the Armenian Genocide without displaying any violence and is told through the eyes of children. Alyamec and Pederci were honored for their courage after the screening, as “Lost Birds” is the only film ever made entirely in Turkey about the Armenian Genocide, a topic which is considered taboo in the country—a mere mention of it by Turkish citizens in the past has led to criminal charges being laid against them.

Chris Alexander, the Canadian Cabinet Minister who laid a wreath at the foot of Tsitsernakaberd (Yerevan’s Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex) in commemoration of the Genocide during the Centennial last year, presented both filmmakers with a commemorative gift on behalf of the Festival, complements of Narinée designs.

The comedy, “All That Jan,” completed the evening Nov. 17 with much laughter and applause. Director Alexander Andranikian attended the Canadian premiere and took part in an entertaining question and answer session, while discussing the trials and tribulations of filming a motion picture in a remote village in Russia.

On the evening of Nov. 18, the Festival moved south with the Canadian Premiere of charismatic director Serge Avedikian’s latest film, “Lost in Armenia,” at the Regent Theatre in uptown Toronto. Gemini award-winning actress Arsinée Khanjian, who stars in the film, joined ‎Avedikian at the podium following the screening and they collectively addressed the audience.

The evening culminated with three-time Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Steve Kurkjian attending the special screening of “Spotlight,” winner of the 2016 Oscar for Best Motion Picture. Reporter Arda Zakarian initiated a thoughtful question and answer session with Kurkjian following the film. Kurkjian was instrumental in creating the Boston Globe’s “Spotlight” investigative journalistic team in the 1970’s that led to the unraveling of the child abuse scandal within the Roman Catholic Church, as depicted in the film.

Arsinee Khanjian at the Festival (Photo: achtenburg.ca)

The visually stunning feature movie “Memories of the Wind,” by Ozcan Alper, opened the program on Nov. 19 at the Hamazkayin Theater. The short film, “Sktorashen,” accompanied the feature, equally revealing the beauty of rural Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabagh/NKR). The unique documentary, “One, Two, Three…” by Arman Yeritsyan, was the next feature film scheduled. This documentary was attended by a large number of senior citizens who were uplifted by the powerfully optimistic spirit of the film that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit, whereby elderly community members organize and perform in dance spectacles in order to combat depression and other ills.

‎A series of short films took part in the segment titled, “Symphony of Film: O Canada,” which largely showcased the talents of Canadian filmmakers, including local directors Kalen Artinian, Alex Kerbabian, Tatevik Galestyan, Armen Poladian and Ara Sagherian who were all present to introduce their films. Thirteen short films were presented, nine of which were directed by Canadians.

The much anticipated Gala Soirée took place on the evening of Nov. 19. Los Angeles based comedians Vahé Berberian and Vahik Pirhamizei delighted the capacity crowd with their wit after the screening of the Canadian Premiere of their feature film, “3 Weeks in Yerevan.” Chair of the Festival Jury Silva Basmajian moderated the session between the two funnymen. In turn, much to the delight of the audience, the comedians surprised Basmajian, past Executive Producer at the National Film Board of Canada, bestowing upon her the Golden POM Award, the Festival’s highest honor marking Basmajian’s 10th year as Chair of the Festival’s Jury. Over her 30-year career at the National Film Board, Basmajian has produced over 200 films and served as a mentor to many aspiring filmmakers. She has voluntarily reviewed and considered over 300 films in her capacity as Chair of the Pomegranate Film Festival Jury. Following the screening, attendees continued to enjoy the delicacies at the‎ the winter-themed POM market while listening to live music into the wee hours of the morning.

The Festival’s final day, referred to as Super Sunday, comprised of thirteen films, commencing with Meg Ryan’s latest film, “Ithaca.” The film is based on an original screenplay written by William Saroyan and included a cameo appearance by Tom Hanks.

“Ithica” was followed by a couple of well researched documentaries. The first of which was the Canadian Premiere of multiple Emmy Award-nominated director Bared Maronian who spoke very eloquently following the film in a broad-ranging interview conducted by Raffi Sarkissian, chair of the Sara Corning Centre for Genocide Education. Numerous dignitaries were in attendance including the Federal member of Parliament for Markham-Unionville, Bob Saroya, who congratulated director Maronian as well as Festival organizers publicly in Parliament the following day.

Syrian born director Nigol Bezjian’s latest documentary, “Temple of Light,” was the centerpiece of the Festival’s annual “Tales from the Diaspora” series. Bezjian was interviewed by longtime colleague Arsinée Khanjian following his film. Bezjian’s film was preceded by three short films, of which Toronto based photographer and director Jamie Day Fleck was present to introduce her film, “The Voice of the Violin.” Filmmaker Hayk Matevosyan from Los Angeles introduced his timely new short “Syria My Love.”

Following the documentaries, ‎the evening was comprised of feature films, including Levon Minasian’s “Bravo Virtuoso,” a co-production between Armenia and France. The film was co-produced by legendary French director Robert Guediguian and one of Armenia’s most popular filmmakers, Hrach Keshishyan. This film noire was preceded by two short films, “Red Apples” following its World Premiere at TIFF in September and “One I Heard a Sweet Voice,” a sentimental film about a young boy who is hearing impaired and learns to master the piano.

