Torontohye/Թորոնթոհայ #201

ցնցիչ հետեւանքը.

այն մեր ինքնութեան անուրանալի

մասն է ու պէտք է ուրացողներուն դէմ

ըլլանք հաստատ կերպով ամբողջ

տարուան մէջ եւ հետեւողական ընթացքով։ Արցախի 44-օրեայ պատերազմին աշխարհը լուռ մնաց,

քան չորս հազար զոհ տուինք,

շրջափակումէն

եւ հալածանքը

բաժին չունին։ Նաեւ գովաբանուեցաւ 1923-ի գանատական

մարդասիրական

Ճորճթաունի

որբերու ծրագիրը։

Ձեռնարկին

ներկայ էին նաեւ Յունաստանի եւ

Լիբանանի

մասին, առաւել՝

եղանք Արցախի քաջ ժողովուրդին դէմ ցեղասպանութեան

արարքներուն։ Ինչպէս կրնամ արդար

'Never again' cannot become empty words

Toronto Armenians commemorate By Harout Manougian

While Armenian Genocide commemorations are always solemn occasions, the events held in April 2024 took on a more urgent tone following the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh in September 2023 and ongoing threats against the Republic of Armenia. A series of events were held in Toronto to remember and honour the victims. The annual commemoration event was held in the main hall of the Armenian Community Centre on April 21 and was attended by representatives from all levels of government.

Master of Ceremonies Veronique Aynedjian and Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC) President Shahen Mirakian delivered the message that Armenia cannot afford for the words 'never again' to become hollow rhetoric. It is because the Armenian Genocide was successfully denied for so long that Azerbaijan was emboldened to employ parallel means of starvation, dehumanization, historical distortion and cultural destruction in emptying Artsakh of its Armenian inhabitants. These same means are now being directed against the Republic of Armenia.

Mirakian shared some history, uncovered in the Ararat Monthly publications of the Georgetown Boys, about what may well have been the first commemoration of the Armenian Genocide in Canada in the 1920s.

Minister Filomena Tassi, Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) for Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas, delivered the message from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Minister Stan Cho, Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario (PC) Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Willowdale, delivered the message from

Premier Doug Ford, and Councillor Josh Matlow delivered the message on behalf of Mayor Olivia Chow. Toronto-Armenian PC MPP Aris Babikian also addressed the crowd.

Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti attended in person to deliver his heartfelt remarks. Tom Rakocevic and Adil Shamji spoke on behalf of the Ontario NDP and Liberal parties, respectively.

Ontario Green Party leader Mike Schreiner, who represents Guelph in the Ontario legislature, was at the Armenian Community Centre in Cambridge, Ontario, to mark the occasion. Toronto District School Board (TDSB) Trustee Shelley Laskin and Toronto Catholic District School Board Trustee Angela Kennedy underscored the importance of genocide education. Representatives were joined on stage by their colleagues.

Throughout the event, there was a call to action for governments and individuals alike to confront all forms of denial and oppression.

On April 23, the annual candlelight vigil was revived in a new form. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, it had become customary to hold the vigil before the Ontario Legislative Assembly building at Queen's Park. This year, the AYF Canada Simon Zavarian chapter brought the event to the Forest of Hope in Ashton Meadows Park in Markham, which has been dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide since 2015. The bilingual program reinforced the will of the Armenian youth to keep the Armenian culture and language alive, whether in the diaspora or the homeland. The event featured a model of the Tsitsernakaberd Genocide Memorial, where attendees placed flowers and candles at sunset. The youth pledged not to stay silent as Armenia's neighbours threaten a new genocide. ֎

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Publisher Torontohye Communications Inc. info@torontohye.ca

Editor Rupen Janbazian editor@torontohye.ca

Graphic designer/Layout editor Ara Ter Haroutunian ara@torontohye.ca

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Administrator Missak Kawlakian missak@torontohye.ca

Advisor Harout Manougian harout@torontohye.ca

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(clockwise from top L) 1. A scene from the annual commemoration; 2. Laying carnations at the Revival monument; 3. ANCC President Shahen Mirakian addressing the crowd on April 21 (Photos: Sako Production); 4. A scene from the annual candlelight vigil (Photo: Khoren Mardoyan)

