Torontohye/Թորոնթոհայ #214

Page 1


18 Dupont

Hallcrown Place։

տարածքը կ’ընդլայնուի, կը դառնայ իւրաքանչիւր թորոնթոհայու երկրորդ տունը, ուր

անոնք կը տանի հայկական հոգեւոր, մշակութային, կրթական, ընկերային, բարեսիրական, մարզական եւ սկաուտական

կերպով կառուցուած եւ օրուան

պահանջները բաւարարած կեդրոնը ներկայիս կը գտնուի

Թէեւ COVID-19 համաճարակի պատճառով ծրագրի գործադրութիւնը յապաղեցաւ, սակայն վերջին ժամանակաշրջանին յանձնախումբերը լծուած են բուռն

Food, Market Vendors, Raffle Prizes, Dance Performances, Carnival, Arcade Games, Petting Zoo & More!

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY

MARTIN MKRTCHYAN RONIOS
ARARAD AHARONIAN
ELIE BERBERIAN

Our Annual Giving Campaign: Telethon 2025 has raised an amazing grand total of $602,586 – exceeding our goal of $500,000! We extend our sincere gratitude to all our donors who are at the heart of our success. Your exceptional generosity is awe -inspiring! To everyone who contributed, volunteered, and participated, THANK YOU for your unwavering support of our school and students.

Donor Organizations

$10,000+

Aharonian Vicken

Hasserjian Simon & Maral

$5,000 - $9,999

Hasserjian Ara & Gassia

In Memory of Stepan Zoryan –

Kourken & Lena Sarkissian

In Memory of Zabel Khanzoghian

Karshafian Khachic & Sevan

Nazarian Nuneh & Ninareh

Sarkissian Zaven & Varsenig

And 1 donor who wishes to remain anonymous

$2,000 - $4,999

Avanessy Edward

Chitilian Hovig

Hasserjian Karnig & Karina

Hasserjian Levon & Ani

Hotoyan-Joly Ani & Joly Michael

In Memory of Avedis & Araxie

Kerjikian – Kerjikian Ara & Nairi

In Memory of Evelyne Injeyan

In Memory of Mesrob Anderian

Kassabian Aris & Winnie

Knar Jewellery

Koujanian Serge, Nooshig, Haig & Areni

Moushian Hovig & Taline

Parents of Gogon/JK Class

Pirjanian Vahram & Sonia

Sarkissian Varouj & Sidonna

Ternamian Dr. Artin & Eky

Titizian Vrej & Sossee

And 2 donors who wish to remain anonymous

$1,000 - $1,999

Ajamian Arpi

Ajamian Vahan & Jackline

Atamer Family

Atikian Aspet & Sosy

Ayvazyan Edmond & Alina

Ayvazyan Lara

Ayvazyan Sophie

Berberian Tereza & Naroud

Blue Mango Design Inc.

Boghossian Michael & Sophia

Chitilian Arpi & Krikor

Chitilian Artin & Eliza

Chitilian Hoori

Clarke Jim

Class of 1996

Crook David & Garine

Ghorghorian Berge

Ghorghorian Dikran & Katia

In Memory of Aram (Ashod Tatul)

