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

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

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.

In his lecture, Dr. Bournoutian presented findings from his research on Karabagh – the result of 6 months of inquiry during which he worked 10 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Dr. Bournoutian’s evidence focused on a copy of the original version of the 1823 Russian Survey on Karabagh which the professor stumbled upon in 2010 after an arduous search. After studying this survey at length, Bournoutian discovered that it provided, for the very first time, reliable information about the Armenian presence at the time in the entire Karabagh province (not just mountainous Karabagh). Bournoutian noted that the survey provides population numbers as well as information regarding tax payments among different populations groups (given that the purpose of the study was to determine the amount of money Russia would collect from each area). Most importantly, the survey provided evidence indicating that there was a strong Armenian presence in mountainous Karabagh prior to 1828. Specifically, it showed that Armenians formed 96.6% of the population of mountainous Karabagh. In addition, the survey proved the existence of a large Armenian population in Zangezur – over 83% of the population. Even though overall, Armenians formed about 25% of the population of entire Karabagh in 1822, the information provided in this survey, Bournoutian remarked, was groundbreaking.

 Dr. Bournoutian subsequently explained that some historians deliberately deleted references to this Armenian presence in certain reproductions of the survey published later, and that these doctored versions of record books were subsequently sent to universities in the U.S., Canada and Europe. Until recently, there has never been statistical information on the population of Karabagh prior to 1828. The availability of this new data allowed attendees of Dr. Bournoutian’s lecture to gain a greater understanding of the Karabagh situation all the while serving as a reminder that one must always be critical of the information he or she reads. Finally, Bournoutian’s talk stirred debate about the manner in which perspective and political interest shapes historical documentation.

An animate and lively crowd began entering the main hall of the Centre as soon as the doors were opened at noon. Savoury aromas drifted throughout the building as parents with their children, grandparents with their grandchildren, couples and singles, young and old, filed by the rows of tables laden with heaps of luscious foods artfully decorated and arranged; a true feast for the eyes. So hard to choose! And once the food was purchased and the seats and tables secured, the consumption of the goodies became a gourmet’s delight. Mmms and yums were heard all around as people tasted their meals. The food was wonderful but the elegantly decorated hall, the memorable music playing in the background, the large cheery crowd present all contributed to create a warm and festive mood that lingered long into the evening, well past when the last morsel of food had been eaten.

Such a day does not just magically come together. It takes a great many people to plan and create such wonderful events. Bravo to all the many master chefs, because that’s what those hardworking AGBU ladies are, who prepared such an incredible variety of palatable foods. Bravo to the organizers, headed by the Executive Director of the Toronto AGBU, Salpi Der Ghazarian. Bravo to the volunteers who decorated the hall, who stood behind the tables and counters, who donated goods or made donations to ensure the success of the bazaar. This was a true collaborative, co-operative and concordant effort in the true spirit of the AGBU. And the fact that the bazaar fell on the 13th of November this year may have convinced those afflicted with triskaidekaphobia into believing that good things can indeed happen on the 13th. For the Toronto AGBU Bazaar of 2011 was definitely a good thing; in fact for those of us who were lucky enough to be there, it was a very very good thing. Can’t wait until next year!

Dr. Isa Basmajian