Armenian National Committee of Canada

130 Albert St., Suite 1007
Ottawa, ON
KIP 5G4

Tel. (613) 235-2622 Fax (613) 238-2622

Armenian National Committee of Canada
Opens National office in Ottawa

Ottawa – The dream of thousands of dedicated Hai Tad members and supporters
became reality on April 25 when the Armenian National Committee of Canada
(ANCC) opened its national office in Ottawa.

Over 200 supporters, led by Dr. Vagharch Ehramdjian, ANCC Chairman; Hagop
Der Khachadourian, ANC International; Archbishop Khajak Hagopian, Prelate;
ANCC board and regional chapters members, and representatives of the
Armenian Relief Society, Hamazkaine Cultural Association and Homenetmen came
from Montreal, Laval, Toronto, and Ottawa to witness the historic event.

After the official ribbon-cutting ceremony at the 130 Albert Street office,
guests headed to the nearby National Press Club for a cocktail reception.

In his welcoming address, Dr. Ehramdjian said: `The opening of the Armenian
National Committee office in Ottawa will complement a chain of other offices
in Washington, Brussels’, Moscow and Beirut.’

The ANCC chairman thanked the Right Hon. Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of
Canada; Peter McKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs; and the Canadian
Government for their historic announcement-statement in reaffirming the
Canadian Senate’s and the House of Commons’ motions recognizing the Armenian
Genocide. He also thanked the leaders of the other three parties – the
Liberal, the Bloc Québecois, and the New Democratic Party for their support
of the motions, and to all members of Parliament `Who observed a one-minute
of silence in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.’ Dr.
Ehramdjian said: ` The Armenian community of Canada is grateful and proud of
its governing bodies for placing justice and human rights above economic and
political considerations.’

Archbishop Khajak Hagopian congratulated the Canadian-Armenian community for
its decades-long campaign to obtain government’s recognition for the
Armenian Genocide. He said the opening of the ANCC office would advance the
interests of the Canadian-Armenian community in the circles of power.

Afterwards, master of ceremonies Tina Soulahian invited ANCC excutive
director Aris Babikian to introduce David Warner. The former MPP and Speaker
of the Ontario Legislative Assembly was honoured for his commitment and
outstanding contribution to the Armenian cause. Mr. Babikian then invited
Jean Meguerditchian, co-president of ANCC to present Mr. David Warner with
ANCC’s Outstanding Contribution citation.

Mr. Babikian then invited the gathering to observe one minute of silence in
honour of the four Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan.

In his remarks, Mr. Babikian paid tribute to the Prime Minister’s
Parliamentary Secretary Jason Kenney, who `played a pivotal role in
securing Canadian Government’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide.’ Mr.
Babikian said that the ANCC worked very closely with Mr. Kenney to win the
government’s recognition. Furthermore, during the 2004 Armenian Genocide
recognition in the House of Commons, Mr. Kenney was instrumental in securing
Conservative Party’s support for Motion M-380, said Mr. Babikian

Members of the Canadian Parliament, the Senate, the diplomatic corps, the
media and leaders of numerous ethnic communities joined the Armenian
community to celebrate the Genocide recognition milestone and the opening of
the national office. Other guests at the gathering included Bloc Québecois
leader Gilles Duceppe, former federal ministers Irwin Cotler, Stéphane Dion,
Jim Peterson, and MPs Vivian Barbot, Nicole Demers, Raymonde Folco, Gary
Goodyear, Jim Karygiannis, Derek Lee, Yasmin Ratansi, and Bill Siksay.

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The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a network of
offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and affiliated
organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances the concerns of
the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range of issues.

Regional Chapters
Montréal- Toronto – Laval – Vancouver – Ottawa – Hamilton – Cambridge – St.
Catharines – Windsor