Aramian – Hamparian Janet

In Memory of Armenouhi Kololian

– Shahinian Krikor & Christina

In Memory of Haigouhi

Malkhassian

In Memory of Harout Krikorian

In Memory of Kevork & Armenouhi Kololian –

Shahinian Yervant & Nairy

In Memory of Ohaness Kahvejian

In Memory of Tanya Nakhnikian –Nakhnikian Ara

Iskenderian George & Jivana

Kevorkian & Sharabkhanian

Wedding

Lotfi Shamim & Lorig

Mardirossian Garabed & Knar

Mirakian Apkar & Sona

Mirakian Shahen

Nakhnikian Vazken & Carol

Saghdejian Serop & Tamar

Saraphanian Vazrig & Kayanee

Sarkissian Vahe & Christine

Sarkissian Varouj & Sona

Satouri John

Sraidarian Amelia & Alessia

Tachjian Abraham & Taline

Terzian Vazken & Lucie

Titizian Razmig & Arpy

Titizian Sevag, Tamar & Arka

Tomarci Sevan & Lucien

Torossian Meher & Eliz

And 2 donors who wish to remain

anonymous

$500 - $999

Adorian Shant & Liza

Agopian Haig & Chouchan

Analiize Digital

Arzoumanian Razmik, Narine, Stella & Leonel

Arzoumanova Karine

Bedrossian Harout & Mirna

Bekmezian Christapor

Bekmezian Nareh & Megheti

Buzbuzian Greg & Manoush

Chitilian Sevan

Derderian Daron

Derderian Lia

Frankian Raffi & Myda

Frankian Vartan & Aida

Garboushian Koharig

Gevorgyan Dr. Artur & Eileen

Gharapetian Larisa & Leo

Hanimyan Jirayr & Diana

Haroutunian Areg & Dianna

Hasratian Daniel & Karine

Hasserjian Garen & Nersesian

Talar

In Memory of Madlen Aynaciyan

In Memory of Mary Sarkissian

In Memory of Rev. Dr. Ara

Jizmejian – Jizmejian Mihran & Vartouhi

In Memory of Rosdom DerMgrdichian

In Memory of Seda Frankian Berberian

In Memory of Shakeh Stepanian –

Derohanesian Sonia

Janbazian Hagop & Juliet

Karen Yeppe Jemaran Toronto Alumni

Khalili Cristian, Ani & Araz

Kidikian Armen & Aida

Kilicyan Jilber & Alin

Kolandjian Alex & Sharis

Kouyoumdjian Areni & Alique

Mahserejian Edward

Makdessian Dr. Ara

Manougian Sam & Sevan

Manugian Anoush, Vahig & Aram

Markarian Lor n & Armen

Mentcherian Haroutioun

Mermer Levon & Silva

Mermer Melisa

Movcessian Zenon & Talar

Movel Teny

Najarian Stepan, Houri & Lori

Odjaghian Rita

Papissian Shahe & Audrey

Saatjian Ara

Sarkisian Zohrab, Lori, Gassia & Hamo

Sarkissian Garo, Nora, Sebouh & Sosseh

Sarkissian Gary & Tara

Sarkissian Hagop & Cinthia

Sarkissian Janet

Sarkissian Raffi & Sandy

Saydam Michael & Violet

Shahinian Michael, Monica, Mia & Chloe

Sharabkhanian Elise

Tatikian Garni

Ternamian Miran, Natalie & Nareg

Ternamian Paul, Tzoline, Aram & Ari

Vartanossian Levik & Frangyan

Ofelya

Yeghoyan Garo & Azniv

Zarokian Chahe & Hasmig

And 3 donors who wish to remain anonymous

$200 - $499

Agnerian Hrayr

Artinian Sarine

Artinian Sonia

Artounian Gayaneh

Assilian Aram & Ayk

Astourian Armen & Arsho

Avakian Beatrice Betty

Aznavourian Jirayr

Babian Hasmig

Batikian Gabriella

Bederian Sossy

Bedrossian Liliane & Djerrahian

Anne

Bekmezian Mgo & Zarmine

Boshyan Karen & Anahit

Boujoukian Ara & Hourig

Camgozlu Apel & Kenny

Chamahyan Serge & Lara

Cholakian Vera

Class of 2024

Daghlian Raffi

Danadian Vanig & Shogher

Danielyan Anna

Dervichian Sevag

Ebrahimian Armen

Garabedian Sako

Garinian Melina

Georgy Mari-Berje

Ghazarian Vigen

Ghazarian Vrej & Arsho

Hajiartinian Kami, Paylag & Charents

Hakobjanyan Suren

Haroutunian Sevag, Bella & Arakel

Hreshdagian Ani

In Honour of Aram Melcon

Manugian

In Honour of Dr. Garbis Krikorian

In Memory of Ani Akgulian

In Memory of Azadouhie & Garabed Karamanian –

Mardikian Armen & Garen

In Memory of Greg Bekarian –Balouzian Talar

In Memory of Hampig Titizian

In Memory of Markrid Babikian

In Memory of Shahe Kababejian –Kababejian Sona

In Memory of Srpouhi Khabayan

Injeyan H. Stephen

Janbazian Rupen & Araz

Jandu Hasmig

Kaljian Vazken

Karaartinyan Jano, Tamar, Talia & Olivia

Kargotsian Melkon

Kassab Family

Kassabian Dikran

Kavazanjian Garbis & Christiane

Kelebozian Vatche & Talin

Keskinian Ari & Sona

Kichian Karine & Arman

Koulajian Dr. Khajag & Ani

Loussarian Andy

Mahdessian Shant & Tamar

Mahdessian Vahan & Arda

Malkhasian Ashkhen

Manukyan Hakob

Melkonian Apel & Silva

Mgrdichian Haig Aram

Mkhitaryan Anna

Movel Alex & Maria

Movel Anahid & William

Nalbandian Ara & Maral

Ohanian Baghdig & Sylvie

Ozilhan Hakan & Gayane

Panossian Haig, Siroun & Tveen

Proudian Nazaret & Zaroug

Safar Travel

Sarkissian Juliette

Sarkissian Krikor & Hasmig

Shahbaz Maria & Pierre

Shahbazian Jbid & Jack

Shahbikian Maneh & Leo

Shahnazarian Minelli & Raffi

Shaverdian Minas & Nora

Shaverdy-Nassery Anastas

Simonian Houri

Sinani Sevak & Shoghag

Snow Lena & Talia

Stepanyan David & Daniella

Tafadjian Laila & Gabriella

Tafadjian Leon & Nazo

Tellian Ardaches & Lusine

Tellian Shant & Liana

Viktoriya Terentyeva, Barrister and Solicitor

Zakarian Arshalouise

And 3 donors who wish to remain

anonymous

$100 - $199

Artinian Lara

Bekmezian Sevana

Belem Diego & Danielyan Anna

Derohan Araz

Derohan Jora & Melina

Gershone David & Tania

Ghazarian Maggie

Ghazarian Sonia Kouharik

Gragossian Vigen

Hakimian Areknaz

In Memory of Anita BaghjajianDuquette – Mikaelian Sirvart

In Memory of Araxie Kerjikian

In Memory of Garabet Yeghoyan

In Memory of I. Arabian

In Memory of Kevork & Hayganoush Shahinian –Kouyoumjian Alice

In Memory of Mariam Keshishian

In Memory of Marie Boyadjian –Kassabian Danny

In Memory of Mayda MoumjianDanayan

In Memory of My Grandparents –Hasserjian Araz

In Memory of Nazar Nerses

In Memory of Sirun Menzikyan

In Memory of Sossy Koshkerian –

Ermarkaryan Arno & Christine

Iskedjian Karnie

Kalashyan Mikael & Karamyan

Rima

Kaltagian Shant & Arianna

Kargotsian Nanar

Kargotsian Teetair

Kazandjian Alex & Wendy

Kouyoumdjian Seta

Kurdian Hasmig

Maleganovski Zoran & Amanda

Maydossian Christine

Maydossian Toros

Mesrop Berj

Movsessian Kevork & Olha

Nahabedian Dikran & Marina

Pirjanian Emma

Saatjian Seta

Sarkissian Sara & Balik

Shaboyan Shushanik

Shatara Stephan & Nersessian Ani

Tashjian Hamazasb & Arevik

Tcherkezian Hagop & Tina

Telemi Iren & Sako

Tghlian Vahe & Rita

Torossian Varant & Maria

Tutunjian Zohrab & Suzy

Vardanyan Ashot & Yekhshatyan

Lora

Yenovkian David & Saraya And 5 donors who wish to remain

anonymous

$20 - $99

Ashdjian Maral

Barsoum Nerses & Angela

Bedrossian Massis & Lina

Papazian Ara & Tina

Tita Sam And 1 donor who wishes to remain anonymous

$500,000+ Kevork & Silva Charshafian Fund

Hagop & Sirarpi Yeramian Siblings Fund

Simon & Maral Hasserjian Fund

$100,000 - $499,999

Jemil & Noemi Hasserjian Fund

Hrant & Lucine Bablanian

Nadia Tatikian Fund

$50,000 - $99,999

Mr. & Mrs. Hagop and Dzovig

Kidikian Fund

Ghazarian Scholarship Fund

Srabion Hagopian Fund

$25,000 - $49,999

Hovig Chitilian & Anita Hovanissian

Fund

Mr. & Mrs. Kevork Kololian Fund

Hagop & Seda Tachdjian Fund

Estate of Aris Shahnazar

Hrayr & Seta Masbanajian Fund

Manuel & Zevart Shehirian Fund

In Memory of Natalie Derian Fund

Titizian Brothers Fund

$10,000 - $24,999

In Memory of Joe Kazarian

Mr. & Mrs. Vart & Arsho Zakarian

Mr. & Mrs. Markar Sharapkhanian

Garabet, Pergruhi & Nadya

Hamparian

Mr. David Davidian

In Memory of Avedis & Araxie

Kerjikian

In Memory of Hagop Artinian

Diana & Ani Takvorian

In Memory of Irma Kabakian

Dedeyan

In Memory of Krikor & Razmouhi

Shahinian

ACC Seniors

In Memory of Ara Jelderian

$5,000 - $9,999

