Canadians of Armenian descent

The 2001 Canadian census determined that there were 40,505 Canadians of Armenian ancestry [Statistics Canada, "2001 Census", Ethnic Origin (232), Sex (3) and Single and Multiple Responses (3) for Population, for Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2001 Census - 20% Sample Data, 97F0010XCB2001001 [http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/standard/themes/RetrieveProductTable.cfm?Temporal=2001&PID=62911&APATH=3&GID=431515&METH=1&PTYPE=55440&THEME=44&FOCUS=0&AID=0&PLACENAME=0&PROVINCE=0&SEARCH=0&GC=99&GK=NA&VID=0&FL=0&RL=0&FREE=0] ] and 27,350 had Armenian as their mother tongue. [Statistics Canada, "2001 Census", Detailed Mother Tongue (160), Sex (3) and Age Groups (15) for Population, for Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas 1 and Census Agglomerations, 1996 and 2001 Censuses - 20% Sample Data, 97F0007XCB2001001 [http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/standard/themes/RetrieveProductTable.cfm?Temporal=2001&PID=55533&APATH=3&GID=431515&METH=1&PTYPE=55440&THEME=41&FOCUS=0&AID=0&PLACENAME=0&PROVINCE=0&SEARCH=0&GC=99&GK=NA&VID=0&FL=0&RL=0&FREE=0] ] A large part of the Armenian diaspora in Canada came from Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Iran, Turkey etc. [ "Canadian Encyclopedia" article on "Armenians" [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1SEC816239] ] Recently Canada is also witnessing immigration from the Republic of Armenia.

History

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Armenians who had escaped persecution from the Armenian Genocide formed communities in southern Ontario. However, Armenian immigration was limited; since the Canadian government had classified Armenians as Asians, they were considered alien and undesirable guests.

Thousands of Armenians made their way to Canada after the Immigration Law became less restrictive in the 1950s. Many of the newcomers were originally from Middle Eastern countries that were hampered by conflict, such as Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey.

In the early 1990s, some Armenians immigrated to Canada after the disintegration of the Soviet Union.

Most Armenian-Canadians are centered in the provinces of Quebec (with communities in Montreal and Laval) and Ontario (Toronto, Cambridge and St. Catharines) and are active in community life. Smaller communities exist in the central and Maritime Provinces, with a slightly larger community in British Columbia.

Communities

Montreal and Laval

Montreal is center for two Armenian Apostolic (Orthodox) Prelacies governing not just Montreal community but all Armenian Apostolic (Orthodox) communities throughout Canada:
*Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada (representing the See of Holy Echmiadzin)
**Parishes: St. Gregory the Illuminator (in Outremont, Montreal) and Holy Cross Armenian Church (Laval)
*Armenian Prelacy of Canada (representing the Holy See of Cilicia)
**Parishes: Sourp Hagop Cathedral (Montreal) and Sourp Kevork Armenian Apostolic Church (Laval)

There is also the Notre Dame de Nareg Armenian Catholic Church (in Ville Saint Laurent suburb of Montreal) and various Armenian Evangelical Churches, most notably the First Armenian Evangelical Church (Montreal) and the Armenian Evangelical Church (Laval).

The Armenian community in Montreal has two full-time Armenian schools, the Sourp Hagop Armenian School and the Armén-Québec Alex Manoogian School.

In nearby Laval, there is also the Armenian Catholic Ecole Notre-Dame de Nareg School.

Montreal also boasts the publication of two long-running pan-Canadian Armenian weeklies, "Abaka" that started publishing in 1975 and "Horizon" that started publication in 1979. Both weeklies are in fact trilingual, as in addition to their Armenian-language content, they run English and French special sections as well on a weekly basis. Horizon Weekly also publishes a monthly literary supplement as well as a monthly youth supplement in addition to the annual New Year magazine.

Montreal also has a monument in remembrance of the victims of the Armenian Genocide. The monument also serves as a memorial of all nations that have suffered genocide. It is located in Parc Marcelin-Wilson in the district of Ahuntsic in Montreal.

Toronto

The Armenian community in Toronto is centred in the neighbourhoods of Don Valley Village and Pleasant View in north-central Toronto. The hub of the community is the [http://www.armenian.ca Armenian Community Centre] of Toronto complex at Victoria Park and 401.

There is an Armenian kindergarten, junior, middle and high school at the same location.

Armenian Apostolic churches include: Holy Trinity Armenian Church (See of Holy Echmiadzin) and St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church (Willowdale, Ontario belonging to the Holy See of Cilicia)

The Armenian Catholics have their own church, St. Gregory the Illuminator (Toronto)

Ottawa

There is an increasing Armenian population in the Canadian capital Ottawa. It hosts also the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia.

The capital city also has the St. Mesrob Armenian Apostolic Parish with a visiting pastor

Other Ontario regions

Because of the growth of the Armenian community, many have established outside the Metropolitan Toronto Area. Armenian communities are present in considerable numbers in the Ontario province in Mississauga, St. Catharines, Hamilton, Windsor and Cambridge.

Parishes of the See of Holy Echmiadzin: St Vartan (Mississauga), St. Gregory the Illuminator (St. Catharines), St. Mary (Hamilton) and Holy Resurrection (Windsor)

Parishes of the Holy See of Cilicia: St. Nishan (Cambridge), St. Paul (in St. Catharines)

Vancouver

Because of favourable weather, Vancouver (in British Columbia) to the west is the newest hub of an increasing Armenian community.

The community has its own Armenian Apostolic Churches: St Vartan Armenian Church (belonging to the See of Holy Echmiadzin) and St. Greogory the Illuminator (in Richmond belonging to the Holy See of Cilicia).

Notable Armenian Canadians

Armenians play an active role in many facets of Canadian society. Sarkis Assadourian, a former Liberal was a Member of Parliament for almost a decade (1993-2004).

Atom Egoyan is a renowned prize-winning Canadian-Egyptian movie director of Armenian origin.

Notes

ee also

* Immigration to Canada
* List of Armenian Canaadians

External links

General

* [http://www.horizonweekly.ca/ Horizon Weekly Newspaper]
* [http://www.armenian.ca/ Armenian Community Centre of Toronto, Ontario]
* [http://www.anccanada.org/ Armenian National Committee of Canada]
* [http://www.radio-canada.ca/Medianet/CBF/DimancheMagazine200211241110_1.asx Audio file about Montreal Armenians, in French]

Religious links:
* [http://www.armenianchurch.ca/ Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church (of the See of Holy Echmiadzin)]
* [http://www.armenianprelacy.ca/ Armenian Prelacy of Canada (of the Holy See of Cilicia)]
* [http://www.eacn.ca Armenian Catholic Notre-Dame de Nareg Parish in Montreal]
* [http://www.armeniancatholicchurch.com/ St. Gregory the Illumiator Armenian Catholic Church in Toronto]
* [http://www.hayavedmontreal.com/ First Armenian Evangelical Church of Montreal]