April 24th Commemoration

The annual trip to Ottawa from communities all over Ontario and Quebec was once again a great success as thousands of Armenians converged on Parliament Hill, this time to commemorate the 94th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Turks in 1915.

The commemoration was opened by the playing of the national anthems by the Homenetmen Toronto Scout Fanfare Band, with members of the ARF Juniors holding the colour guard of flags. The speakers included representatives from the NDP, Liberal, and Conservative parties, Armenian National Committee, and Parliamentarians representing the Canadian Armenian Friendship Committee. Archbishop Hagopian blessed the gathering and led the crowd to place flowers on the eternal flame at the front of the Parliament lawn.

The parade from the Parliament buildings to the Turkish Embassy was at times over three city blocks long. Men and women, children in strollers and seniors all walked the route in a peaceful demonstration  yelling chants like " No more denial ", eastern Turkey is western Armenia", and of course, " We want justice" and " No more Genocide."

At the end of the parade, the crowd gathered in the park across from the Turkish Embassy which was vacated by the Ambassador who was recently recalled to Ankara. The ARF Youth presented several artistic expressions with poetry readings, songs, and speaches.

There will be an official commemoration as well at the Armenian Community Centre on Sunday, April 26, at 2:00 pm,

A Candlelight Vigil will be held at Queen’s Park on Monday, April 27 at 8:00 pm.

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