Dr. & Mrs. Jirair Ternamian

Mr. Mike Shahinian

In Memory of Lena Oulikian

Leading Graphics

Mr. & Mrs. Greg Buzbuzian

Mr. Hagop Yeremian

In Memory of Talin Mikaelian

Mr. George Aghazarian

Mr. & Mrs. Dikran Solakian

Mr. & Mrs. Sarkis & Haigouhie

Marandjian

Sarkissian Family

$2,000 - $4,999

In Memory of Maro Plessas (Mikaelian)

Mr. & Mrs. Anto Derbedrosian

Mr. & Mrs. Vince Amato

Mr. & Mrs. Hovsep Tavitian

Mr. & Mrs. Raffi Arabian

Mr. & Mrs. Greg Aghamanougian

Dr. & Mrs. Raymond Kevork

Mr. & Mrs. Harout Chitilian

$1,000 - $1,999

Anglo Oriental Rug Co.

Dr. A. G. Kerestechi

Dr. & Mrs. Vahe Manoug

Mr. Antranig Kazazian

Mr. Berdge Aintablian

Mr. Harry Bodourian

Mr. V. Manoian

Mr. Vahe Hovsepian

Mr. & Mrs. Apkar Mirakian

Mr. & Mrs. Minas Voskeritchian

Mr & Mrs Zohrab Kilislian

երկրորդական բաժիններէն: Վարժարանը արդէն կը

պատրաստուի ընդլայնման նոր ծրագիրներու՝ հասարակութեան աճող պահանջարկին համապատասխան: «Բոլոր անոնց, որոնք ներդրում ունեցան, կամաւոր

շնորհակալութիւն վարժարանին եւ աշակերտներուն

CASSANDRA HEALTH CENTRE

ARMENIAN

MEDICAL CENTRE & PHARMACY

Dr. Rupert Abdalian Gastroenteology

Dr. Mari Marinosyan

Family Physician

Dr. Omayma Fouda

Family Physician

Dr. I. Manhas

Family Physician

Dr. Virgil Huang Pediatrician

Dr. M. Seifollahi

Family Physician

Dr. M. Teitelbaum

Family Physician

Physioworx Physiotherapy

A sacred legacy in stone

Ronald Altoon to present his photographic pilgrimage to Armenia’s ancient

TORONTOHYE–On Friday, June 13, the Armenian Evangelical Church of Toronto will host a rare and visually striking presentation: Monasteries and Churches of Ancient Armenia: A Photographic Pilgrimage. The speaker is Ronald Arthur Altoon, an internationally acclaimed architect who has spent the past 35 years quietly, meticulously chronicling some of the oldest Christian structures on Earth.

What began as a chance detour during a post-earthquake humanitarian mission in 1989 soon became a lifelong pursuit. “I was taken to a half dozen historic monastery and church sites. I photographed them and began to research the development of this early Christian prototype,” Altoon told Torontohye. “I found very few of these extraordinary buildings published as a collection. I knew that this had to be my task.”

A third-generation Armenian-American, Altoon was born and raised in Los Angeles. His path to architecture began in high school and deepened through travels in Europe, where his passion for sacred design was shaped by visits to historic churches and modern masterpieces. But it was Armenia’s early Christian legacy that would ultimately define his most personal work.

Across 18 trips, Altoon visited 41 historic sites in Armenia and Artsakh. His forthcoming book, now in pre-publication, is a powerful photographic and architectural record of these landmarks. “Constructed mostly from a single stone material in a highly seismic-active geological zone, they live as a testimony to the ingenuity of their Armenian architects and engineers,” he said. “They essentially created something lasting from nothing by faith alone.”

For Altoon, who has designed projects in 46 countries, the act of photographing these buildings was as thoughtful as designing them. “I do not photograph objects. I photograph light,” he explained. “In historic church architecture, structure and light are inseparable. The structure is designed not only to support the building, but also to illuminate it.”

Certain sites left a lasting mark. He describes Tatev as “most dramatic” in its setting and defense; Sanahin as an “eerie yet compelling composition”; and Gandzasar, located in Artsakh, as remarkable for its “clarity of craftsmanship.”

