Christmas Reception for Committees

December 22, 2011 · Filed Under Past Events, Press Releases, Social

Christmas Reception for Toronto AGBU Committee Members

It’s Christmas time in the city is part of a tune often heard this time of year and families around the world get together to share this happy occasion. The Toronto AGBU similarly fêted this joyous season with a wine and cheese reception, on Monday, December the 12th, with its family, the hard-working individuals who make up its many committees.

The Alex Manoogian Cultural Centre was aglow with exquisitely illuminated Christmas adornments throughout as it welcomed members from Armen Ontario, the AGBU Executive Board, the Sports Youth Committee, the Young Professionals, and naturally the Principal and staff of the AGBU Zaroukian School and the school’s Parents’ Council. As the members mingled amongst themselves, an atmosphere of merriment and congeniality reigned.

Speeches were upbeat, positive and kept to a minimum. Kindred spirits seemed united in an effort to perpetuate and implement the mission instilled in the organization by its founder, Boghos Noubar Pasha, that is, to work for the benefit of and to support the Armenian people. And heaps of appreciation were showered upon the Executive Director of the Toronto AGBU, Salpi Der Ghazarian for all her work.

Christmas is a time to celebrate and share the joy we feel when family and friends come together. All those present were reminded that such a splendid occasion to share was coming up at the AGBU New Year’s Eve Gala on December 31st, and everyone was invited!

Isa Basmajian

Donations: ILOF for Mariam Nersessian

December 9, 2011 · Filed Under Past Events, Press Releases

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of
Mariam Nersessian, surrounded by her children and grandchildren.


Born in Jerusalem in 1923, Mariam Nersessian moved to Toronto in 1980. She was a kind and nurturing woman who lived all her life for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
She didn’t have the easiest life, but had a zest for life that was contagious. She always had a kind word for all and was sensitive to the feelings of others.
Buried on November 22, 2011 she is survived by 7 children, 15 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.
Mariam was a long time believer in and supporter of the Armenian General Benevolent Union and our mission. She was always looking for opportunities to support our ideas when the occasion arose.
We would like to sincerely thank her children: The Nersessians, the Meneshians, the DerGhazarians and the Deherians for remembering us during this painful time by selecting AGBU to honor their mother’s memory. Our thoughts are with their families during this most difficult time.
The AGBU would like to thank the donors for their generous contributions in Mariam’s memory. These donations will help ensure that our mission to promote the Armenian heritage and to serve Armenians both in Armenia and the Diaspora continues successfully.
Thus far, we have received the following donations in-lieu of flowers:

