Events and News

103rd Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide in Edmonton on April 21 at 12:00pm

Posted on April 14, 2018 at 2:00 PM

Dear Armenians and friends,

On the occasion of the 103rd commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, we invite you to join fellow Armenians and supporters to lay flowers at the City Hall Cenotaph in Churchill Square in Edmonton, at 12:00 pm on Saturday, April 21, 2018. We will gather near Tix on the Square and start a march to the monument.

Please bring flowers for the ceremony.

This annual event is organized by the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of Edmonton, in collaboration with the Armenian Educational and Cultural Association of Edmonton and Area and St. Narek Church of Edmonton.

Annual Celebration of the Independence Day of Armenia in Edmonton on Sunday, September 17, 2017

Posted on September 14, 2017 at 11:35 PM

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Dear Armenian community members!

We are pleased to inform you that we are organizing a Celebration of the Independence day of Armenia on Sunday, September 17, at 12 noon at Gold Bar, Edmonton.

This is an Annual Armenia's Independence Day Celebration in Edmonton with lots of fun for you and your families. Also it's a potluck event and picnic please bring food to share with community members.

For Gold Bar park address and more information please go to the link below:

Gold Bar Park:

https://www.edmonton.ca/activities_parks_recreation/parks_rivervalley/gold-bar-park.aspx

You may bring a portable barbecue, or use one of the barbecue pits available at the park.

You may also wish to bring your favorite Armenian music and outdoor games to the event.

Please note that according to the city bylaws, alcohol in city parks is forbidden.

If you know of any Armenians in Edmonton and surrounding areas who may not have received this email, please inform them of the event.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Armenian Cultural and Educational Association of Edmonton and area

CBC morning news

Posted on April 20, 2017 at 1:00 PM

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https://www.facebook.com/ancagrassroots/videos/10154689792801859/

Armenian Armenian Genocide Commemoration in Edmonton on April 23, 2017

Posted on April 10, 2017 at 11:00 AM

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Dear Armenians and friends,

On the occasion of the 102th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, we invite you to join fellow Armenians and supporters to lay flowers at the City Hall Cenotaph in Churchill Square in Edmonton, at 1 pm on Sunday, April 23, 2017. We will gather near Tix on the Square and start a march to the monument.

Please bring flowers for the ceremony.

Please join Armenian Community to see the movie "The Promise" after the ceremony.

BBC - Travel - The world's first Christian country

Posted on April 7, 2017 at 11:50 PM

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http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20170330-the-worlds-first-christian-country

Armenian Independence Day Celebration in Edmonton!

Posted on September 9, 2016 at 1:50 AM

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Dear fellow Armenians,

We are pleased to invite you to a celebration of Armenian Independence Day on Sunday, September 25, at 12 pm. This is a fun family event to come together with fellow Armenians, socialize, have good food, enjoy music and dance, and celebrate everything Armenian. This is a potluck event, so please bring a dish or two to share. We have rented Kenilworth Community Hall for this event, which is located at 7104 – 87 Avenue, Edmonton. There is an outdoor playground near the hall that small children can enjoy.

(Small donations are welcome to cover the cost of the hall rental).

We look forward to seeing you all at the event.

Armenian Cultural and Educational Association of Edmonton and Area

Armenian Independence Day celebration in Edmonton

Posted on September 24, 2015 at 12:20 AM

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Hello Armenians and friends,

Join Edmonton area Armenians and friends to celebrate our community and Armenian Independence Day at Fort Edmonton Park this Sunday, September 27.

Fort Edmonton Park is a living history museum showcasing life in Edmonton throughout its different eras, through both original and rebuilt historical structures and costumed interpreters.

We will be meeting at the picnic shelter by the old-fashioned park in front of the fire station at 12:00PM.

Please bring any food of your choice!

There is no charge for admission on that day. The park will be open 10 am- 6 pm and is open to all visitors.

The Armenian Cultural and Educational Association of Edmonton

Camp Ararat, REMEMBER & DEMAND

Posted on July 16, 2015 at 10:15 PM

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https://www.facebook.com/dermyron/videos/10155739423755063/?pnref=story

Genocide Memorial Service on July 19, 2015

Posted on July 14, 2015 at 2:00 AM

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Dear fellow Armenians and friends,

“Genocide is the responsibility of the entire world.”