More than a visual catalog, Altoon’s book aims to reframe how Armenians—and the world—understand these architectural achievements. “It’s not about going to Armenia and touching the bases before lunch,” he said. “It’s about understanding the extraordinary contribution the Armenian people made on behalf of their culture and their faith.”

Speaking to both Armenian and non-Armenian audiences, he hopes to spark a

churches in Toronto

deeper appreciation for what these buildings represent. “For those who have visited Armenia, I hope to inspire a historic awareness beyond the basics,” he said. “For those who haven’t yet been, I hope to encourage them to make the trip and understand the depth of this heritage.”

His upcoming talk in Toronto won’t be a lecture in the traditional sense. “I pose more questions than I answer,” he noted. “The intent is to cause people to look beyond the surface and understand how critically significant these places are to the development of Christian architecture.”

With humility, precision, and reverence, Ronald Altoon offers a window into a sacred architectural tradition that predates the cathedrals of Europe—and still stands, centuries later, as a testament to faith, resilience, and design. ֎

Kecharis Monastery in Tsakhkadzor (Photo: Ronald Altoon)

8questions

for Don Valley North’s newly elected MPP Jonathan Tsao

Interviewing an old friend is always a little surreal. You try to keep it professional, but there’s a part of you that still remembers sitting across from them at some half-empty conference room table, watching the clock and quietly hoping the next item on the agenda is ‘coffee break.’

Jonathan Tsao and I first met during our time on the Ontario Young Liberal executive—back when political life still felt like a curious blend of ambition, idealism, and the occasional free pizza (and ‘adult beverage’). Even then, it was clear he wasn’t in it for show. He was thoughtful, steady, and quietly relentless. The kind of person who listened more than he spoke, but when he did speak, people listened. I always had a hunch he’d end up here.

So when he was elected Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Don Valley North earlier this year, it felt more like a natural next chapter than a plot twist. What did catch my attention, though, was what he chose to do right out of the gate.

On April 16, Tsao rose in the Ontario Legislature to table his very first petition, calling on the province to continue recognizing May as Armenian Heritage Month and April 24 as Armenian Genocide Memorial Day. For many in the Armenian-Canadian community, it was more than just a symbolic gesture. It was an early and meaningful act of solidarity from someone who understood the weight of that history and the importance of being seen.

Tsao represents a riding that is home to the Armenian Community Centre (ACC Toronto), the Armenian Youth Centre (AYC), the ARS Armenian Private School, St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church, and many long-standing Armenian organizations and families.

In this exclusive interview, Tsao reflects on his deep and personal connection to the Armenian community, shares his priorities as a newly elected MPP, and reveals his go-to Armenian dish and long-overdue plans to finally visit Armenia.

Let’s just say, if he wasn’t already considered an honourary Armenian, he is now.

Rupen Janbazian: Congratulations, Jon! You’ve gone from growing up in North York to representing it at Queen’s Park. What does it mean to you personally to serve as MPP for Don Valley North?

Jonathan Tsao: Thank you so much. It’s an incredible honour to serve as the MPP for the community where I was born, raised, and still live today.

From day one, my campaign was focused on making sure Don Valley North has a strong local voice at Queen’s Park—someone who understands the issues that matter most to our community. Whether it’s tackling congestion on Sheppard Avenue and finally getting the subway extension built, closing the funding gap in our schools, securing the support North York General Hospital needs to care for our families, or helping small businesses grow, these are the priorities I’ve been committed to. I’m deeply grateful that our neighbours have placed their trust in me.

Janbazian: This was one of the most closely watched ridings in the 2025 election. You were up against both a Progressive Conservative candidate and a well-known incumbent. What do you think ultimately resonated with voters, and what helped you earn their trust?

Tsao: It came down to who truly understood the community. Doug Ford won a massive majority, but we focused on local issues. I grew up in this riding and have a deep connection to it, and I think that came through. In the end, voters responded to that, and it made the difference.

Janbazian: Education, healthcare, housing, and affordability are top of mind for many residents, especially immigrant and culturally diverse families. What are your priorities on these fronts, and how do you plan to address

Armenian studies in exile: Genocide, theory, and the struggle for academic space in Canada By Rupen Janbazian

A conversation with Veronika Zabel Nayir

In an academic landscape where Armenian studies remains underfunded and underrepresented in Canada, Veronika Zabel Nayir is part of a small but determined group of emerging scholars working to change that. With a background in European philosophy and political theory, Nayir’s intellectual journey has led her to explore the boundaries of memory, justice, and catastrophe, most recently through the lens of Armenian literature and testimony.

