The Key Component to Genocide Prevention

The Armenian Genocide

101 Years
1915-2016

On April 24, 1915 the Turkish Government and the Ottoman empire committed a terrible criminal act against humanity, tried to wipe out a whole race and culture. They killed 1.5 Million Armenians, stole our precious landmarks, churches, lands, Mount Ararat, pulled the rug right under us. The blood, flesh, bones, decapitation, tears, fears, displacing people from their homes, families, with Armenians changing their Armenian names to something Turkish so that they will not be targeted and where they will feel protected from harms way. The Turkish Government still denies and lies about ever committing Genocide against the Armenians and also still fails to recognize.

We will prevail, Justice is timeless.

This is why it is imperative to spread Genocide awareness as much as we can so that history will never repeat itself again.

In 2015, we commemorated the centennial. 100 years have gone by and this year in 2016 is the 101st. After 100 years, we will still continue to spread Genocide prevention.

Recognize, Acknowledge, Awareness, Educate, Prevent.

Those are the key components to Genocide prevention.

Not just for the Armenians, but all those in the world who have had to unfortunately, deal with Genocide in other cultures, races.

We received a lot of Global recognition last year which was incredible with all the coverage, letting people know about us, being put on the map, and addressing this very important subject.

Let us utilize the same energy we had during the Armenian Genocide 100th Centennial in 2015 and bring that same drive into 2016, to be big in numbers once again during peace demonstrations, marches, vigils, and so much more.

The CN Tower & I

I know it is kind of crazy to even write about this, but growing up as a child and into my lower teens, I was always obsessed and loved the CN Tower a lot. Being able to get up there 2-3 times around those times was something so exciting, being able to experience the observation deck, the glass floor to see down to the street. I would see it from the 401, the Gardiner Expressway, The CNE, and a lot of places around the City of Toronto and downtown. Even from my Grandmothers balcony.

I still know the facts about the CN Tower by heart. I know its a free-standing structure and one would ask, how can someone be obsessed with a tower?

Well, I have always been and always will be sentimental and these things were and still is a big deal for me. CN Tower is one of the most important structures and one of Toronto’s major icons and that makes our skyline what it is. Every time I see it, go near it, it makes me think of my childhood. I have still kept all of the CN Tower stuff I used to collect from magazines and everything. I once had CN Tower Staff mail me a huge package full of Pictures, Facts, Figures and everything back in the day. I am not sure if they still do that now, but if you inquire it, you can e-mail them or contact them here, http://www.cntower.ca/en-ca/contact-us/contact-us.html… I wrote them a letter which I was a kid and I got my package a few weeks later. It was awesome. I still have that too.
I will forever love my City of Toronto and the CN Tower.

You can go to the tower with friends, family, schools and spend a full day at the tower and enjoy the sights, sight-see from the top of the tower, you can observe Lake Ontario, see our major highway arteries, buildings from the north, south, east and west.

Here are some facts/figures about the CN Tower:

– It is located at 301 Front St W, Toronto, ON M5V 2T6 – In the heart of Downtown Toronto

– One of Ontario, Canada’s main attractions

– The height is 553 m which equals to 1,815 feet.

– It opened it’s doors in 1976

– it is 147 Stories high.

– It has been surpassed by the Burj Khalifa in Dubai

– John Andrews is the Architect of the Free Standing Structure.

– It is a marvel in civil Engineering

– There is an Antenna which broadcasts to over 30 fm/radio and television signals across Southern Ontario with an addition to wireless paging, cellular telephone service/signlas

– There is a restaurant called 360 and it is a revolving restaurant where it turns around in a circular motion.

– The CN Tower introduced a thrill called the Edgewalk, where you walk on the edge of the Tower up top and all that is holding you is a Harness. I have never tried it, but I would love to.

– The high speed elevator takes you up to the top in 58 seconds.

– There is the skypod, lookout level which is 33 more floors up

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All this and more information about the CN Tower — Visit — http://www.cntower.ca/

Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CN_Tower

Edgewalk CN Tower — http://www.edgewalkcntower.ca/

Things to do in Toronto http://www.toronto.com

Canadian Youth Mission To Armenia – CYMA 2013

I am delighted and glad to announce the return of the 2013 CYMA Mission to Armenia once again. Since 1993 during the summer months, the Canadian Youth Mission to Armenia participants have traveled on a memorable journey to Armenia to assist in rebuilding villages, facilities, churches, and provide aid to Armenia. Annually this mission is very important to provide humanitarian work, binding youth to their homeland Armenia, and dedicated to assisting the children of Armenia. CYMA is part of the project by the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada. This years mission to Armenia will be to renovate a school in the Geghadir village. In addition to renovating the school a children’s workshop, distribution of humanitarian aid, and local community visitations will also take place in the village.

The main purpose of the Canadian Youth Mission to Armenia is to experience a fulfilling journey, to learn, and participants will experience something totally different to live with local families to develop and strengthen the emotional and spiritual bond between Armenian youth, as well as Canada and Armenia. This years Journey to Armenia will be from July 8, 2013 until August 8th, 2013. For 4 weeks, Youth will not only be rebuilding the school in Geghadir Village, they will always go on excursions to visit Historical Landmarks of Armenia, visiting churches, museums, and visiting the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan, Armenia. which is the Country’s Capital, also visiting St Etchmiadzin which is the First church ever built, among going to Lake Sevan and having a swim, recreational time, experiencing tasting Armenian food, the night life, day life, and among spending time with each other who will be participating, creating everlasting friendships, and returning back home with a new perspective on life, to be nurtured, educated, getting out in the world to see new things, to develop a whole new outlook on life, to spread the word on what they learned, what they experienced, and what it meant for each person to be there, and so much more.