― Ann Clwyd, A Matter of Principle

On July 19, 2015 a memorial service will remember victims of genocide throughout the world through speakers, song and prayers. The Armenian community is invited to commemorate the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide and will be placing an inscribed stone in the Memorial Garden at 9916- 154 Street in Edmonton, Alberta this Sunday at 1 pm.

The service will be led by the University of Alberta’s Unitarian Chaplain Rev. Audrey Brooks of the Edmonton Interfaith Center for Education and Action and UCE.

- St. Narek Armenian Apostolic Church of Edmonton & Armenian Cultural and Educational Association of Edmonton

Armenian Genocide Commemoration in Edmonton

Posted on April 21, 2015 at 2:05 AM

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Dear Armenians and friends,

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, we invite you to join fellow Armenians and supporters to lay flowers at the City Hall Cenotaph in Churchill Square in Edmonton, at 1 pm on Saturday, April 25, 2015. This will be followed by an official ceremony and light reception at the Stanley Milner Library at 1:30 pm, in room 7 (6th floor).

The official ceremony will include music, poetry, oral presentations and family stories about the genocide. Guests who wish to share their family story will have the opportunity to do so. We ask that each story be kept to 3 minutes in length.

Please bring one battery-operated tea light candle for the ceremony.

This annual event is organized by the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of Edmonton, in collaboration with the Armenian Association of Alberta, Edmonton branch (commonly known as the Armenian Community in Edmonton) and the St. Narek Church.

Map / Carte

https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Sir+Winston+Churchill+Square,+Edmonton,+AB+T5J/@53.5456092,-113.490051,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x53a0224f85d63fab:0xfdfc5946d4de57d2

Links / Liens

http://genocidecentennial.ca/
http://www.armeniancommunityinedmonton.com/

Chers Arméniens et amis,

À l’occasion du centenaire du génocide Arménien, vous êtes invités à déposer des fleurs au cénotaphe d’Edmonton à Churchill Square, le samedi 25 avril 2015 à 13h. Une cérémonie officielle et un goûter léger suivront, à la salle 7 de la bibliothèque Stanley Milner (au 6e étage) à 13h30.

La cérémonie officielle inclura des présentations et des histoires de famille par rapport au génocide, de la poésie et de la musique. Ceux et celles qui désirent partager leur histoire de famille auront la chance de le faire. On demanderait que chaque présentation soit limitée à environ 3 minutes.

SVP amenez un lampion à piles pour la cérémonie.

Cette commémoration annuelle est organisée par le comité local du Centenaire du Génocide des Arméniens, en collaboration avec l’Association arménienne de l’Alberta- Edmonton et l’église arménienne St. Narek.

Pope Francis will formally proclaim a 10th-century Armenian monk as a doctor of the church when he celebrates a liturgy April 12.

Posted on April 2, 2015 at 5:50 PM

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Grigor-Narekatsi

With Armenian Catholics, pope will declare new ‘doctor of church’

April 2, 2015

Pope Francis will formally proclaim a 10th-century Armenian monk as a doctor of the church when he celebrates a liturgy April 12 with leaders and faithful of the Armenian Catholic Church, Catholic Philly reports.

The Vatican had announced in February the pope’s decision to confer the title “doctor of the church” on St. Gregory of Narek. The title indicates that the saint’s writings are considered to offer key theological insights for the faith.

Earlier, the Vatican had announced that the pope would celebrate a liturgy April 12 with members of the Armenian community, who are preparing to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide April 24. An estimated 1.5 million Armenians — more than half the Armenian population at the time — died in a forced evacuation from their traditional territory in the Ottoman Turkish Empire from 1915 to 1918. Turkey rejects the accusation of Genocide, saying the deaths were due largely to disease and famine.

Pope Francis will concelebrate the liturgy with Armenian Catholic Patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX Tarmouni, the Vatican said.

