PRESS RELEASE
Office of Sarkis Assadourian M.P.
120 Confederation
House of Commons, Ottawa, Canada
Contact: Daniel Kennedy
Tel: 613 995 4843
Ottawa April 6, 2004
M.P. Sarkis Assadourian, to Host Reception Honouring Sara Corning
Saviour of Smyrna’s Orphans
Mr. Sarkis Assadourian (Brampton Centre, Lib.): Chairman of the
Canada-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group announced today that he
would host a reception on Parliament Hill, to honour the memory of
Sara Corning, who was responsible for the rescue of thousands of,
Armenian children, from the port of Smyrna in the summer of 1922. The
orphans, survivors of the Genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Turks
were evacuated to Greece with the assistance of Corning, a native of
Nova Scotia.
The reception will be held on Parliament Hill, April 21st. 2004, at
3:00pm. Guests will have the opportunity to view photographs and
documents from The Yarmouth County Museum in Nova Scotia illustrating
the valiant efforts of Sara Corning on behalf of the Armenian
orphans. His Holiness Karekin II, Catholocos of All Armenia, will
honour the relatives of Sara Corning with the presentation of an
appropriate citation.
“The remarkable story of Sara Corning’s efforts on behalf of the
orphans of Smyrna is a little known chapter of Canadian history that
deserves the recognition of the Canadian Armenian Community”, said
Assadourian.
Friends of the Canada Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group are
invited to pay tribute to the memory of a great Canadian and a great
friend of the Canadian Armenian Community. Supporters interested in
attending are asked to RSVP to M.P. Assadourian’s. Ottawa office no
later than Monday April 19, 2004.
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For further information contact: Daniel Kennedy 613-995-4843