CYMA has always been and will always be dedicated to its mission, and for many years to come.

CYMA is open to anyone over the age of 17, as of July 1st, 2013 and anybody can participate in this beautiful journey to the homeland motherland Armenia.

THE COST

The cost of the trip including airfare, food, transportation, excursion and accommodation

will be $2,800  $300 non refundable deposit by April 15 ($500 by May 1).

Second Payment: By June 1,  $1,700.

Final Payment: By June 19, $ 975

History

Canadian Youth Mission to Armenia LEGACY

1993 Built a school in Ararat
1994 Renovated a seminary and an adjacent church in Harich
1995 Renovated “Nor Tbrots” school in Ararat
1996 Renovated “Megheti” children’s day campus in Dilijan
1997 Day Camp for 200 orphans in Dzaghgatsor
1998 Renovated Khor Virab & conducted day camps in Ararat
1999 Renovated Dzaghgatsor orphanage
2000 Renovated school in Aradashen
2001 Youth Pilgrimage commemorating 1700th Anniversary of Christianity
2002 Continued renovations of school in Aradashen
2003 Renovation of a kindergarten in Taleen
2004 Many Hands, One Heart! Saghmosavank
2005 Building our Future! Renovation of Christian Education Center in Armavir
2006 Renovation of a kindergarten in the village of Aradashen.
2007 Extend Your Hand Expend Your Family: Renovation of St. Nshan Church in Armavir
2008 Oshagan Village
2009 Oshagan Village
2010 Geghadir Village Renovation of the Village  school.

2012 Geghadir Village continuing the Renovation of the School.

http://armenianchurch.ca/mission/cyma/

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.466287276717332&type=1

http://www.facebook.com/armeniamission

You can gain more information from Deacon Ivan Gyadayan or Bedros Kokorian from Toronto and Montreal Parishes. Flight will be from Montreal, Quebec.

For more information please call:

Deacon Ivan, Montreal  514-549-0416.

Email: deaconivangyadayan@gmail.com

615, Stuart Outremont, Qc, Canada H2V 3H2

Bedros Kokorian, Toronto 416-804-4763

Email: kokorian@rogers.com

Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church

920 Progress Ave, Scarborough, Ont. Canada M1G 3T5

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Thank you, and we hope you will join CYMA 2013 for a rewarding and beautiful experience to take on with you for life.

Preserving North American Historic Architecture and It’s Landmarks

In recent news, I heard about a few landmarks in Toronto Canada will be shut down like Casa Loma because of Money, and that is a great course of concern for me. This is a big problem and it needs to be addressed. In North America, it seems to me that whenever a landmark gets old, or buildings get old with Historic Architecture, and when buildings get outdated, they automatically think its okay to demolish it or shut it down and build modern looking buildings that destroy a historic building and a site which was once a vital part of history. It is not right to tamper with historical monuments and buildings because when we look back in history books and pictures, people will wonder what happened to those buildings? Historians and those who are becoming historians and studying archeology and other forms of history subjects, it is important to preserve our history and not rebuild something new.

In All of Europe and some middle eastern countries, they are doing their best to conserve, preserve and make sure that artifacts, buildings, museums and other important parts of a country’s history does not fade away and that is exactly what North America is doing. A Hockey Arena the Maple Leaf Gardens were converted to a grocery store and a department store, it is not a cool thing to do, I’d rather it be there as a museum of Hockey history, rather than it being destroyed and used for other things. A lot of people were not happy about that. What I am saying is that, when a piece of history gets destroyed, that is something that Is not good for the future of Canada or the United States of America. Preserving and making sure that these are well kept so that future generations can visit and learn about it through history books, and set up trips to go see these monuments, buildings and actually get a feel of history. I am not saying that each historical monument or building is shut down or destroyed, but I am talking about the ones that are. It is crucial and vital for our identity as North Americans, and that is a big piece of the puzzle. If we destroy history, then what will we teach to our future generations?

This really alarmed me and I felt the need to share it with you all. It is important to raise awareness to stop from these things happening. We all need to do our best to prevent history from fading away and preserve it as much as possible.

I Finally Went On Maid Of The Mist In Niagara Falls, Ontario – July, 14, 2012

On July 14, 2012, I embarked on my 4th trip to Niagara falls within 3 months and it was an experience I will never forget. This time went with great friends whom I have known for years from my Armenian Community center. I never would have expected that I would go on Maid Of The Mist. I have always come to Niagara, but I have never went on it. So this time I put my foot down and did it. I am so glad I did. People often take photos and look at the falls from above, but once you go on that boat with your blue poncho, and start heading toward the American and Horseshoe falls, you automatically feel the sense of amazement and it is so beautiful.  More beautiful than looking at it from above. I saw a rainbow on the American falls, and once we were getting toward the big one, the mist started to come onto all of us, and it was refreshing and at the same time the view, and the experience was unlike any other. I will never forget this experience for the rest of my life. I want to go on this again next time I go. It was an experience of a lifetime.

If you have not tried Maid of The Mist yet and if you have not yet visited Niagara Falls, you must do it. Everything is great in Niagara, but this one takes the cake out of everything else. God has created a beautiful earth and with amazing landmarks and everything else. God bless Niagara Falls… I was thinking to myself how Wallenda did it, with all that mist hitting up top and I was thinking to myself how the rope was put on and how everything took place. Wow, and the energy, the power of the water when it falls and all the white water going around like crazy, it was amazing. TOTALLY AMAZING. Do it!