St. Gregory of Narek is considered one of the leading figures of Armenian theology and thought, and many of his prayers are included in the Armenian Divine Liturgy.

His best-known writings include a commentary on the Song of Songs and his “Book of Lamentations,” now commonly known as “Narek.”

“Narek” is considered his masterpiece. It includes 95 prayers and has been translated into more than 30 languages.

Designating him a doctor of the church, Pope Francis will bring to 36 the number of saintly theologians to hold the title.

Armenian Genocide Conference Kicks Off at the Sorbonne

Posted on March 27, 2015 at 5:30 PM

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French Minister of Education and Research Najat Vallaud-Belkacem -- accompanied by historian Yves Ternon, President of the Academie de Paris François Weil, and President of the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences Pierre-Cyrille Hautcoeur -- greets Mourad Papazian at the Sorbonne ahead of delivering a keynote speech to open an academic conference on the Armenian Genocide. March 25, 2015. (Photo: Nouvelles d'Arménie)

PARIS—An international conference organized by the International Scientific Council for the study of the Armenian Genocide (CSI) titled, “Genocide of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire in the Great War, 1915-2015: One Hundred Years of Research” opened at the Sorbonne on March 25. The three day conference is held under the patronage of French President Francois Hollande.

This exceptional event has brought together dozens of renowned researchers and historians from around the world.

French Minister of Education and Research, Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, inaugurated the international symposium, delivering a powerful speech recounting the dark hours of the first genocide of the twentieth century. She said, “The rigorous study of sources, testimonies of survivors, and documents have established the truth of the Armenian Genocide.”

Minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem will attend the commemorations of the centennial of the Armenian Genocide in Yerevan on April 24 with President Hollande.

March 26, 2015 Motion to be Introduced in Canadian parliament to declare April Genocide Remembrance Month

Posted on March 26, 2015 at 5:15 PM

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Motion to be Introduced in Canadian parliament to declare April Genocide Remembrance Month -

Motion to be Introduced in House of Commons to declare April Genocide Remembrance, Condemnation and Prevention Month

Ottawa – The Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC) is proud to have worked closely with Mr. Brad Butt, Member of Parliament for Mississauga – Streetsville (Conservative) on a motion to declare April as

Genocide Remembrance, Condemnation and Prevention Month and, among other things, to mark April 24 of each year as Armenian Genocide Memorial Day.

The ANCC urges all Canadians dedicated to the cause of preventing future genocides and properly recognizing past genocides to make their voices heard by writing or calling their Members of Parliament and asking them to vote for this motion.

ANCC President Dr. Girair Basmajian said “This motion reaffirms Canada’s commitment to the important cause of genocide prevention and recognizes that the first step to prevention is to ensure that we remember and condemn past genocides.” Dr. Basmajian further stated “We are very grateful that this motion designates April 24 as Armenian Genocide Memorial Day so that all Canadians can join with the Armenian community to work to prevent future genocides, which is especially important in light of the religiously and ethnically motivated violence against minorities currently taking place in Iraq and Syria.”

The Genocide Remembrance, Condemnation and Prevention Month motion was published on the Notice Paper today, which is the first step that must be taken before the motion can be introduced in the House of Commons and then brought to a vote. It is expected that the motion will be formally introduced in the House of Commons next week by Mr. Butt. It is also expected that other Members of Parliament will speak in favour of the motion at that time. It is not yet clear when the motion would be approved.

The Genocide Remembrance, Condemnation and Prevention Month motion recalls that Canada has officially recognized four genocides (the Holocaust, the Holodomor, the Rwandan Tutsi Genocide and the Armenian Genocide) and that three of these genocides have a memorial day in April, so it is appropriate to designate April of each year as Genocide Remembrance, Condemnation and Prevention Month. The ANCC notes that the designation of April 24 of each year as Armenian Genocide Memorial Day in this motion is the first time that any Canadian federal government body has formally recognized April 24 as Armenian Genocide Memorial Day.