ընթրիքին ներկայ էին Գանատայի ոսկերիչներու միութեան (CJA) ներկայացուցիչ

Թորոնթոյի հանրածանօթ ոսկերիչներու մեծամասնութիւնը

եւ յարգարժան հիւրեր, որոնք

իրենց լումաները նուիրաբերեցին

նեղ կացութեան մատնուած մեր

հայրենակից արցախահայութեան՝

կեանք մը ապահովելու

նպատակով։

Goals for GOALS: AAT Youth to host 'Armenian Soccer Night' at BMO Field

In 2019, while participating in the Birthright Armenia program, TorontoArmenian Ararad Nar discovered an organization that would profoundly impact his understanding of community empowerment. Girls of Armenia Leadership Soccer (GOALS) promoted young women’s empowerment through sports, particularly soccer, a popular and culturally significant sport worldwide.

GOALS uses soccer to create safe spaces, educate communities about gender stereotypes, and foster strong local partnerships for sustainable community development. Seeing the positive change effected by GOALS, Ararad was inspired to involve his community in Toronto in supporting this impactful work. As the Vice President of the Armenian Association of Toronto (AAT) Youth, he saw an opportunity to blend fun, cultural pride, and philanthropy.

Fast-forward to 2024, and Ararad is spearheading the second Armenian Soccer Night at a Major League Soccer (MLS) game scheduled for June 15th. The game, which features Toronto FC against Chicago Fire, will take place at Toronto’s BMO Field, Toronto FC’s home turf.

For this event, AAT Youth has reserved Section 204 of the stadium, aiming to fill it with Armenians from across Toronto and the GTA. Each ticket costs $37, with $5 from every purchase going directly to GOALS Armenia.

Founded in 2018 as the youth chapter of the AAT, AAT Youth is an independent, apolitical, social, communal, and cultural organization. “Our goal at AAT Youth is to unite Armenians from various backgrounds throughout Toronto and the GTA. By fostering mutual support locally and in Armenia, we strive to honour and sustain our heritage, language, and arts in a secure, enjoyable, and inclusive environment,” Ararad explains.

The partnership between AAT Youth and GOALS is built on a shared vision of sports as a powerful tool for unity and social change. Through this event, AAT Youth hopes to contribute significantly to GOALS’ mission, following up on the $300 raised the previous year with a goal of at least $500 this year.

“Our community loves soccer, and it’s a great way to bring everyone together for a fun night supporting a good cause,” Ararad explained. “It’s about celebrating our heritage and making a positive impact back home in Armenia.”

GOALS Armenia was established after a diplomacy function in Yerevan, initiated by former US Ambassador John A. Heffern in December 2014. The event, led by esteemed author and soccer coach Andrea Montalbano, celebrated the power of women in sports and kickstarted the first conversations about what would become GOALS. The NGO was officially founded in the spring of 2016, beginning with a soccer league in Syunik and rapidly expanding to include multiple regions and hundreds of participants. Its programs now encompass not only soccer leagues but also leadership training, summer camps, and educational workshops aimed at challenging traditional narratives around women’s roles in Armenian society.

Ararad says that although there are currently no Armenian players in the MLS, the spirit of former MLS athletes such as Yura Movsisyan and Alecko Eskandarian lingers, inspiring events like the Armenian Soccer Night and reminding the Armenian community in Toronto of their homeland’s enduring legacy.

In discussing the details of the upcoming event, Ararad also emphasized the importance of community involvement: “We invite Armenians of all ages to join us. It’s a family-friendly event that offers something for everyone, from the excitement of a live soccer match to the warmth of gathering with fellow Armenians and supporting a cause that impacts the lives of young women in Armenia.”

As the event approaches, Ararad and the AAT Youth team are busy promoting it through social media, community gatherings, and local Armenian businesses. Ultimately, though, Armenian Night’s success will be measured not just by the funds raised but also by the strengthened ties within the Armenian community in Toronto and the support extended to young women in Armenia. In this way, Ararad and his fellow AAT Youth members are crafting a narrative of empowerment, cultural pride, and global responsibility that resonates deeply within and beyond the Armenian community of Toronto. ֎

կազմակերպեցին աւանդոյթ դարձած պարանցիկ

24 մարտ 2024-ին, կէսօրուան ժամը 2-ին,

The Zoryan Institute commemorates April 24 by reaffirming the importance of genocide education

April is a time to raise awareness about genocide and focus on the continued need to emphasize the relevance of genocide education and critcal importance to combat prejudice and violence . Recently, a question was raised in the Turkish media: “Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan recently refrained from using the term ‘genocide’ when discussing the events of 1915, instead referring to them as the ‘Great Disaster’ (Metz Yeghern). Pashinyan also criticized the inclusion of Mount Ararat in the state coat of arms, noting that it lies within Turkey’s borders. What do you think about this attitude, which seems to favour peace?” areporter asked.