A recent graduate of the University of Toronto and York University, Nayir has presented her work at the UCLA Graduate Armenian Studies Conference and contributed to broader conversations about the future of the field. Her research focuses on the writings of Zabel Yesayan, the limits of comprehending genocide, and the philosophical demands posed by unspeakable historical violence.

In this interview with Torontohye, Nayir discusses the state of Armenian studies in Canada, her experience at UCLA, and the challenges of balancing academic inquiry with professional goals. As she prepares to begin law school, Nayir reflects on the importance of intellectual community, transnational networks, and the evolving role of Armenians in the humanities. ***

Rupen Janbazian: Your background is in European philosophy and political theory. What led you to Armenian studies, and how has this shift influenced your research interests?

Veronika Zabel Nayir: My interest as an undergraduate student some years ago began very broad in scope—I began at the University of Toronto interested in ancient philosophy, especially Plato, and then swiftly pivoted to modern political thought, especially canonical French and German thinkers like Rousseau and Hegel. These were thinkers who were conceptualizing, among other things, what kind of a thing the state was, what its origins and aims were.

My trajectory was very much historical, in a way. I realized as I waded deeper that many of the French and German thinkers of the

twentieth century were preoccupied with philosophical questions that the Holocaust had almost demanded them to repose and rearticulate: questions about justice, ethics, responsibility and complicity, reparations, identity, community, the nature of memory, the predicament of the witness-survivor. Whether it was apparent or not, it became clear that the social conditions of this century had infected and informed what theorists believed were the pressing questions of their time.

I do really think that the history of political and social theory in the twentieth century can be read as a series of successive attempts to furnish a response to the spectre of genocidal catastrophe. I became very interested in drawing out this discourse and the boundaries of this discourse, and it immediately led me to Armenian studies and to a theoretical exploration of the event of the Armenian Genocide and the array of literature it produced. I first read Marc Nichanian’s landmark text The Historiographic Perversion and I knew this was the kind of work I wanted to do in a Master’s and Ph.D. program.

At the same time I was becoming interested in the history of women’s rights and feminist philosophy, which led me to Zabel Yesayan. Around this time last year I read Dr. Elyse Semerdjian’s text Remnants: Embodied Archives of the Armenian Genocide, which I read as being a feminist intervention. And I was increasingly interested in decolonial philosophies–meditations on liberation from important figures in the history of thought like W.E.B. Du Bois to Aimé Césaire. Again, these were people who were very much trained in the Western European tradition, and began to think about ‘their own people.’

Janbazian: You studied at both the University of Toronto and York University. How would you assess the offerings in Armenian language and studies at these institutions, and how do they compare to programs elsewhere, such as UCLA?

Nayir: The University of Toronto does not, as far as I’m aware, offer any

Armenian language courses. There is a course in the Near and Middle Eastern Studies Department on Christian communities—Armenians, Syriacs, Copts, Maronites. I am not even sure that it is offered every year. I suspect that there might be a ‘special topics’ course offered at the graduate level every few years. Now, that departmental situation doesn’t necessarily prohibit a graduate student interested in Armenian studies from working on those themes, but it makes it difficult: one has to take it upon themselves to read the canonical texts, create comprehensive reading lists, take on the burden of deep language study (or at least reach out to those who can help them), and create their own networks of mentorship. It can be very demanding. There is less I can say about York, besides the fact that there exists a wider trend of under-funding and defunding humanities programs.

The UCLA offerings in Armenian language and culture are robust and extend into social and intellectual history. It is really enviable. At the UCLA conference I met Professor Hagop Gulludjian, who is in charge of Western Armenian. Eastern Armenian is taught, as is Classical Armenian—elementary to advanced! There are period-specific courses, too—one on the Cilician period, one on the Bagratid Dynasty. There is no such thing in Toronto. But again, I am coming from a theory background, not an Armenian studies background. I did have an education on what being a comparatist is; I had an education in translation theory, social and political thought. I remind myself

that Yesayan herself was educated in Paris and had familiarity with European literature and philosophy. Do I wish I had easier access to the mammoths of Armenian studies, intellectual centres like UCLA and the University of Michigan? Yes. But we live in a digital

age, so I’ve been blessed to be able to forge connections that way, to request texts digitally, and so on.