Motion 587

March 26, 2015- Brad Butt, Member of Parliament for Mississauga-Streetsville, gave notice for a motion today. Motion 587 reads:

That this House re-affirm its support for

(a) the Holocaust Memorial Day Act, which received Royal Assent on November 7, 2003;

(b) the Armenian genocide recognition resolution, adopted on April 21, 2004;

(c) the Rwandan genocide resolution, adopted on April 7, 2008; and

(d) the Ukrainian Famine and Genocide (“Holodomor”) Memorial Day Act, which received Royal Assent on May 29, 2008;

That this House call upon the Government of Canada to honour the victims of all genocides by recognizing the month of April as Genocide Remembrance, Condemnation and Prevention Month; and

That this House acknowledge the associated commemorative days of

(a) Yom ha-Shoah, Holocaust Memorial Day, as determined by the Jewish Lunar calendar;

(b) Armenian Genocide Memorial Day, April 24;

(c) Rwandan Genocide Memorial Day, April 7; and

(d) Ukrainian Famine and Genocide (“Holodomor”) Memorial Day, fourth Saturday in November.

***

The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Armenian-Canadian 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 Armenian-Canadian community on a broad range of issues and works to eliminate abuses of human rights throughout Canada and the world.

The first European coffee-shops were established by Armenians.

Posted on March 18, 2015 at 2:50 PM

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The first European coffee-shops were established by Armenians.

It’s true – coffee doesn’t grow in Armenia. Never has, probably never will. The origins of that drink, today one of the most valuable traded commodities of the world, are to be found in a region of Ethiopia known as Kaffa. The story goes that a goatherd was surprised by the increased energy of his animals after they munched on the beans of a plant. Those beans, roasted and ground, brewed and drunk, turned out to have the same effect on humans.

From Ethiopia, through the Arab world, up through the Ottoman lands, those beans made their way into the hands of the traders and merchants who plied the routes from east to Middle East to Near East to Europe – Armenians included, arguably foremost among them.

The very first coffee houses in Vienna and in Paris were opened by Armenians. Johannes Diodato (or Hovhannes Astvatsatour, translating “God-given” – a very apt name for someone who pioneered dealing in coffee, as many would agree) led the way in the Hapsburg territories in the late 17th century, while one Pascal opened the first coffee-shop in Paris in 1672, followed by another Armenian, Maliban, that same year. Armenian fashions were in use in decorating the coffee-houses of that time. There is even an example of a coffee merchant referring to himself as “a naturalized Armenian” in a French play from 1696.

There are indications that early coffee-houses in London and in Prague were likewise established by Armenians. The social and political roles that such coffee-houses played in the following centuries are reflected in the café cultures of European capitals going strong until today, and emulated elsewhere on the continent and all over the world.

One word on the word. “Coffee” and its variants, such as “café”, “Kaffee”, “qahwa”, “kahve”, or “kofe”, dominate the name of the drink in just about all languages, except for two. One is from the original birthplace of the drink – in Amharic, a language of Ethiopia, it is called “buna” (which is also the word for “coffee bean” in Arabic). And the other is, of course, Armenian, which calls coffee “soorj” or “soorch” (in Western and Eastern pronunciation respectively). The origins of that word, which dates from at least 1787, are not clear. It could be a corruption of “sev choor” or “sev joor”, meaning “black water”, or it could be from the sound made when slurping a piping hot brew.

This day 100 years ago

Posted on March 16, 2015 at 9:50 PM

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100 years ago this day, Azg published Catholicos of All Armenians’ address heads of dioceses.

The full text of the encyclical is available here: http://armeniangenocide100.org/en/100-years-ago-en/1915/03/16/

Genealogy - Don't Deny (Armenia) 2015 Eurovision Song Contest

Posted on March 15, 2015 at 1:10 PM

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Armenian orphans in the refugee camp of Syria with the daily portion of bread in their hands...

Posted on March 15, 2015 at 1:15 AM

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Armenian history

Posted on February 14, 2015 at 7:35 PM

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Kingdom of Urartu- Ararat.

Urartu , Ուրարտու - corresponding to the biblical Kingdom of Ararat : Արարատյան Թագավորություն) or Kingdom of Van ( Վանի Թագավորություն, was an Iron Age kingdom centred on Lake Van in the 860 BC–590 BC,
9th–6th centuries BC.