5th Anniversary of Canada’s Official Recognition of the Armenian Genocide Commemorated

30 April, 2009

The 94th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 and the 5th anniversary of Canada’s official recognition of the Armenian Genocide was commemorated in Ottawa by a series of events. On April 21st the Congress of Canadian Armenians organized a reception at the Parliament of Canada to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the adoption of the historic motion M-380. A number of high-ranking Canadian officials and parliamentarians were present.

The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, addressed the audience on behalf of the Prime Minister of Canada, reaffirming the official position of Canada on the Armenian Genocide. He was followed by the Honourable Michael Ignatieff, Chairman of the Liberal Party of Canada, who spoke of the tragedy of 1915 and the necessity of its recognition as a part of the process of Armenian-Turkish reconciliation. During the event the Parliamentarians who supported in 2004 the motion M-380 were awarded special appreciation plaques by the organizers of the event.

On April 23 Mr. Arman Akopian, Chargé d’Affaires of the Republic of Armenia in Canada was interviewed by the CTV News on the Armenian Genocide, commenting also on the recall of the Turkish ambassador from Canada.

On April 24th a commemoration event was organized at the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia. High ranking clergy of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Canada, as well as representatives of major Armenian organizations in Canada, numerous members of the Armenian community and guest attended the wreath-laying ceremony at the “Armenia Immortal” monument. Following the ceremony at the Embassy, the members of the Armenian community attended a special commemorative event at the Parliament Hill, which was attended by a number of high-ranking Canadian officials.

On April 28th the Armenian National Committee of Canada organized a 1915 Genocide commemorative event at the Parliament of Canada. The event was attended by a large number of guests, including high-ranking Canadian officials, Members of Parliament and Senate of Canada, Ministers, members of the Diplomatic Corps, representatives of various NGOs and ethnic communities.

The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for Science and Technology, read Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s message. He was followed by the Honourable Harold Albrecht, MP, newly elected chairman of the all party Canada-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group, the Honourable Gilles Duceppe, Leader of the Bloc Québécois, the Honourable Stephane Dion, who spoke on behalf of the Liberal Party and its leader Michael Ignatieff. Mr. Arman Akopian, Chargé d’Affaires of the Republic of Armenia in Canada expressed hid Government’s appreciation to the Parliament and Prime Minister of Canada for the official recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

The long list of speakers, that included Members of Parliament and Senate and representatives of the ANCC, was concluded by the Honourable Jason Kenney, who said that he was is proud that he has “followed the dictates of his conscious by co-sponsoring Motion M-380 to recognize the Armenian Genocide”. At the conclusion of the reception, Parliamentarians who voted in favour of the passage of Motion M-380 were presented citations of appreciation from the ANCC President Dr. Girair Basmadjain.

Read Christopher Hitchens’s article in National Post..

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