Mr. & Mrs. Berge Papazian 200
Mr. & Mrs. Kourken Sarkissian 200
Dr. & Mrs. Jack Sakarya 200
Mrs. Ani Kudavardian 200
Mrs. Zvart Vartanian 200
Mrs. Orysia Perun 100
Mr. & Mrs. Hagop Meneshian 100
Mr. & Mrs. Jack Anserian 100 (New Jersey)
Mrs. Ani Tanashian 100
Mr. & Mrs. Adom Knadjian 100
Dr. & Mrs. Arthur Khatchadourian 100
Mrs. Shakeh Basmajian 100
Ms. Knar Basmadjian 100
Norton McMullen & Co. LLP 100
Mr. & Mrs. Jamie Geroche 100
Mr. & Mrs. George Derghazarian 100
Mr. & Mrs. Serge Deherian 100
Mr. & Mrs. Soghomon Meneshian 100
Mr. & Mrs. Koko Atamian 100
Mr. & Mrs. Barkev Khojajian 100
Mr. & Mrs. Zaven Kurdian 100
Mr. & Mrs. Hrant Bardakjian 100
The Jamb Band 100
Mr. & Mrs. Khatchik Kouyoumdjian 100
Mr. & Mrs. Nubar Yeretsian 100
Abboud Family 100
Mr. Raffi Kouyoumdjian 100
AGBU Zaroukian School Teachers 90
Mr. & Mrs. Jack Stepanian 50
Mr. & Mrs. Haroutioun Mentcherian 50
Ms. Hasmik Kurdian 50
Mr. & Mrs. Varujan Karabulut 50
Mr. & Mrs. Berge Meneshian 50 (Boston)
Mr. & Mrs. Vahe Krikorian 50
Dr. Isa Bamajian 50
Ms. Silva Basmajian 50
Mr. & Mrs. Apisoghom Cholakian 50
Mr. & Mrs. Levon Yazejian 50
Mr. & Mrs. Vahe Makdessian 50
Mrs. Lydia Haddad 50
Mr. Arshak Garabedian 50
Mr. Edward Sarkissian 50
Mr. & Mrs. Hagop Altounian 50
Dr. Araxie Altounian 50
Mr. & Mrs. Bedros Kokorian 50
Mr. & Mrs. Aram Isnar 50
Mr. & Mrs. Hampo Davidian 50
Mrs. Mariam Abdo 50 (Vancouver)
Dr. & Mrs. Vartan Abdo 50 ( New Jersey)
Mr. & Mrs. Peter Kirkoc 50
Mr. & Mrs. Vatche Shahinian 50
Mr. & Mrs. Ohan Aprahamian 50 (Jerusalem)
Mrs. Alice Gulesserian 50
Mrs. Grace Eudemishlian Strang 50
Mr. & Mrs. Takvor Hopyan 50
Mr. & Mrs. Shahe Darakjian 50
Dr. & Mrs. Garbis Merjanian 50
Mr. Vartan Hagopian 50
Mrs. Sara Tomasian 50
Mr. & Mrs. John Torossian 40
Mr. & Mrs. Varazh Stepanian 30
Mrs. Satenik and Ms Hilda Eramian 30
Mr. & Mrs. Harout Makdessian 30
Ms. Rozik Mirzaian 30
Mr. & Mrs. Krikor Torikian 25
Mr. & Mrs. Harout Abajian 25
Mr. & Mrs. Jason Jestadt 25
Mr. & Mrs. Sifak Bilamjian 25
Mr. & Mrs. Vartan Vartanian 25

2011 Scholarship Awards

December 5, 2011 · Filed Under Past Events, Press Releases

On December 1st, 2011, the Toronto Chapter of the Armenian General Benevolent Union held its annual scholarship awards reception at the Alex Manoogian Cultural Centre. This year’s recipients were Mher Areyan, Hrant Babayan, Daron Bedrosyan, Davit Davtyan, Knar Deherian, Michelle Deherian, Garen Hagopian, Levon Kostanyan, Nyrie Kouyoumdjian, Tamar Makdessian, Liana Sukiasyan and Khatchadour Wanes.

Chapter Executive Members welcomed and congratulated the recipients on their achievements. The scholarship recipients talked about their ongoing education and future plans. Board members introduced the recipients to AGBU’s worldwide humanitarian programs, Youth Programs and ongoing activities at the Toronto Chapter.

The AGBU Education Department bases its decisions on the students’ academic achievements, the caliber of the institution at which they are enrolled, and their display of community service. Furthermore, their potential for success and contributions to the Armenian people and nation are of important value, and consider these as part of the selection criteria. The hope is that our scholarship recipients will assist AGBU in accomplishing its mission in their own capacity. We express our heartiest congratulations to the awardees.

Providing educational support to Armenians has been an integral part of AGBU’s mission since its founding in 1906. For more than 80 years, the AGBU Scholarship Program, through endowment funds established by generous donors, has contributed toward the higher education of thousands of promising young Armenians enrolled in leading colleges and universities in close to 40 countries across five continents. Today, through its AGBU Fellowship Program and added focus on specialized fields of study, such as the performing arts and religious studies, the AGBU Scholarship Program offers financial assistance to a broader range of Armenian students around the world. In return, many of them contribute to their communities through various programs, such as AGBU’s Young Professionals.

Established in 1906, AGBU (www.agbu.org) is the world’s largest non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through educational, cultural, and humanitarian programs, annually touching the lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world.
For more information about AGBU and its worldwide programs, please visit www.agbu.org.