TORONTO-BORN NYREE ABRAHAMIAN AMONG CREATIVE ARMENIA-AGBU FELLOWS

Toronto-born, Yerevan-based writer and creative producer Nyree Abrahamian is among the ten recipients of the 2023 Creative Armenia-AGBU Fellowship. The arts foundation and the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) announced the fifth class of Creative Armenia-AGBU fellows in a statement on Jan. 31.

“As always, the fifth wave of the Fellowships will empower powerful new voices in film, music, literature, the visual arts, and beyond with funding, mentorship, and career support—but this year with a special emphasis on Artsakh-related projects,” reads a part of the statement.

Abrahamian is currently producing a podcast featuring stories of people living in Armenia during this critical time for the country. “Country of Dust”’s first season is slated to premiere in the near future. She has worked on several innovative educational programs and written for humanitarian organizations such as UNICEF and the HALO Trust. Abrahamian is a former adjunct instructor at the American University of Armenia (AUA), where she taught a foundational communications and civics course. In 2021, she was selected as a mentee in the International Armenian Literary Alliance’s (IALA) mentorship program’s inaugural session.

Abrahamian, who holds a B.A. in English from York University and an Ed.M. in International Educational Policy from Harvard University, is also one of the organizers of the Tumanyan International Storytelling Festival. Born and raised in Toronto, she lives in Yerevan with her husband and two children.

Among the other 2023 fellows are photographer and filmmaker Alexis Pazoumian (France); filmmaker Nare Leone Ter-Gabrielyan (Armenia); documentary filmmaker Sareen Hairabedian (United States/Armenia/Jordan); filmmaker Alik Tamar Barsoumian (United States); photographer and filmmaker Diana Markosian (United States); visual artist Gayane Yerkanyan (Netherlands); visual artist Harutyun Tumaghyan (Armenia); jazz vocalist Lusine Yeghiazaryan (United States); and saxophonist, educator, and composer Raffi Garabedian (United States).

“With the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Artsakh, we are proud to support artists who are on the frontline of an important cultural mission,” said AGBU Central Board member Ani Manoukian. “The indifference of the world must be challenged by the creation of new films, works, and images out of Artsakh—a profound and continuing cultural legacy.”

Last month, Creative Armenia and AGBU announced the launch of their Artsakh awareness and education campaign, marked by the digital release of the award-winning war documentary “Invisible Republic,” which tells the story of the 2020 Artsakh War through the eyes of writer and photographer Lika Zakaryan. The film is available on virtual cinema at: watch.eventive.org/ invisiblerepublic

“At this moment of crisis, Lika Zakaryan’s story is more vital than ever,” said Garin Hovannisian, the film’s director and Creative Armenia’s founder. “We are proud to support Lika, as we are proud to support our Fellows and all artists working to make our invisible republic more visible to the world.”

The 2023 Creative Armenia-AGBU Fellows will receive a $5,000 grant, mentorships with industry leaders and award-winning artists, and diverse promotional opportunities.

“I am elated that the unity and the advocacy of Scarborough and Scarborough-Agincourt residents paid off. I was honored to defend the interest of our residents and oppose the initial proposal by making my opposition clear during the Commission’s public hearings,” Babikian said in a letter addressed to riding residents on Feb. 12. “Our residents once again sent a clear message that we will not tolerate the injustices our region has been subjected to in the past. I am proud and privileged to represent such a great and vibrant community,” Babikian added.

Last year, the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission proposed a drastic change to the boundaries for Scarborough-Agincourt, which included plans to annex a large portion of the western neighborhoods and amalgamate them into North York. There were also plans to reduce Scarborough’s electorate districts from six to five.

The Commission released a short statement about its decision on Feb. 10, outlining that it was tasked with proposing new boundaries that, “as best as possible, maintain population equality while taking into consideration social and geographic factors, including respect for communities of interest or identity and historical patterns of previous boundaries.”

“The time and effort committed by the public to this important democratic process was remarkable and very much valued by the Commission. We are satisfied that we have balanced our statutory obligations with the views of the people of Ontario, striving for the goal of effective representation”, said the Honourable Justice Lynne C. Leitch, Chair of the three-member Commission.

“The initial proposal generated anger and displeasure among our residents. Many of us felt Scarborough has once again been discriminated against and disenfranchised,” Babikian said in the letter. During a public hearing organized by the Commission last October, many Scarborough-Agincourt residents voiced their concerns to the Commission. “As a result of our collective efforts, in its final report on Feb. 10, 2023, the Commission reversed its redistribution plan for Scarborough-Agincourt and Scarborough. The Commission admitted that its first proposal was ‘another act against a part of Toronto which feels it has suffered a long series of setbacks and disappointments from governments of all levels,’” Babikian explained.

