Summary Of The Armenian Genocide Demonstration In Ottawa, Canada – April 24, 2012

In the early morning of April 24, 2012, I embarked on a journey to Ottawa, Ontario Canada to mark the 97th Anniversary commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. Annually we take trips to Ottawa to stand in front of the Ottawa Parliament Hill, then followed my a procession march to the Turkish Embassy. This morning we arrived to the Parliament at 11am just about an hour before things kicked off at the Parliament hill. In the beginning we were asked to have a moment of silence for the 1.5 Million Armenians murdered by the Turkish Ottoman Empire. Many speakers and politicians were present such as Hn. Jason Kenney, Hn. Bob Rae, Hn. Stephane Dion and more. I had met Hn. Stephane Dion on so many occasions in Montreal as well as now in Ottawa. I shook Hn. Bob Rae’s Hand while he was stepping down after his speech. Then they had to hurry into the Parliament as there is a house of commons meeting that was being held. Followed by a prayer said by Bishop Khajag Hagopian from the Montreal’s Head Church Diocese of Sourp/Saint Hagop Armenian Church.

Many People came out to the Armenian Genocide commemoration despite of the unlucky unsettled weather we had all day from rain/snow mix, to ice pellets, to a little bit of sun, and back to rain with cold, freezing winds. Despite all of that we had a pretty reasonable turnout, but I was hoping for more. I would make an exception if people had work and school that they could not take the time off, but those who would refuse to come out due to weather conditions, is something I just cannot handle. 1.5 Million Armenians were killed and went through every terrible ordeal as possible with blood, violence, and suffering, plus walking in the desert being supervised by the Turkish Ottoman empire and when those people fell and were tired they would kick them down more and yell at them to get up and keep going for many weeks. It is very important to attend this commemoration every year and travel from parts of Ontario and Quebec and other places to get together for an important issue in our Armenian history and to teach the new generation and youth young adults that they will be the leaders of our country Armenia and will run so many things. It was quite a peaceful demonstration as it is always every year. The voices of the dead will never be silenced. We want justice and we want the truth now.