Tweet
ARMENIANS FIND THEIR ROOTS AT LAVAL ARMENIAN FESTIVAL
Laval News
http://lavalnews.ca/article/Laval-Armenian-Festival-191404
July 15 2011
QC, Canada
By Martin C. Barry | Fri, 07/15/2011 - 17:30 . From the left, Reverend
Hrayr Nikolian of Sourp Kevork Apostolic Church, Georges B. Tsovikian
of the Armenian National Committee of Laval, Laval city councillor for
Ste-Dorothee Pierre Cleroux and wife, and Hagop Lakhoyan, president
of the Sourp Kevork Apostolic Church's council.
A change of setting and great weather combined to make the 2011
Laval Armenian Festival one of the most enjoyable in years. Held in
the past on a vacant lot on St-Martin Blvd. provided by a shopping
centre development corporation, the three-day festival was held this
year on the grounds of the Sourp Kevork Armenian Apostolic Church on
des Prairies Blvd. in Laval-des-Rapides.
Laval loves Armenians
"It's a pleasure for me to be here," said Laval city councillor for
Ste-Dorothee Pierre Cleroux, who attended on the second evening as a
representative for Mayor Gilles Vaillancourt. Since Cleroux's district
has a significant proportion of persons of Armenian heritage, it was
appropriate for him to be a special guest at the festival.
"This is a beautiful event to be at and I am very fond of these
people," said Cleroux said, adding that the mayor has a special place
in his heart for the Armenian people. In recent years, Vaillancourt
has donated land to local Armenians to build a new church. He also
helped create a memorial to the Armenian Genocide, which is located
just off a service road on Autoroute 440 in Laval's downtown sector.
"If there is more we can do them we will do more," said Cleroux.
Finding their roots
Held for three days during the recent Canada Day long weekend,
the Armenian Festival attracted thousands of local Armenians, who
enjoyed traditional food, midway games, dancing and live music, to
remind them of their Armenian roots and culture. As many as 9,000
Laval residents are of Armenian descent. Organized as a fundraiser
by members of the Armenian Apostolic Church, it is the largest such
festival that local Armenians stage.
"This provides Armenians with a taste of Armenian music, food and
culture," said Sona Lakhoyan, a festival spokesperson. "They don't
necessarily have this during the rest of the year. This gives them a
chance, at the same time as Canada Day, to celebrate our culture. But,
of course, it's also open to everyone. People of all nationalities are
invited to come here to taste and feel what it means to be Armenian."
11 p.m. shutdown
As a gesture of welcome to residents of the neighbourhood surrounding
Sourp Kevork Armenian Apostolic Church, the festival's organizers
extended a special invitation to come and see the festival. As a
courtesy, the Armenian Festival organizers stopped all activities each
night before 11 p.m. so as not to overly disturb the neighbourhood's
usual tranquility.
While the organizers had in the past benefitted from the generosity
of the Smart!Centres corporation which allowed them to use the former
Centre 2000 site on St-Martin Blvd. for the festival, the company is
now in the midst of redeveloping the site, reportedly for a super-sized
Wal-Mart store. "They were real good to us and we can never forget
that," said Lakhoyan, acknowledging the kindness of Smart!Centres. "We
really appreciate the help they have provided to our communuity."
Laval News
http://lavalnews.ca/article/Laval-Armenian-Festival-191404
July 15 2011
QC, Canada
By Martin C. Barry | Fri, 07/15/2011 - 17:30 . From the left, Reverend
Hrayr Nikolian of Sourp Kevork Apostolic Church, Georges B. Tsovikian
of the Armenian National Committee of Laval, Laval city councillor for
Ste-Dorothee Pierre Cleroux and wife, and Hagop Lakhoyan, president
of the Sourp Kevork Apostolic Church's council.
A change of setting and great weather combined to make the 2011
Laval Armenian Festival one of the most enjoyable in years. Held in
the past on a vacant lot on St-Martin Blvd. provided by a shopping
centre development corporation, the three-day festival was held this
year on the grounds of the Sourp Kevork Armenian Apostolic Church on
des Prairies Blvd. in Laval-des-Rapides.
Laval loves Armenians
"It's a pleasure for me to be here," said Laval city councillor for
Ste-Dorothee Pierre Cleroux, who attended on the second evening as a
representative for Mayor Gilles Vaillancourt. Since Cleroux's district
has a significant proportion of persons of Armenian heritage, it was
appropriate for him to be a special guest at the festival.
"This is a beautiful event to be at and I am very fond of these
people," said Cleroux said, adding that the mayor has a special place
in his heart for the Armenian people. In recent years, Vaillancourt
has donated land to local Armenians to build a new church. He also
helped create a memorial to the Armenian Genocide, which is located
just off a service road on Autoroute 440 in Laval's downtown sector.
"If there is more we can do them we will do more," said Cleroux.
Finding their roots
Held for three days during the recent Canada Day long weekend,
the Armenian Festival attracted thousands of local Armenians, who
enjoyed traditional food, midway games, dancing and live music, to
remind them of their Armenian roots and culture. As many as 9,000
Laval residents are of Armenian descent. Organized as a fundraiser
by members of the Armenian Apostolic Church, it is the largest such
festival that local Armenians stage.
"This provides Armenians with a taste of Armenian music, food and
culture," said Sona Lakhoyan, a festival spokesperson. "They don't
necessarily have this during the rest of the year. This gives them a
chance, at the same time as Canada Day, to celebrate our culture. But,
of course, it's also open to everyone. People of all nationalities are
invited to come here to taste and feel what it means to be Armenian."
11 p.m. shutdown
As a gesture of welcome to residents of the neighbourhood surrounding
Sourp Kevork Armenian Apostolic Church, the festival's organizers
extended a special invitation to come and see the festival. As a
courtesy, the Armenian Festival organizers stopped all activities each
night before 11 p.m. so as not to overly disturb the neighbourhood's
usual tranquility.
While the organizers had in the past benefitted from the generosity
of the Smart!Centres corporation which allowed them to use the former
Centre 2000 site on St-Martin Blvd. for the festival, the company is
now in the midst of redeveloping the site, reportedly for a super-sized
Wal-Mart store. "They were real good to us and we can never forget
that," said Lakhoyan, acknowledging the kindness of Smart!Centres. "We
really appreciate the help they have provided to our communuity."