Նորապսակ եւ նշանադրեալ զոյգերը (լուսանկար՝ Ս. Երրորդութիւն եկեղեցւոյ)

Երկուշաբթի, 13 փետրուար 2023-ին, Թորոնթոյի Սուրբ Երրորդութիւն եկեղեցւոյ մէջ կատարուեցաւ նախատօնակ, ինչպէս նաեւ նորապսակ եւ նշանադրեալ զոյգերու օրհնութիւն: Գանատահայոց թեմի փոխառաջնորդ եւ եկեղեցւոյ հովիւ, արժանապատիւ տէր Զարեհ աւ. քհնյ. Զարգարեանին աղօթակից էր հովիւի օգնական տէր Հայարի քհնյ. Թանաշեանը։ Ըստ Ս. Երրորդութեան եկեղեցւոյ հրապարակած հաղորդագրութեան, երեկոյեան հանդիսաւոր ժամերգութեան աւարտին կատարուեցաւ նորապսակ եւ նշանադրեալ զոյգերու օրհնութեան կարգ: Ապա, տեղի ունեցաւ հոգեւորականներու, սարկաւագներու, դպրաց դասի եւ նորապսակ եւ նշանադրեալ զոյգերու թափորը, որ շարականներու երգեցողութեամբ ուղղուեցաւ եկեղեցւոյ շրջափակ, ուր սուրբ խորանէն բերուած մոմով վառուեցաւ Տեառնընդառաջի աւանդական խարոյկը։ Թափորի աւարտին, տեղի ունեցաւ հիւրասիրութիւն՝ ի պատիւ նորապսակ եւ նշանադրեալ զոյգերուն: Հաղորդագրութեան մէջ եկեղեցին յատուկ շնորհակալութիւն կը յայտնէ Միրզոյեան ընտանիքին, որ, ինչպէս ամէն տարի, այս տարի եւս ապահոված եւ պատրաստած էր աւանդական խարոյկը:

Obituary: Marie Ghazarian Nichols, Torontohye’s oldest known reader (1920-2023)

Սերոբ Ղազարեան`

հաւատաւոր ընկեր (1931-2023)

Marie (or “Mets” to friends and family)—a true Kessabtsi in spirit— was born in Keorkeuna, an Armenian village in Syria, during the wheat harvest in October 1920. Her father Serop “Azab” and her mother Faride “Sitta Lelo” Ghazarian were survivors of the Armenian Genocide.

Marie recently celebrated her 102nd birthday. She was predeceased by her younger brothers Yessai in Toronto, Simon in Brazil, and their wives Marie and Suzanna. She passed away on Jan. 22, 2023, and is survived by her daughter, Johanna Nichols (DarrellLee), son Albert Nichols (Jeni), and her grandchildren, Sienna and Jera, as well as her brothers, John (Varsenig) and Sam (Kohar).

Marie led a much-storied life— from Kessab, to Lebanon, to Gaza, to Toronto, to Calgary, and eventually to Penticton, in the beautiful Okanagan Valley. She worked as a dedicated and skilled nurse in Lebanon, Gaza (during WWII), Toronto, Calgary, and Penticton. Marie was a devoted single parent to her children, who regarded her as their hero. After she

Marie was proud of her Armenian heritage and continued to learn and read about Armenian history and culture throughout her life. She was always happy to host any Armenians passing through town and did her best to educate non-Armenians who would sit and listen about her history and tell tales from her youth. She could never make a pilgrimage back to Kessab; however, her heart was always with her homeland and her people.

Torontohye’s editors and staff extend their deepest condolences to Marie Marlene Ghazarian Nichols’ family and loved ones. Marie, who we believe was Torontohye’s oldest regular reader, was a longtime supporter of our publication and a subscriber to our print edition since 2010.

(1929-2023)

եւ շարքային կուսակցական ընկերներուն, նախ եւ առաջ, մեր խորազգաց ցաւակցութիւնները կը յայտնենք մեր հանգուցեալ ընկերոջ ընտանեկան պարագաներուն եւ հարազատներուն եւ մեր խորին գնահատանքը կ'արտայայտենք ընկեր Սերոբի կուսակցական վաստակին եւ անվերապահ նուիրումին: Մեր խորազգաց ցաւակցութիւնները կը յայտնենք նաեւ մեր բոլոր ընկերներուն ու համակիրներուն, որոնք մօտէն ծանօթացած, յարաբերած ու գործակցած են ընկեր Հանգիստ ննջէ՛, sadly lost one of its long-standing members on February 2, 2023. Hagop “Jack” Ashdjian was born in 1929 in Beirut, Lebanon, to genocide survivors Asadour Ashdjian and Takouhy (née Torahanian). He became an accomplished auto mechanic and served the Beirut Armenian community through the civil unrest of the late 1950s. In April 1961, with his sisters Haigouhie and Lucy, he landed at the Pier 21 immigration terminal in Halifax and settled in Toronto. He applied his entrepreneurial spirit to start a Texaco gas station at Pape and O’Connor Drive, held for Toronto’s burgeoning Armenian community. From the earliest days of their establishment, he played an active part in the Toronto Armenian comedic theatre and dance groups.

In 1965, he married Mary (née Kavoukian) and established a loving family with daughters Nora and Maral, eventually being blessed with two grandchildren, Avrene and Thomas.

He passed away peacefully at the age of 94. All those who knew Jack will remember how he would light up the room with his jokes, smile, and passion for life.