Armenian National Committee of Canada
Comité National Arménien du Canada
130 Albert St., Suite/Bureau 1007
Ottawa, ON
KIP 5G4
Tel./Tél. (613) 235-2622 Fax/Téléc. (613) 238-2622
E-mail/courriel:national.office@anc-canad a.com

PRESS RELEASE

June 3, 2008
Contact: Roupen Kouyoumjian

Toronto District School Board Reaffirms the Teaching of the Armenian Genocide

Toronto–At a special meeting on June 2 the Program and School
Services Committee (PSSC) of the Toronto District School Board (TDSB)
unanimously approved the recommendation of its Review Committee (RC)
and its Director to include the Armenian Genocide in its Grade 11
genocide curriculum. Turkish groups have, in the past six months,
lobbied against the inclusion of the Armenian Genocide in the Grade 11
curriculum. The PSSC recommendation now goes to the board’s June 25th
meeting for final adoption.

At the beginning of the meeting, the committee provided 20 minutes
each for the Turkish and Ukrainian community representatives to make
an oral deputation in regard to their concerns about the curriculum.

The Council of Turkish Canadians (CTC) objected to the inclusion of
the Armenian Genocide in the curriculum and called for its
removal. Furthermore, CTC threatened to take legal measures to halt
the introduction of the curriculum if the board did not consent to the
CTC demand.

A representative of the Muslim Canadian Congress, Farzana Hassan,
turned the curriculum teaching issue to a religious crusade. She
accused the board and the Western world of religious bias. She made
similar accusations against Canadian media, specially the Globe and
Mail and the Toronto Star newspapers. Two Turkish parents also made
presentations.

Ukrainian community representatives commended the board for
introducing the "worthy program", but they objected to the omission of
the Ukrainian famine/genocide from the curriculum. They urged the PSSC
to reconsider the exclusion of the Ukrainian case.

In responding to a question from trustee Gerri Gershon, David Rowan,
associate director of TDSB, reassured the Ukrainian community that the
Ukrainian famine /genocide, even though it is not in the curriculum as
a separate unit on its own, it will be discussed and taught in many
forms during the curriculum teaching.

After the presentations, the committee unanimously voted to adopt the
recommendations without any changes.

Based on yesterday’s meeting and the approval of the recommendations,
the Armenian Genocide will be part of the Grade 11 genocide curriculum
and it will be taught as one of the three case studies along with the
Holocaust and the Rwandan Genocide and as a separate unit.

In regard to Barbara Coloroso’s book, Extraordinary Evil: A Brief
History of Genocide, even though it will not be required reading, it
will be included in the curriculum as resource material.

Representatives of the Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC),
the Greek and Cypriot communities, Zoryan Institute, the Armenian
Certified Teachers Association, the Armenian Community Centre of
Toronto, Armen Karo Student Association, the Armenian National
Committee of Toronto, and many other supporters of the curriculum
turned out in large numbers to attend the meeting.

ANCC President, Dr. Girair Basmadjian, commended the TDSB for
upholding its moral and ethical principles and for not wavering in the
face of unprecedented revisionist campaign to falsify and rewrite the
history of the Armenian Genocide. -By approving the recommendations,
TDSB proved that the Turkish government interference and manipulation
of academic institutions and its attempt to suppress freedom of
expression is a failed policy. We are confident the curriculum will
create better understanding between Turkish and Armenian students and
will help them rationalize their common history,- stated
Dr. Basmadjian

Aris Babikian, executive director of ANCC, criticized the Turkish
representatives who tried to use an educational forum to promote
unsubstantiated accusation against the Armenian community by
insinuating that Armenians are teaching hatred against Turks in their
churches, schools and community centres. -Once again, we would like to
emphasize that we do not have any conflict with the Canadian-Turkish
community. At issue is the Turkish government’s denial policy. A
policy which Turkish ultranationalist are using to whip hysteria and
animosity between the two people. A policy which simply does not fit
with the school boards view of history, nor that of Canadians
generally,- said Babikian.

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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.

——

Le CNAC est l’organisation politique canadienne-arménienne la plus
large et influentielle. Collaborant avec une série de bureaux,
chapitres et souteneurs à travers le Canada et des organisations
affiliées à travers le monde, le CNAC s’occupe activement des
inquiétudes de la communauté canadienne-arménienne.

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