PRESS RELEASE
AGBU Montreal Office
805, rue Manoogian
St-Laurent,QC H7T 1Y8
Tel:(514)748-2428
Fax:(514)748-6307

AGBU MONTREAL SCOUTS RECEIVE SPECIAL RECOGNITION FROM LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR OF
QUEBEC

Montreal, QUEBEC, CANADA May 3, 2004- AGBU Montreal Scouts received special
honours during the yearly Gala of Excellence organized by the Federation of
Scouts of Metropolitan Montreal (SMM). The event was held at the AGBU
Center in the newly renovated Dervishian Hall, and was attended by over two
hundred of the leadership of the scouting movement in Quebec. The event was
also attended by Her Excellency, Mme Lise Thibault, the Lieutenant-Governor
of the Province of Quebec.

In his welcome address, AGBU Vice President, and Chairman of the Scouts’
Council, Mr. Viken L. Attarian highlighted AGBU’s mission and achievements
as well as its history of dedication to scouting and the leadership training
opportunities it represents. Mr. Attarian mentioned that the current
President of the AGBU, Mr. Berdj Setrakian himself, had started his service
to the AGBU within its scouting ranks.

The Scouts of Metropolitan Montreal then presented Mr. Attarian and Ms. Lory
Boudjikanian, Group Leader, with the official Level 2 certification plaque
of the SMM. The group certification process was introduced a year ago by
the Federation to ensure quality of leadership and scouting program content.
To date, only a handful of groups in Quebec scouting have reached this level
of achievement. “We are very excited by this recognition” said Ms.
Boudjikanian, “and we are confidently targeting to achieve the highest level
of certification of Level 5 within a couple of years; we want to be the
first ever scouting group to reach that level”.

The evening continued with various volunteer and excellence recognition
awards. The highlight of the Gala was the presentation to the AGBU venturer
company members by Her Excellency the Lieutant-Governor, with the most
prestigious Inukshuk award, in recognition of their outstanding
international project of renovating a children’s rehabilitation center in
Armenia. A project completely conceived, organized, financed and realized
by our youth. Inukshuk, a word of the Northern Inuit, means a symbol for a
direction to follow. This award is presented to scouting youth who are a
model of excellence for all and who, by their exemplary team spirit and
volunteer implication surpass all expectations and act as an inspiration to
all others. The attendees greeted the AGBU scouts with several minutes of
standing ovations.

In her address to the attendees, Her Excellency Mme Lise Thibault invited
all to follow the example of the Armenian scouts. She reminded them that
Armenians are a nation who was a victim Genocide, but now, four generations
later have become a shining example to all their fellow citizens. She
called this a true example of rebirth.

For Further information please contact Viken L. Attarian at 1-514-244-7575,
or AGBU Montreal at 1-514-748-2428. Information about the SMM and the Gala
of Excellence can be found at