LAVAL, Quebec (Horizon Weekly)—The Canadian-Armenian community gathered on Sunday for the unveiling ceremony of an Armenian Genocide monument here, the third largest city in Quebec and the first monument in Canada commemorating only the Armenian Genocide in a public space.
While there are several Genocide monuments in Canada at various cultural centers, or other monuments that address universal condemnation or commemoration of all Genocides, this monument is the only one erected in a public place in Canada that specifically commemorates the 1.5 victims of the Armenian Genocide.
With this unveiling, the Canadian-Armenian community renewed its dedication and commitment to our national demands and to the Armenian Cause.
Leaders of all Armenian denominations gathered at the monument, called “Crucifixion, Resurrection, Rebirth,” and performed the religious blessing ceremony, while community leaders, among them the chairman of the Joing Monument Committee, Sako Yacoubian, committee member, Hovig Tufenkndjian and chairman of Canada’s Genocide Centennial Committee, Mher Karakashian all expressed the Canadian-Armenian community’s commitment to justice.
The monument’s creator, sculptor Arto Tchakmakdjian, said the meaning of the monument is hope.
Also speaking at the event was Armenia’s Ambassador to Canada Armen Yeganian who called on the international community to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
Local, regional and federal officials, past and present, were in attendance at the event and spoke about the need for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and condemned the government of Turkey for its continued denial of the crime.
FANTASTIC.. CONGRATS TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ACHIEVED THIS TASK… WHEN WILL THE US ARMENIANS GET THE LEAD OUT OF THEIR HEADS AND ACHIEVE OUR LONG AWAITED WASHINGTON GENOCIDE MUSEUM?
Excellent news!! So proud to be a Quebecer!
Thanks to All Canadians and Congratulations to all Armenians.
I hope Turkey calls all the Turks from Canada back HOME.
why the Memorial inscription was only in French,and not bilingual (Armenian and French)?
Since space was limited on the base of the monument and since French is the official language in Quebec it was a must. Since the monument was erected on public land it helps the public understand what the monument is all about. The park is not completed and placing a plaque with description of the 1915 events in three languages is an option.
This isn’t the first armenian genocide monument in Canada. There was one erected in Montreal in 1998.
This is the first one on government owned land and the first one dedicated only to Armenians. The one from Montreal is for all genocides and the one in Toronto on our communitie’s property.