The Festival’s penultimate film was the North American Premiere of “Good Morning.” A feature film about a young father who lives through the first twenty-five years of post-Soviet independence in the new Republic of Armenia. The film is a well woven coming of age story, encompassing the young republic’s independence movement, war with neighboring Azerbaijan, food and electricity crisis, along with meeting one’s first love and overcoming childhood fears.

Bared Maronian accepting his award (Photo: achtenburg.ca)

“Good Morning” was presented with a short documentary “How to Cross from Jiliz to Jiliz.”‎ The short film premiered at the Hot Docs Documentary Film Festival and depicted the absurdity of how far a young girl must travel in order to visit family members who reside in the same village but live in a home on the other side of the international border between Armenia and Georgia.

The 2016 Pomegranate Film Festival’s closing film was the North American Premiere of “Head of State” by Director Hrant Yeritskinyan. Initially from Armenia, Yerkinitsyan now spends half the year working in Toronto. He participated in a Q&A following his delightful comedy hosted by comedian and filmmaker Vahik Pirhamzei.

Following the screening of “Head of State,” Jury Chair Silva Basmajian was joined by fellow jurors, director Hagop Goudsouzian and ‎actress Lara Arabian, to present the Festival’s Annual Jury Awards;

Best Short Film: THE DOCTOR

Honorable Mention: HOW TO CROSS FROM JILIZ TO JILIZ

Souren Chekijian Memorial Award for Best Narrative Short Film:‎ SYRIA MY LOVE

‎Dr. Michael J. Hagopian Award for Best Documentary Film: WOMEN OF 1915

Honourable Mention: ONE, TWO THREE…

‎Best Feature Film: GOOD MORNING

Honourable Mentions: EARTHQUAKE and LOST ‎BIRDS

WOMEN OF 1915 also captured the Festival’s Audience Choice Award, followed by LOST BIRDS and EARTHQUAKE.

The 12th annual Pomegranate Film Festival is scheduled to take place between November 16-19, 2017.

TORONTO, Canada—The Zoryan Institute has officially launched its Syrian-Armenian Refugee Oral History Project conducting its first interview on Nov. 7. With this project, the Institute seeks to interview Syrian-Armenian newcomers and document their lifestyle in Syria prior to the war, their migration, and their experience of settling in Canada.

The Zoryan Institute has officially launched its Syrian-Armenian Refugee Oral History Project

The Institute’s main objective with this program is to capture what life was like prior to the outbreak of war and document culture, traditions, and history.  In addition, the project will seek to understand the effectiveness of refugee integration programs in Canada and to document first-hand accounts to serve as a tool for analyzing sociological, anthropological, and historical patterns and trends prior to, during and after migration due to conflict.

The current conflict in Syria has caused one of the largest refugee exoduses in recent history. Since the first wave of refugees arrived in December 2015, Canada has welcomed over 33,000 Syrian refugees, and thousands of these newcomers are of Armenian descent.

The Institute’s main objective with this program is to capture what life was like prior to the outbreak of war and document culture, traditions, and history.

Syria has often served as a refuge for Armenians who fled from atrocities and persecutions, such as the Armenian Genocide.  Armenian communities of Syria have integrated their Armenian identity into their everyday lives as evidenced by their cultural, religious, social, and political organizations.  This project will document this latest Armenian forced migration, what the Armenians experienced in their own voices, and how they are preserving Armenian heritage and identity in this latest development of the Armenian Diaspora.

A successful project of the same nature was conducted by the Zoryan Institute in 1983 titled, The Armenian Genocide Oral History Project.  This project comprises a collection of audio and video tapes containing carefully prepared oral history interviews with over 700 survivors of the Armenian Genocide, making it the largest collection to date. These archival materials are located at both the Institute’s U.S. and Canadian locations and are frequently accessed by scholars, students, film-makers, and other interested parties. A complete catalogue of this collection is available on the Zoryan Institute website, www.zoryaninstitute.org/archives.html.

The Zoryan Institute will be completing the Syrian-Armenian Refugee Oral History Project in two phases: the first phase involves organizing and filming the interviews while the second phase encompasses the editing, transcription, and archiving of the material.

If you are a Syrian-Armenian newcomer to Canada and are interested in sharing your story with the Institute, please contact us by email at zoryan@zoryaninstitute.org or call 416-250-9807 to speak with a representative at the Zoryan Institute’s Toronto office

A successful project of the same nature was conducted by the Zoryan Institute in 1983 titled, The Armenian Genocide Oral History Project.

A project of this caliber requires a significant investment. If you are interested in sponsoring this program, please visit our website to make a donation online, or mail your contribution to the Zoryan Institute office. Alternatively, you can contact the Institute’s Outreach Coordinator, Megan Reid at mreid@zoryaninstitute.org, for more information.