AGBU PRESS OFFICE
55 East 59th Street, New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone (212) 319-6383
Fax (212) 319-6507
Email agbuwb@agbu.org
Webpage
Thursday, May 13, 2004
LEADERSHIP CHANGES IN AGBU TORONTO AND ARMEN-ONTARIO OF AGBU
Toronto, Canada – The Central Board of the Armenian General Benevolent
Union (AGBU) is pleased to announce that Ms. Knar Basmadjian will be
serving as Chairperson of the AGBU Toronto Chapter. Ms. Basmadjian
will be succeeding Mr. Hagop Altounian, effective June 1, 2004.
AGBU extends its sincere appreciation to Mr. Altounian for his
leadership and valued service for the past two years in establishing
new initiatives and promoting AGBU’s activities in the ever-growing
Canadian Armenian community of Toronto. Mr. Altounian has been an
active member of AGBU over many years, an organization which he has
served with full devotion, commitment and care.
On this occasion, Mr. Setrakian, President of AGBU, expressed the
organization’s deepest gratitude for Mr. Altounian’s lifelong service
and dedication to the Union. Mr. Setrakian further stated that he
welcomes Knar Basmadjian, in her new role as chairperson. We are
confident that Ms. Basmadjian will provide her committee with the
dynamism and vision to meet the new challenges lying ahead. We consider
Toronto a pivotal and important community of the Diaspora that could
assume an important leadership role in these fast-changing times,
Mr. Setrakian added.
Ms. Basmadjian, a professional engineer who holds an MBA, is
currently an Investment Advisor and Associate Portfolio Manager at
CIBC Wood Bundy, one of Canada’s largest investment dealers. She is
past-president of the Canadian Armenian Business Council of Ontario and
has been a board member since 1993. She is also an advisory committee
member of the Canada Armenian Parliamentary Friendship Group and a
trustee member of the Endowment Fund for the Holy Trinity Armenian
Church of Toronto. She will bring her extensive and successful
business experience in the financial services industry to her new
role as Chairman. We look forward to her leadership.
AGBU Armen-Ontario Corporation
The Central Board is also pleased to announce that Barry Berge
Papazian and Eugene Karadjian will be serving as President and
Treasurer/Secretary respectively of the Armen-Ontario Corporation.
Mr. Papazian will be succeeding Hrant Bardakjian as President of the
Corporation. Mr. Setrakian thanked Bardakjian for his leadership and
noted that he has been serving AGBU faithfully for many decades with
dedication and commitment. Mr. Bardakjian will continue as a member
of the Corporation and will serve as Chair of the AGBU Central Games
Committee.
Mr. Papazian is currently a managing partner at Papazian, Heisey &
Myers Law firm. Has bas been a barrister and solicitor since 1971. He
has been appointed to Queen’s Counsel (QC) in 1984 and is certified
by law society of Upper Canada (Ontario) as a specialist in civil
litigation since 1990. Mr. Papazian is the Director and Secretary of
Burger King Restaurants of Canada since 1982 and has served on the
Board of the University of Toronto from 1954-1985. He is the recipient
of the 2001 Man of the Year award at Holy Trinity Armenian Church and
has been the Secretary/Treasurer of Armen Ontario since December, 2003.
Mr. Karadjian has been a life-long member and has served AGBU well in
various capacities including his membership on the executive committee
of AGBU Toronto from 1986 to 1993.
Given this remarkable new leadership, the Central Board of AGBU is
confident that the AGBU Toronto Chapter and Armen-Ontario will ensure
the continued growth and success of AGBU in the greater Toronto area.