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PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
AGBU Toronto Marks AGBU’s Birthday & Celebrates Zaroukian School
Graduation
The 101st anniversary of AGBU and AGBU Daniel and Alice Zaroukian
School’s "Year of the Alumni" were the causes of celebration at the
gala dinner dance held on Sunday evening, May 20, 2007, in the Babayan
Ballroom of the Alex Manoogian Cultural Center in Toronto,
Canada. Over 300 guests and friends were welcomed with a cocktail
reception, which featured a "mini-trade show" presentation made up of
8 kiosks set up with pictures, stories and mission statements about
the school. A posthumous tribute was also paid to George Beylerian,
who was a catalyst in the 1960’s and early 1970’s for the
establishment of many of the groups active in Toronto at the present
time.
The evening organized by the Events Group presented quite a lavish
dinner, at which time an official program ensued. The masters of
ceremony were Vahe Sarkissian and Line Martirossian, two of the
chapter’s junior members, who talked briefly about the activities of
AGBU in Toronto and worldwide. Three of the school’s students made
short presentations, which culminated with a young 8-year-old
violinist serenading the crowd.
Membership certificate presentations by Salpi Derghazarian were
followed by the adoption of a new motto for Toronto of "Keeping
Armenians – Armenian," which was introduced by AGBU Toronto Chairman
Eugene Karadjian in a short recap of the importance of organizations
like AGBU for the Diaspora.
AGBU Central Board Member Berge Papazian then introduced Souren
Agemian as a friend and benefactor, who was the nominee for "Man of
the Year." Following an extended standing ovation, Agemian gave thanks
and spoke generously of the love for AGBU and the strength it brings
to all Armenians.
The evening raised well over $20,000 for AGBU Toronto, which was
attended by members of all of its local groups, including Sports,
Youth, Events, Media, YP, the Zaroukian School teachers and parents
council, AGBU Executive Committee and Zaroukian School Executive
Committee. The evening’s musical entertainment was supplied by Arthur
Apkarian and his band from Montreal.
GRADUATION CEREMONIES
The graduation ceremonies of the kindergarten and 6th grades of the
Zaroukian School took place on Thursday evening, June 28, 2007 at
Babayan Hall. The two-hour program consisted of passionate
recitations, choral renditions and dances, performed by the students
of both the kindergarten and elementary sections, and a short sketch
presented by the sixth graders.
During the program, Principal Hasmig Kurdian was recognized for her 16
years of dedicated service to the school, by Knar Basmadjian, member
of the school’s Executive Committee. Kurdian resigned from her
position at the end of the current school year. She thanked the staff
and students, both past and present, and was presented with a gift of
appreciation on behalf of AGBU Toronto.
Attending the ceremonies was Artoun Hamalian, director of AGBU’s
education department. He conveyed the greetings of AGBU President
Berge Setrakian to the Zaroukian School community and acknowledged
Kurdian’s long-standing service, which includes years of dedication as
an English language and literature teacher at AGBU schools in Beirut
before becoming a teacher and then principal of Toronto’s Zaroukian
School. Hamalian stressed that the unifying power of a strong Armenian
spirit is evident in Armenian schools everywhere, whether in North
America or the Middle East.
After reminding the audience of the AGBU’s mission of cultivating and
perpetuating the Armenian identity and culture, Hamalian said, "I am
convinced that, with our continued cooperation and efforts, we will
soon create the road map that will help us make the Zaroukian School a
model school that will provide the resources and instructional
practices conducive to implementing the mission of AGBU and the
Zaroukian School."
Reverend Zareh Zargarian, pastor of Holy Trinity Armenian Church, made
the closing remarks. He expressed his satisfaction with the spirit of
cooperation and involvement that had evolved in the community, having
the Zaroukian School as its focus. He said he was confident that the
enthusiasm that had brought the church, AGBU Center and Zaroukian
School together would soon bear good fruits.
For more information about the AGBU Toronto, please visit
For more information on AGBU and its worldwide chapters and schools,
please visit
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress