Category: 2017

Obituary: Big Band leader, businessman, community builder and family man

Karlen Baghdasarian
The Record
Living Jun 11, 2017 07:18 by Valerie Hill Waterloo Region Record

John Kostigian had many successes in life as a business owner and community builder, but he always considered his greatest achievement to be the 30 years he spent as Leisure Lodge's house band leader.

"A lot of people didn't know he had a business, that he was just a band leader," said his son Jason Kostigian, who has operated Galt Display Rack since his dad retired a decade ago.

Leisure Lodge was a popular Cambridge nightclub that ran from 1948 until the place suspiciously burned to the ground in 1980. People came from far and wide to dance the night away to the swinging sounds of the Johnny Kostigian Orchestra.

At its peak, the 13-piece band would play Friday and Saturday nights to an audience of 1,100 patrons, many who had travelled from across the province to this hot spot.

"There was nothing like it around, it had class," Johnny once told The Record. "Leisure Lodge put Preston on the map."

The self-taught trumpet, saxophone player and band leader loved every moment of performing to an appreciative audience and playing with such talented musicians. Then a beautiful lead vocalist from Hamilton named Joan Case was introduced to the band as a possible lead vocalist.

"Dad was looking for a singer and ended up with a wife," said Jason of how his parents met, then married in 1954.

Jason said his mom was so good she could have enjoyed a professional career beyond Leisure Lodge, but she chose to stay and raise a family with John. Jason and his sisters Carrie and Holly were never short of their father's attentions even though he was an exceptionally busy guy. The band even had is own television show from 1957 to 1958, "Sunday Serenade" on CKCO in Kitchener.

John was born one of three to parents who came first to Owen Sound and later Cambridge from Armenia. Though John never wanted to visit his parent's homeland — too much pain associated with the reason the family had to flee — he always supported the Armenian community. Historians estimate the Ottoman Empire killed 1.5 million Armenians during the First World War and this legacy carried over into Canada and into the lives of people like John.

Life was not easy for the immigrant family and John shone shoes as a boy to help out. He he had to leave high school in Grade 10, working a variety of odd jobs including playing trumpet in local bands.

ANKARA: European court sets precedent against FETÖ

Nyrie Kalashian
Daily Sabah, Turkey
DAILY SABAH
ISTANBUL
Published

The European Court of Human Rights' decision dated Nov. 17, 2016 on the Karapetyan and Others v. Armenia case is seen as setting a precedent against members of the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) fired from state posts. The court decided that the Armenian government had not exceeded its margin of appreciation by summarily dismissing senior civil servants who had criticized the government. It recalled the importance of "the special bond of trust and loyalty between a civil servant and the state." The Court found this loyalty to be even more important "in societies which are in the process of building up the institutions of a pluralistic democracy. So as to ensure the consolidation and maintenance of democracy," it ruled, states may introduce "constitutional safeguards to achieve the aim in a democratic society of having a politically neutral body of civil servants."

According to an analysis by the Star daily, the case has direct implications for the state servants who were fired for FETÖ links.

While the Armenian case involves state servants voicing criticisms against the government, FETÖ members have been directly implicated in trying to topple the government through spurious corruption allegations followed by last year's military coup attempt.

FETÖ, led by Fetullah Gülen who currently resides in Pennsylvania, U.S., through its operatives within the judiciary, police, military, other state agencies and media, persecuted anyone they deemed as opponents over the years. FETÖ, recognized as a terrorist group by Turkey, is also active across the world through what they call educational institutions, which are mainly used to generate funds for their illicit activities and recruitment.

Last year's deadly coup on July 15, undertaken by FETÖ operatives within the military, failed due to serious public backlash. The government declared a state of emergency a few days later, allowing the firing of tens of thousands of public servants linked to the terrorist group. The government has also set up a commission to review objections to the firings.

As a signatory to the European Charter of Human Rights, Turkey is obligated to abide by the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights. Many FETÖ members who fled abroad and those who were fired were looking at the court as a sort of lifejacket to return to their posts. The court's decision closes the door on public servants directly implicated in FETÖ-linked activities.



BAKU: Estonia’s FM: There is no military solution to Karabakh conflict

Janet Ekmekjian
APA, Azerbaijan

There is no military solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said Estonian Foreign Minister Sven Mikser.

 He made the remarks at the press conference June 12 following the meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov in Baku, APA reports.

 He noted that peaceful settlement of the conflict serves the interests of the parties. "They should avoid rhetoric that can impede the situation. We are sure that OSCE Minsk Group will take more effort for solution of this conflict,” he said. 

BAKU: Azerbaijan, Australia consider development of cooperation in four areas

Toneyan Mark
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
15:39 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Australia supports sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan," said Australian Minister for International Development and the Pacific Hon Concetta Fierravanti-Wells as she met with Azerbaijani FM Elmar Mammadyarov.

They hailed the development of Azerbaijan-Australia bilateral relations.

Hailing that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the ministers emphasized the importance of expanding the legal framework and ensuring the development of economic relations.

Concetta Fierravanti-Wells hailed the fact that she was the first Australian minister to visit Azerbaijan, saying a delegation of Australian businessmen will travel to Azerbaijan this October.

Mammadyarov briefed the Australian Minister about the negotiations on the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, saying the conflict  must be solved in line with the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council on the basis of territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan within its internationally recognized borders.

The two underlined the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in bilateral relations, praising the activities of the Australia-Azerbaijan Interparliamentary Friendship Group in this regard.

They also exchanged views on the development of cooperation between the two countries in shipbuilding, agriculture, tourism and mine-clearance areas.

The Commonwealth of Australia recognized the independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan on December 26, 1991. Diplomatic relations between two countries have been established on June 19, 1992.

Azerbaijan exports crude oil to Australia. Butter is imported from Australia. The trade turnover of the Republic of Azerbaijan with the Commonwealth of Australia amounted to $7.83 million, including imports $7.57 million, exports $0.26 million during January-September, 2015.