On April 23, the Zoryan Institute of Armenia publicly responded to this question with materials from its own archive, recalling that on March 7, 2000, 126 Holocaust scholars, holders of academic chairs, and directors of Holocaust research and studies centers made a public statement at St. Joseph University in Philadelphia. The statement, published in the New York Times on June 9, 2000, affirmed the Armenian Genocide as an incontestable fact and urged Western democracies to officially recognize it. The petitioners, including Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel, called on Western democracies to encourage the Turkish government and parliament to confront this dark chapter in Ottoman-Turkish history, urging Turkey to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide to promote its democratization process.

The Institute also released the following excerpt from Dr. Jennifer Rich’s editorial in the upcoming issue (15.2) of its Genocide Studies International Rich is a Zoryan Academic Board member and editor of the academic journal:

[At the time of this publication], the intractable conflict between Israel and Hamas is playing out in real-time on my television, ethnic Armenians continue their forced displacement from Artsakh, and the war in Ukraine rages on. To begin to make sense of the violence, it is imperative to draw connections between now and then, present and past. Genocide scholars—as well as activists, policymakers, and politicians— need to think outside the

disciplinary boxes we so often inhabit. We tend to think about the field of Genocide Studies as one rooted in the past, as a field dominated by historians. This general issue of Genocide Studies International, however, shines a bright light on the path, sometimes hidden or overlooked, that connects events across vast spans of time.

The articles by Edita Gzoyan and Stephan Astourian, both about the Armenian Genocide, illustrate the long afterlife of violence as a force that shapes the present. Gzoyan’s article highlights the long-overdue need to move from a culture of impunity to one of accountability. After articulating the process through which the concept of crimes against humanity was developed in the wake of the Armenian Genocide, she exposes the unacceptable truth that there were no legal, or other, consequences for perpetrators of the atrocities. Astourian, in a historiographic appraisal of Armenian Genocide studies, clearly demonstrates that additional research in the field will help fight against the culture of impunity and finally hold the guilty to account. He argues that “we have not yet thoroughly exploited many relevant archival fonds, and efforts should be made in this regard,” and that until this happens, we are unable to accurately determine whether the intent to “exterminate the Armenians already existed before World War I.

The articles written by Lauren Grant and Christopher Harrison in the upcoming issue each spotlight current atrocities that have long and violent pasts. Grant’s fieldwork in Canada and Guatemala informs her

contribution, which argues that “femicidal and sexual gender-based violence faced by Indigenous women…is a cause and consequence of these states’ failures to effectively guarantee Indigenous women’s intersecting socioeconomic rights, namely their right to adequate housing.” She exposes the intertwined economic and political interests of these two nation-states that have led to a system of “legal violence,” as well as the complicity of international human rights organizations in allowing the rights of Indigenous women to remain violated.

Harrison’s timely article uses the recent atrocities committed by the Wagner Group in Bucha, Ukraine, to argue that “the expendability of penal battalions has provided genocidal regimes with ample fodder for conventional wars, genocidal warfare, and cases in which such conscripts may become either perpetrators or victims.” His article traces the history of penal battalions, demonstrates “the evolution of Wagner as a significant force in global politics and conflict,” and—ultimately— suggests that “prosecution, prevention, or intervention will become even more difficult than it already is for institutions of international law.

“April 24 is the day that the entire world, Armenians, and those who stand for humanity, reflect on the memories of those who perished in the 1915 Armenian Genocide. We urge the Armenian Government to remember the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide,” Zoryan’s statement reads.

The Convention defines genocide as any act with the intent to destroy a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group, in whole or in part, through means such as killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life designed to bring about its physical destruction; imposing measures to prevent births within the group; and forcibly transferring children from one group to another.

“Clause number two of the convention emphasizes the intent to destroy in part, reinforcing that the numbers killed do not solely determine a mass atrocity’s classification as genocide,” the statement concludes. ֎

Dr. Hamboyan presents talk about Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia

By Sarin Poladian-Apigian

On April 7, 2024, the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) Toronto Roubina chapter’s educational committee organized an enlightening presentation on Alzheimer’s disease and dementia presented by Dr. Herag Hamboyan. Among the attendees were ARS Canada members and Roubina chapter representative Maral Missirian.

Sarin Poladian-Apigian, the event’s master of ceremonies, commenced the event with opening remarks, highlighting ARS’s commitment to humanitarian aid services and the preservation of Armenian heritage and culture. In addition to many endeavours, ARS is dedicated to nurturing educational initiatives within our community to raise awareness about health-related topics. She then introduced the highly esteemed Dr. Herag Hamboyan, a physician based in Oakville and the Medical Director of 20 senior homes across Toronto and surrounding areas. With vast expertise in complex and chronic conditions affecting seniors, including dementia, heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory diseases, Dr. Hamboyan provided invaluable insights into Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Throughout his lecture, Dr. Hamboyan addressed fundamental questions surrounding Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, clarifying their definitions and distinctions. He explored common inquiries about these conditions, emphasizing the progressive nature of dementia and its significant impact on daily life, which is not merely a regular aspect of aging.

Despite the absence of a cure for dementia, Dr. Hamboyan shared valuable strategies for risk reduction, focusing on lifestyle factors such as exercise, social engagement, and cognitive stimulation. Moreover, Dr. Hamboyan outlined the importance of caregiver education and support, offering empathy and understanding in navigating the complexities of dementia care. His dedication to Alzheimer’s advocacy extended beyond the lecture, as he shared his involvement as a member of the board of Alzheimer’s Care Armenia, an organization raising awareness and supporting dementia patients in Armenia. Through initiatives such as screening programs and memory cafes, the organization aims to enhance dementia care and promote a better quality of life for affected individuals in Armenia. Following the presentation, attendees engaged in a highly interactive question-and-answer session with Dr. Hamboyan.

Ani Hotoyan-Joly, chair of the Roubina chapter executive, delivered the closing remarks, expressing gratitude to Dr. Hamboyan for his informative lecture and highlighting the widespread impact of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia on both diagnosed individuals, their families and caregivers.

As a token of appreciation, Ani Hotoyan-Joly and Dr. Ani Hasserjian, Chair of the Educational Committee, presented Dr. Hamboyan with the book There is Only The Earth: Images from Armenian Diaspora by Scout Tufankjian.

The event concluded with a warm reception, allowing attendees to connect with each other and reflect on the insights shared. ֎

(L-R) Ani Hotoyan-Joly, Dr. Herag Hamboyan, and Dr. Ani Hasserjian (photo courtesy of the ARS Roubina chapter)

Remembrances: The Assassination of Talaat Pasha

BOOK REVIEW:

Remembrances: The Assassination of Talaat Pasha is a landmark publication that marks the first time English-speaking audiences can access Soghomon Tehlirian's gripping and historically significant memoirs.

Tehlirian's Remembrances, as related to Vahan Minakhorian, was initially published in Armenian (Verhishoumner Cario: Housaper, 1953). Masterfully translated by Beirut-born, Yerevanbased Bedo Demirdjian the account sheds light on Tehlirian's harrowing experiences during World War I, his personal anguish witnessing the Armenian Genocide, and his consequential role in Operation Nemesis.

Tehlirian's narrative is not just a recounting of historical events but a deeply personal journey of loss, vengeance, and justice. His story provides an intimate glimpse into the psyche of a man who lost 84 members of his family to the genocide and took it upon himself to assassinate one of its chief architects, Talaat Pasha. The book meticulously details Tehlirian's induction into the Armenian Revolutionary Federation's (ARF) secretive assassination campaign and the careful planning that led to the historic execution of Talaat Pasha.

Demirdjian's translation is fluid and faithful to the original, preserving the emotional intensity and historical significance of Tehlirian's memoirs.

Demirdjian's work allows English readers to fully grasp the complexity of Tehlirian's actions and the broader implications of the Armenian Genocide and Operation Nemesis.

