Laval News, Canada
July 14 2007
Annual Armenian Festival is going stronger than ever
Gathering draws an estimated 7,000 revelers for cultural renewal
By Martin C. Barry – TLN
PHOTO: Martin C. Barry – TLN
Armenian ladies enjoy a good
laugh while preparing a batch
of traditional Armenian
flatbread.
For three days this past Canada Day weekend, Armenians from all over
Laval, Montreal and the surrounding region got together for one of
Quebec’s biggest annual celebrations of their culture – the Armenian
Festival. From June 29 to July 1 in the lot of the former Centre 2000
shopping centre, thousands of local Armenians were joined by others
from cities as far as Cornwall, Ottawa and Toronto, to enjoy
traditional foods, midway games, dancing and live music – all to
remind them of their Armenian roots, culture and experience.
`Good for the whole family’
Organized as a fundraiser by members of Laval’s Sourp Kevork Armenian
Apostolic Church, it was one of the largest festivals local Armenians
have ever staged. The congregation hopes to acquire new land and
build a new church with help from the proceeds. `We do this every
year and we have had about 3,000 to 4,000 people since yesterday,’
Hagop Lakhoyan, one of the organizers, said on Saturday. With the
festival continuing for another day, he expected that as many as
7,000 people would pass through the gates by closing late Sunday.
`The kids come in and they play, There’s good food, dancing and it’s
good for the whole family,’ he added.
A major social event
Rev. Father Hrair Nicolian, pastor of the church, said the festival
serves as an annual gathering point for Armenians, whether or not
they are members of the congregation. As many as 9,000 Laval
residents are of Armenian descent. Sourp Kevork Armenian Apostolic
Church has about 600 members. In Laval there are two other Armenian
churches. `Armenians love to be together and this is a big
opportunity – the main opportunity during the summertime,’ he said.
Music important
It was the third year the festival, which was launched nearly a
decade ago, was held on the Centre 2000 site. `It’s getting bigger
and bigger year by year,’ said Father Nicolian. He acknowledged that
part of the festival’s formula for success has been keeping up with
the times – especially in terms of the music, which is rooted in
folk-tradition and focuses on love, hope and friendship. `We have a
lot of people coming here who have settled from Armenia. So they love
to come here to listen to the music they love.’
Armenian values strengthened
Kevin Amyotte, a Cornwall, Ont. resident, decided to drive in to
attend the festival, at the insistence of his fiancee, who lived in
Laval after arriving in Canada from Armenia about eight years ago.
She hopes to encourage Armenian values in her three children. `She
wanted to make sure that the culture is kept,’ he said. `She wants to
make sure they have their Armenian heritage kept, and I believe that
it’s a Canadian tradition to keep your heritage, whether it’s French,
English or any other culture.’