Asbarez
Apr 29th, 2010
TORONTO, ON – In commemoration of the 95th Anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide, over one thousand members of the Canadian-Armenian community
of Toronto, joined by a number of prominent political and community
guests gathered at the Armenian Youth Centre on Sunday, April 25th.
Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism The Hon.
Jason Kenney conveyed the message of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Michael Ignatieff, Leader of the Official Opposition delivered his
message to the community. Jack Layton, Leader of the New Democratic
Party of Canada was unable to attend but sent a message.
Keynote speaker Robert Fisk addresses the audience.The evening’s
keynote speaker was Middle Eastern Correspondent for The Independent,
Robert Fisk, who discussed Turkey’s denial campaign and stressed
the importance of worldwide recognition of the Armenian Holocaust,
as it is referred to in The Independent.
Fisk holds more British and International journalism awards than any
other foreign correspondent. In 2001, he was awarded the David Watt
Prize for “outstanding contributions towards the clarification of
political issues and the promotion of their greater understanding”
for his investigation into the Armenian Genocide. To watch Robert
Fisk’s televised interview on CTV on April 24th please visit
.
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Chairman Ken Hachikian
was also a guest speaker at the event and discussed the current
state of House Resolution 252, the status of the Protocols as well
as President Obama’s statement regarding the Armenian Genocide and
Turkey’s continuous denial of this crime against humanity.
“For let there be no mistake, denial of the Armenian Genocide is
the denial of security to the Armenian nation. Armenia cannot,
today, be safe while the Turkish Republic remains on her border as
an unrepentant, antagonistic, and over-armed denier state.” stated
Hachikian.
Jivan Gasparyan Jr., famed Duduk player and grandson of the legendary
musician Jivan Gasparyan, performed a set of songs dedicated to the
one and a half million Armenians who were annihilated in 1915.
Additional dignitaries in attendance included David Caplan, Member of
Provincial Parliament for Don Valley East delivered a message from
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty. Frank Klees, Member of Provincial
Parliament for Newmarket-Aurora brought greetings from Progressive
Conservative Party of Ontario leader Tim Hudak. Michael Prue, Member
of Provincial Parliament for Beaches East York delivered the message
of the Ontario New Democratic Party and its leader Andrea Horwath.
Toronto Councilor Shelley Carroll, Ward 33 delivered Toronto Mayor
David Miller’s message. Jack Heath, Deputy Mayor of Markham brought a
message from Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti. Toronto District School
Board Chairman Bruce Davis delivered a message on the importance of
genocide education.
Guest speaker, ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian addresses the audience.
Also, in attendance were members of various levels of government
including: Senator Consiglio Di Nino (Ontario); Jim Karygiannis, MP
(Scarborough Agincourt); John McKay, MP (Scarborough-Guildwood); John
Cannis, MP (Scarborough Centre); Derek Lee, MP (Scarborough Rouge
River); Rob Oliphant, MP (Don Valley West); Borys Wrzesnewskyj, MP
(Etobicoke Centre); Paul Calandra, MP (Oak Ridges-Markham); Lois Brown,
MP (Newmarket-Aurora); Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Eric
Hoskins, MPP; Chair of Cabinet and Minister Responsible for Seniors
Gerry Phillips, MPP; Helena Jaczek, MPP (Oak Ridges-Markham); Toronto
City Councillors Adam Giambrone (Ward 18), Chin Lee (Ward 41), Mike Del
Grande (Ward 39) and Norm Kelly (Ward 40); York Regional Councillor
Gordon Landon (Town of Markham); Markham Councillor Logan Kanapathi
(Ward 7); Toronto District School Board Trustees Soo Wong (Ward 20)
and Michael Couteau (Ward 17).
Additionally, Toronto Mayoral candidates George Smitherman, Rocco
Rossi and Sarah Thomson attended.
The event was organized by the United Committee of Toronto for the
95th Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, consisting of A.R.F
Soghoman Tehlirian Gomideh, S.D. Hnchagian Party Paramaz Chapter and
A.D.L. (Ramgavar) Yesayi Yaghoubian Chapter.
The Armenian National Committee of Toronto is a chapter of the
Armenian National Committee of Canada, a grassroots organization that
was founded in 1965 to address the concerns of the Canadian Armenian
community on a broad range of issues.
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Awards
In 1991, Fisk won a Jacob’s Award for his RTÉ Radio coverage of the first Gulf War.[24] He received Amnesty International UK Press Awards in 1998 for his reports from Algeria and again in 2000 for his articles on the NATO air campaign against Yugoslavia in 1999. In 1999 Fisk won the Orwell Prize for journalism.[25] He received the British Press Awards’ International Journalist of the Year seven times, and twice won its “Reporter of the Year” award.[26] In 2001, he was awarded the David Watt Prize for “outstanding contributions towards the clarification of political issues and the promotion of their greater understanding” for his investigation into the Armenian Genocide by the Turks in 1915.[27] In 2002 he was the fourth recipient of the Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism. More recently, Fisk was awarded the 2006 Lannan Cultural Freedom Prize along with $350,000.[28]
He was made an honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of St Andrews on June 24, 2004. The Political and Social Sciences department of Ghent University (Belgium) awarded Fisk an honorary doctorate on March 24, 2006. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the American University of Beirut in June 2006. Trinity College Dublin awarded him a second, honorary, Doctorate in July 2008.[29]
Fisk gave the 2005 Edward Said Memorial lecture at Adelaide University.[30]