PRESS RELEASE
Office of Sarkis Assadourian M.P.
120 Confederation
House of Commons, Ottawa, Canada
Contact: Daniel Kennedy
Tel: 613 995 4843
Press Release
Ottawa April 21, 2004
M.P. Sarkis Assadourian, Hosts Reception Honouring Sara Corning
Saviour of Smyrna’s Orphans
Mr. Sarkis Assadourian (Brampton Centre, Lib.): Chairman of the
Canada-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group today hosted a reception
on Parliament Hill, to honour the memory of Sara Corning.
Sara Corning a native of Nova Scotia was responsible for the rescue of
thousands of, Armenian children, from the port of Smyrna in the summer
of 1922. The orphans, survivors of the Genocide at the hands of the
Ottoman Turks were evacuated to Greece with Corning’s assistance.
Guests at the event had the opportunity to view photographs and
documents from The Yarmouth County Museum in Nova Scotia illustrating
the valiant efforts of Sara Corning on behalf of the Armenian orphans.
The photographs evoked the terrible suffering of the children but also
spoke of their tremendous courage and strength of spirit as they
played with rag dolls or learned sewing and weaving skills at the
orphanage.
The highlight of the event saw the relatives of Sarah Corning receive
an enunciate from His Holiness Karikian ll, Catholocos of All Armenia,
honouring the efforts of their ancestor on behalf of the Armenian
orphans the eunnciate presented by His Emminence Bishop Kalestian
Bagrat Primate Armenian Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese
Greg Sarkissian Chairperson of the Zorian Institute announced that the
institute will soon publish a history of the life of Sara Corning
“I am thrilled to be able to share in this wonderful celebration of
Sara Corning an unsung hero of Armenians everywhere. A Canadian who’s
efforts on behalf of the orphans of Smyrna are a remarkable chapter of
history”, said Assadourian.
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For further information contact: Daniel Kennedy 613-995-4843