Janbazian: What was it like presenting at the UCLA Graduate Armenian Studies Conference? How did this experience shape your understanding of the field and its academic networks?

Nayir: I was really proud to be there, to convene with other young people. Present were students and scholars from Georgia, Italy, Lebanon. →

Professor Peter Cowe, who is the chair of Armenian at UCLA, was extremely generous to us. Members of the Los Angeles Armenian community were present, as were undergraduate students. The topics of presentation were as heterogeneous as print culture and knowledge production in Lebanon, Nakhijevan and forced migration, the reception of the story of David of Sassoun in Soviet Armenia, ethnographic fieldwork on seasonal work migration in Armenia, Arousyak Papazian and theatre, and an architectural presentation on the Zoravar chapel, to name just a few.

Janbazian: You were one of only a few Canadian participants at the conference. How important is it for Canadian scholars to engage in international Armenian studies forums?

Nayir: When I was selected to present at the UCLA conference, I knew I would be one of at most a couple of Canadian students present. And this is because there are not many of us here pursuing Armenian scholarship at the graduate level. I should note that I was supported financially by the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR), as well as the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation—the first, an American organization, the second based in Portugal. So as far as who is funding my travel, I am a bit of an internationalist.

In a past edition of Torontohye, Dr. Victoria Rowe (who worked on Armenian literature at U of T) notes the situation, even in her time, of Canadian academic institutions as it

related to Armenian studies. Specifically, she notes the necessity of competing for few academic jobs in the U.S. This is absolutely still the case. So the importance of forging connections with U.S. institutions, organizations, and mentors becomes even more urgent.

Janbazian: Your presentation focused on Yesayan. What key themes did you explore in your paper, and why do you find her work particularly relevant today?

Nayir: The panel my presentation was a part of was entitled “Women’s Agency in the Late Ottoman Period.” I’m particularly interested in the position of Zabel Yesayan as a woman witness to catastrophe—she was the only woman on the list of intellectuals drawn up by Ottoman authorities to be targeted for arrest and execution in 1915—as well as the status of her writing as both a literary text and a work of testimony.

The French-Armenian philosopher Marc Nichanian writes about her in the context of the resurrection of the name Aghed, a name that she had given to the genocidal will in her text In the Ruins, about the catastrophe in 1909 Adana. (Of course, there were many names given to describe genocidal violence: yeghern [pogrom], aksor [exile], chart [massacre, carnage], darakrutiun [deportation], all predating Lemkin’s coining of the term “genocide” in 1944.)

Nichanian, like me, was educated in European philosophical thought (which takes the Holocaust as its primary catastrophic event), bringing that conceptual machinery to bear on the Armenian Genocide and the writing it produced. His wager is that the name Aghed should go untranslated, and that the refusal to translate into another language or into a legal quantifier does some kind of justice to the experience of genocide. Yesayan herself writes at every turn of the ‘indefinable,’ ‘infinite,’ ‘boundless’ catastrophe before her. My project seeks to understand the double demand to, on one hand, think genocide and, at the same time, announce or insist that it is fundamentally ‘unthinkable.’ I said earlier that I believe the vast majority of twentieth century European philosophy to be a series of attempts to understand the Holocaust—an event that, according to its survivors, imposes some kind of limit or prohibition on thinking. (Its reality is unthinkable, unspeakable,

beyond language or representation.)

To explore this theme I engage the writings of the Armenian Genocide. As David Kazanjian and Marc Nichanian write in their dialogue Beyond Genocide and Catastrophe, “To respect such an Event would be [...] to respect the limits it imposes on comprehension” (130). My presentation goes on to think about the burden of proof, registers of remembrance, and the motif of senselessness across post-genocide literature.

Ultimately, part of my belief is that engaging the Armenian literary canon in more dominant idioms like political theory or philosophy allows Armenian studies to be more expansive—we do not have to remain stuck in a discourse about proof or about social scientific fact. We can thereby deparochialize the Armenian Genocide—we can use its literature to talk about genocide in general, to talk about testimony in general.

I understand my experience as being a kind of study of how I can integrate Armenian literary history into existing philosophical conversations about experience, trauma, and reason.

Janbazian: What do you see as the most significant strengths and challenges facing Armenian studies in Canada today? Are there structural or institutional changes that would help strengthen the field?

Nayir: The challenge can be put very simply: we do not have enough course offerings at the university level, if at all. Again, we have, at most, two at the University of Toronto. Of course, everyone says they are keen to see Armenian language and studies taught at the undergraduate and graduate level, but I am not even sure that there is significant demand. Of course, I hope there would be.

In UCLA history, the establishment of their robust Armenian studies program within the Near Eastern Center was an endeavor that required the creation of an endowed chair, a concerted effort to hire faculty, sustained community engagement, and the development of a wide course catalogue.

I do also want to dispel some reactions I have had from people who inquire about what exactly ‘Armenian studies’ is. Armenian studies is the name given to a vast landscape of studies that study some ‘Armenian’ thing. The field, vast as it is,

should be treated with the same rigour as any other discipline is treated with. It imposes the same demands as German or French studies.

Again, the field is heterogeneous and encompasses such areas as human geography, genocide studies, sociology, law, women’s studies, archaeology and architecture, linguistics and philology, religion and church history, the Persian empire, the Ottoman empire, Soviet and post-Soviet history, not to mention the history of various Armenian kingdoms and political entities, the diaspora, transnational studies—huge worlds unto themselves.

Janbazian: In our exchange, you mentioned discussing the potential for endowed chairs in Armenian studies with scholars at the conference. What would such an initiative mean for Canadian universities, and do you see a realistic path toward making it happen?

Nayir: Establishing a chair in Armenian studies in either Toronto institution would be, of course, a financial commitment. I imagine the community would need to fundraise toward the hiring of faculty. I have no knowledge of whether this has been attempted or proposed in the history of the Toronto-Armenian community. And again, there would have to be some level of certainty regarding enrollment—that is to say, crudely, demand.

Janbazian: Looking ahead, how do you see your role in Armenian studies evolving? Are there particular projects, collaborations, or areas of research you hope to pursue in the coming years?

Nayir: I will formally be leaving academia for the time being. I did complete my first year as a PhD student, and officially earned my Master’s degree. In August, I begin law school at Osgoode Hall. The funny thing is that when I mention this to particularly older people, they are much more keen to hear about law, much more impressed. Being a lawyer has a kind of funny authority that being an academician or professor doesn’t seem to have.

Which brings me to my next concern: we would like for there to be more Armenians doing humanities scholarship, but I think they can be dissuaded from pursuing such a path. It is a difficult path. But the same goes for many fields.

My experience as a Master’s

ՀԱՅՔՈՒՆԵՐ

From the editor

Torontohye does not necessarily endorse or evaluate the products, services, or companies advertised. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Torontohye. The reproduction of the material contained in this publication may be made only with the written permission of the publisher or editor. All submissions are subject to editing for space, style, and clarity.

Լենային

հայկական խոհանոցը

[vegan]

sudoku)

Junior problem

Baron Ara, the math teacher at the local Armenian elementary school, gave his class five numbers to add together—the fifth one being 2025. He then instructed them to multiply the resulting sum by six. While adding the five numbers, Vartanik mistakenly used 2015 instead of 2025. Can you determine the difference between Vartanik’s final answer and the correct answer after both were multiplied by 6?

խաչ-բառ

18. (գոյ.)

Senior problem

Armen’s Math Corner

20th anniversary! (answers on pg. 24)

Ascend Armenia is organized as an effort to build awareness and support for the sport of cycling in Armenia. Edward and Lilit, two enthusiastic cyclists, are training for this cycling race. They live on the same street, but Edward’s house is 2 km east of Lilit’s. On Sunday morning at 6:54 a.m., they both start biking straight east from their homes. Lilit bikes at a constant speed of 24 km/h, while Edward bikes 6 km/h slower than Lilit. At what exact time will Lilit catch up to Edward?

Canadian Armenian Private Garden Section

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.

Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries

Please Contact our

For Your Personalized Appointment

Contact: Rosa Crognale

Michelle Richards Tel: 416-899-1174

Tel: 416-990-6516

Email: mrichards@arbormemorial.com

Email: rcrogn@mountpleasantgroup.com

Maria Larin Tel: 647-909-1881

Email: mlarin@arbormemorial.com

4164 Sheppard Avenue East Scarborough, Ontario MIS 1T3

Contact: Tracy Burton

Tel: 416-293-5211

Email: directors@ogdenfh.com

42 Goodmark Place, Suite 1a Toronto ON M9W 6S2

Contact: Fabian Di Maria

Tel: 416-566-6486

Email: orders@thefabhavengroup.com

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.