The memoir benefits significantly from a comprehensive introduction by Ara Sarafian, the executive director of the Gomidas Institute, the book's publisher. Sarafian sets the historical context and enriches the narrative with detailed analysis and the inclusion of a handwritten note by Tehlirian about the moment he assassinated Talaat Pasha.

This introduction and its extensive endnotes provide readers with a treasure trove of sources and insights into the assassination. Documentary filmmaker Carla Garapedian's preface adds another layer of depth as she comments on the significance of the English translation, calling it "a way of telling Tehlirian's story to the world."

While the memoir is enriched with footnotes, maps, and photographs that aid in understanding and visualizing the events described, more detailed footnotes would further elucidate some

of the complex historical and political contexts. However, this does not detract significantly from the overall impact and importance of the work. The English version of the memoir is a significant contribution that underscored the Gomidas Institute's commitment to bringing critical historical narratives to a wider audience.

Recently, Tehlirian's cousin’s granddaughters, Arpi Oskanyan and Anush Oskanyan-Ohanyan, contributed family relics, including Soghomon’s diary and nine original photographs, to the Armenian Genocide Museum and Institute in Yerevan. This could offer fresh insights into Tehlirian's life and Operation Nemesis, enriching the understanding of his role in the assassination of Talaat Pasha. The diary, along with the photographs, may provide additional context to the compelling narrative shared in Demirdjian’s translation.

Remembrances: The Assassination of Talaat Pasha is an essential read for anyone interested in Armenian history, genocide studies, or the complexities of justice and revenge. It is a well-translated and thoroughly researched publication of a profoundly moving account that not only tells the story of one man's quest for vengeance but also illuminates a chapter in world history that continues to resonate today. ֎

Remembrances: The Assassination of Talaat Pasha

Publisher: Gomidas Institute Books (August 31, 2022)

Language: English

Paperback: ‎318 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1909382541

The 15th of every month is the deadline for submitting your newspaper articles, advertisements, classified ads, announcements, or obituaries. Make sure to send in your submissions to info@torontohye.ca before the deadline to ensure they are included in the upcoming edition. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to share your message with the community!

կը պատռե՛նք,

հուրերով զայն

հազա՜ր անգամ, կը ցանկամ` ազգադաւ եւ կործանիչ խօսքերու, սարսա՛փ, լո՛կ սարսափ կը ցանկամ՝

անոնց, որոնք կ’ուրանան`

իմ նահատակներու իրաւունքը, անոնց, որոնք ձեռք կ’երկարեն ազգիս ժառանգութեանը:

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Dr. I. Manhas

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Family Physician

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Family Physician

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աւելի մշակուած կրթութիւն եւ մշակոյթ։ Համազգայինի 9-րդ

3.

4.

6. (գոյ.) կզակի

9. (գոյ.) Տարբեր նիւթերու բաղադրութիւն

11. (ածական) գէշ, վատ, վնասակար

13. (գոյ.) երեք

կրօններու(մովսիսականութեան, քրիստոնէութեան եւ իսլամութեան)

կեդրոնը

15. (ածական) լաւ, աղէկ, ազնիւ

18. (գոյ.) ուսում, դաստիարակութիւն

Ուղղահայեաց

1. (գոյ.) մարմնակրթական հրահանգ, վարժութիւն

2. (ածական) լայնախոհ, ազատամիտ

5. (գոյ.) կարմիրի

7. (ածական) չար բախտէն բերուած,

8. (գոյ.) քերթող, իրականութիւն

10. (գոյ.) ինչ

12. (գոյ.) գրելու

14. (անուն) ազգային հերոս, որ գնդակահարեց

16. (ածական) թուխ, ածխագոյն,

17.

Խաչ-բառ

Crossword

Senior problem

In Mrs. Hasmik's class at the local Armenian school, five-sixths of the students are passing with a grade of C- or better. Additionally, seventy-five percent of the students are passing with a grade of B- or better. Approximately what percentage of the class is not passing with a grade of B- or better, but is passing with a grade of C– or better? Choose the most appropriate option:

a. 6%

b. 8%

c. 10%

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In Tribute to Armenia, as symbolized by Holy Mt. Ararat, and to the Armenian people who were the first to embrace and adopt Christianity as a State religion in 301, and the first nation to be crucified in 19151923 falling victim to the first genocide of the 20th century. For the glory of a reborn free Armenia world-wide, whose generations of sons and daughters continue to believe in justice world-wide.

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