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PRESS RELEASE
Sara Corning Centre for Genocide Education
CONTACT: Raffi Sarkissian
TELEPHONE: 647-206-4769
E-MAIL: [email protected]
April 26, 2013
Sara Corning Centre for Genocide Education Launched in Toronto
TORONTO - March 26, 2013, saw the public launch of the Sara Corning Centre
for Genocide Education, a Toronto-based institute founded in September 2012.
The centre is named after Sara Corning, a Nova Scotian nurse best known for
saving 5,000 Armenian orphans when Turkish troops set fire to the port city
of Smyrna in 1922. In appreciation for her humanitarian work, Greece's King
George II awarded Corning one of his country's highest civilian honours a
year later.
Continuing in Corning's tradition, the centre was established to conduct
and promote research on human rights- and genocide-related issues for
elementary and secondary school students and educators.
`We believe that education in these fields is effective in ensuring
Canadian students become engaged in civic life, advocate for their own
rights and those of others, and remain aware of the consequences of
discrimination,' explained Founder and Chair Raffi Sarkissian. `Education
is the most effective means for fostering a society with a strong sense of
social justice and respect for human rights. We have an obligation to
ensure that our students learn to play their part in upholding human rights
in Canada and abroad,' he continued.
Daniel Ohanian, Director of Research, said of the centre's two-pronged
approach, `Our research on issues surrounding equity and discrimination
seeks to keep Canadians informed and aware of issues - both historical and
current - that shape and affect our world. Our educational initiatives
focus on developing teacher training and workshop opportunities, program
development for schools, classroom visits, public lectures and
presentations, and the development of teacher and student resources.'
The organization has already led a teacher training workshop, made several
classroom visits, published a commemorative poster, and presented an
exhibit titled 90 Years: The Arrival of the Georgetown Armenian Boys. The
latter celebrated the 90th anniversary of the arrival of the first
contingent of a group of 109 child survivors of the Armenian Genocide who
were brought up in and around Georgetown, Ontario.
The Corning Centre's public launch was accompanied by the publication of
its Facebook page (www.facebook.com/corningcentre), Twitter feed (
www.twitter.com/corningcentre), and website (www.corningcentre.org), which
can be used to access teacher resources, book classroom visits, arrange
public presentations, and subscribe to the institute's mailing list.
PHOTO CAPTIONS
Canada We Thank You - Georgetown Armenian Boys thanking Canada
Corning Centre Logo - Sara Corning Centre for Genocide Education logo
Sara_Corning - The centre's namesake, nurse Sara Corning
Sara Corning Centre for Genocide Education
CONTACT: Raffi Sarkissian
TELEPHONE: 647-206-4769
E-MAIL: [email protected]
April 26, 2013
Sara Corning Centre for Genocide Education Launched in Toronto
TORONTO - March 26, 2013, saw the public launch of the Sara Corning Centre
for Genocide Education, a Toronto-based institute founded in September 2012.
The centre is named after Sara Corning, a Nova Scotian nurse best known for
saving 5,000 Armenian orphans when Turkish troops set fire to the port city
of Smyrna in 1922. In appreciation for her humanitarian work, Greece's King
George II awarded Corning one of his country's highest civilian honours a
year later.
Continuing in Corning's tradition, the centre was established to conduct
and promote research on human rights- and genocide-related issues for
elementary and secondary school students and educators.
`We believe that education in these fields is effective in ensuring
Canadian students become engaged in civic life, advocate for their own
rights and those of others, and remain aware of the consequences of
discrimination,' explained Founder and Chair Raffi Sarkissian. `Education
is the most effective means for fostering a society with a strong sense of
social justice and respect for human rights. We have an obligation to
ensure that our students learn to play their part in upholding human rights
in Canada and abroad,' he continued.
Daniel Ohanian, Director of Research, said of the centre's two-pronged
approach, `Our research on issues surrounding equity and discrimination
seeks to keep Canadians informed and aware of issues - both historical and
current - that shape and affect our world. Our educational initiatives
focus on developing teacher training and workshop opportunities, program
development for schools, classroom visits, public lectures and
presentations, and the development of teacher and student resources.'
The organization has already led a teacher training workshop, made several
classroom visits, published a commemorative poster, and presented an
exhibit titled 90 Years: The Arrival of the Georgetown Armenian Boys. The
latter celebrated the 90th anniversary of the arrival of the first
contingent of a group of 109 child survivors of the Armenian Genocide who
were brought up in and around Georgetown, Ontario.
The Corning Centre's public launch was accompanied by the publication of
its Facebook page (www.facebook.com/corningcentre), Twitter feed (
www.twitter.com/corningcentre), and website (www.corningcentre.org), which
can be used to access teacher resources, book classroom visits, arrange
public presentations, and subscribe to the institute's mailing list.
PHOTO CAPTIONS
Canada We Thank You - Georgetown Armenian Boys thanking Canada
Corning Centre Logo - Sara Corning Centre for Genocide Education logo
Sara_Corning - The centre's namesake, nurse Sara Corning