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PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, November 9, 2006
AGBU Montreal Honors Former Chairman Viken Attarian
On September 17, 2006, AGBU Montreal honored former Chairman Viken
Attarian and his wife Datevik with a special dinner held at the local
AGBU Alex Manoogian Center. Nearly 300 AGBU members, friends and
distinguished guests attended the event to pay tribute to Mr. Attarian
and his accomplishments as Montreal’s 11th Chapter Chairman from 2004
to 2006 and Vice Chairman from 2000 to 2004. Long before holding
leadership positions for the Montreal Chapter, Mr. Attarian’s earliest
experiences with AGBU began in 1969 as a child in Lebanon. More than
three decades later, the former Chairman was praised during this
tributary dinner for his focus on preparing the Chapter’s youth for
future leadership.
Mr. Attarian received his elementary and secondary education through
AGBU schools in Beirut, where he also began his lifelong involvement
with AGBU’s Scouting Program. As Chairman, he was instrumental in
reviving the Montreal Chapter’s scouting movement, now one of the top
troops in all of Canada with over 180 members. Also during his tenure,
he cultivated a partnership with PBS resulting in the regular
broadcasting of Armenian programs, as well as brought the Chapter
online with a highly developed website ().
Among the many dignitaries present to congratulate Mr. Attarian were
local Mayors Vera Danyluk of Ville Mont Royal and Alan de Sousa of
Ville Saint Laurent, several members of the Quebec Parliament, and
AGBU Central Board Member Dr. Arshavir Gundjian. Mr. and Mrs. Attarian
were presented plaques with engraved Honorary Membership cards, along
with messages from AGBU President Berge Setrakian, Canadian Parliament
Member Stéphane Dion and Lieutenant Governor of Quebec Lise Thibault.
Dr. Rita Kuyumjian, AGBU Montreal’s recently elected Chairwoman,
concluded the evening with a special surprise as she presented the
biography of Mr. Attarian’s father, author Armen Tarian, and announced
the establishment of the Armen Tarian Literary Award. The dinner
reception raised nearly $11,000 (Canadian) for the Montreal Chapter’s
Paul & Sirvart Kichian Capital Renovation Fund which was established
in 2005 to cover the ongoing expenses of the Alex Manoogian Center.
The Montreal Chapter is committed to upholding the mission of AGBU to
preserve and promote the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian programs. For more information
on AGBU Montreal, please call (514) 748-2428, email
agbumontreal@bellnet.ca or visit For more
information on AGBU and its worldwide chapters, please visit