ST.CATHARINES, ON.- On Saturday April 30, 2016, the Armenian Community of St.Catharines – Niagara once again gathered for a solemn occasion, to commemorate the 101stanniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
As reports Horizonweekly.ca, hundreds of community members from all over the Niagara Region and elsewhere gathered at the Armenian Community Centre on 156 Martindale Road, for the official unveiling and dedication ceremony of the Armenian Genocide Memorial of St.Catharines. The 11” foot tall and 7” foot wide monument that was unveiled on the front lawn of the Armenian Community Centre, will stand to observe the memory of the 1.5MILLION victims of the Armenian Genocide.
“The unveiling of this monument in the historic Armenian community of St.Catharines will first of all serve to show our collective commitment towards remembering our past and demanding justice to take its course and also to educate the upcoming generations about what occurred in the past and how we should stand together today, as guardians of our identity and history” said Sevag Belian, secretary of the Armenian National Committee of St.Catharines, and a member of the Armenian Youth Federation of Canada.
Along with the hundreds of attendants, His Excellency ArmenYeganian, the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia in Canada, Mr. Marc Truyet, the Consul-General of France in Toronto, Members of the Clergy, representatives from the ARF Bureau, ARF Canada Central Committee and the Armenian National Committee of Canada, elected officialsfrom all three levels of government, and the Mayor of St.Catharineswere given the honour to unveil the monument. A traditional Armenian cross-stone Khatchkar, was also placed in front of the monument, symbolizing the spiritual ties of the Armenian people to the Christian faith. The Khatchkar was ceremoniously consecrated under the auspices of Archbishop SurenKataroian and Bishop AbgarHovakimian.
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Despite the passage of a century, the Armenian community in Niagara will dedicate this monument as a sign of perseverance and a solid commitment to not forget the legacy of their victims that died in the name of humanity and for the sake of justice.
“The struggle that was faced by our forefathers is as significant to us today, as it was 101 years ago. Therefore we urge and implore upon every single member of our community to provide their unconditional commitment and support to the collective efforts that are directed towards properly remembering and upholding the legacy of our martyrs and the eternity of our perseverance” said GarbisKavazanjian, Chairman of the Armenian National Committee of St.Catharines-Niagar.