History
The first chapter of Hamazkayin in North America was established in Montreal in August 1963. This chapter brought together a choir, dance group, and theater troupe that had been formed in the community, one after the other, beginning in 1955.
The Toronto Chapter was formed in 1969, and its first event was an artistic evening dedicated to the centennial of the birth of the great musicologist Gomidas.
These two chapters and Armenian cultural associations in Boston, New York, New Jersey, and Detroit came together in June 1975 to form the executive body of the Hamazkayin Armenian Cultural Association in the Eastern Region of North America. The purpose of this body was to gather all the local bodies under the Hamazkayin name and strengthen relations between them.
Through the efforts of this executive body, chapters were formed in the Canadian cities of Hamilton and Cambridge in 1976.
A Special Convention was convened in Toronto by the executive body in December 1976. It deciding to create two regional organizations, one for all of Canada and one for the Eastern United States. In June 1977, the inaugural Regional Representative Assemblies were held. The U.S. Eastern Region convened in Boston and the Canada Region in Hamilton to elect the first regional executive boards.
In 1978, the Regional Executive Board for Canada formed the Book Distribution Committee. Through the chapters, the committee took on the distribution of Armenian books, records, and tapes in all Canadian cities with significant Armenian populations. This initiative, the most organized of its kind in Canada, effectively satisfied the literary needs of Armenian book lovers as well as the textbook requirements of Armenian schools.
The Vancouver Chapter was created in 1981.
In 2002, consistent with the provisions of the new bylaws approved by Hamazkayin’s Fourth Congress, the Regional Executive Board for Canada encouraged the formation of “cores.”
Cores
The following cores, which had been formed in the past, are currently dissolved:
- Haghpad (Quebec City) – 3 members
- Amaras (Hamilton) – Nominal
- Armash (St. Catharines) – Nominal
The cores formed in Cambridge and Vancouver currently hold the status of full chapters.
Current Situation (2025)
In 2025, the Hamazkayin Canada Region has some 450 members, as follows:
Sanahin (Montreal-Laval) – 200 members
Klatsor (Toronto) – 150 members
Datev (Cambridge) – 50 members
Varak (Vancouver) – 30 members
Activities of the Regional Executive Board
The Regional Executive Board for Canada for the 2024–26 term consists of the following members:
Tamar Chahinian, Chair
Anahid Torossian Balian, Secretary
Dzovig Gudian, Treasurer
Maral Berberian, Representative to the Sanahin Chapter
Harout Donoyan, Representative to the Klatsor Chapter
Taline Artinian Kelebozian, Representative to the Datev Chapter
Eugenie Parseghian, Representative to the Varag Chapter
As in the past, the primary work of the Regional Executive Board in Canada today is the activation of the chapters and the strengthening of relations between them and with the other North American regions. To this end, the three regional executive boards of North America (Canada, Eastern United States, and Western United States) have organized “ArtLinks” every June since 2015. Participants in this youth network develop their cultural knowledge by interacting with select Armenian artists and learning through workshops.
Under the auspices of the Regional Executive Board, the Levon Shant Armenian Studies Course has been held since 2019. Numerous lecturers from Montreal, other parts of Canada, and abroad share their knowledge and experience through lectures and workshops. Students following this course gain additional skills in Western Armenian and Armenian studies. The founding committee includes Viken Tufenkjian, Vrej-Armen Artinian, and Dzovig Kahvejian. The program is coordinated and managed by Dr. Tufenkjian. All lectures are filmed and available on the Hamazkayin Armenolog YouTube channel.
The Regional Executive Board provides support annually, including financial support, to ensure Armenian youth can participate in the Hamazkayin Student Gathering (Forum).
On an annual basis, the board organizes:
- An essay competition for 8th-grade students enrolled in Saturday schools and day schools.
- An Armenian book competition for adults to encourage writers to create children’s and youth literature in Western Armenian. The work of the first-prize winner is published by the board.
- Online Western Armenian classes, in both group and individual formats, for various levels with no age limit.
- Within the scope of publishing, the board established the Oshagan series, periodically editing and publishing unpublished works of literary value. The editorial staff includes Dr. Tufenkjian, Haroutun Berberian, and Eliza Chakmakjian.
Chapter Activities
The chapters conduct a variety of activities and cooperate closely with one another.
The Sanahin Chapter in Montreal maintains the “Ani” junior and senior dance groups, the “Bedros Atamian” theater troupe, the “Knar” choir, the Children’s Story Hour program, “Tea, Coffee, and Opinions” gatherings, as well as committees for the Noor (Pomegranate) Armenian Film Festival, literature, fine arts, a library, and book distribution. The Mushegh Ishkhan Library is highly active and is the largest Armenian public library in Canada, containing over 8,000 volumes. To stimulate interest in the Armenian language and history and to encourage participation in the Hamazkayin Student Forum, the 11th-grade student at the École arménienne Sourp Hagop with the highest average in Armenian language and history receives a flight ticket to Armenia as a prize from the regional and chapter executive boards. All artistic groups are active in the community, performing frequently.
The Klatsor Chapter in Toronto maintains the “Georges Sarkissian” theater troupe, the “Erebuni” dance group, the “Artsakh” school of dance, the “Kusan” choir, the “Armenian Stars” youth choir, a literary circle, the “Arshile Gorky” art gallery, and the Hamazkayin “H. Manugian” library. Since 2007, the chapter has organized the Pomegranate (Noor) Film Festival in the autumn, which is a unique initiative. The library and book distribution committee is active in the community, organizing book presentations and Armenian book weekends. Since 2005, the Hamazkayin Theater Hall has been part of the Armenian Youth Centre of Toronto, thanks to a significant donation by Simon and Maral Hassirjian.
Annual activities include recitation contests, knowledge competitions, children’s history hours, and jubilee celebrations. Since 2012, the unique Literary Circle gatherings have been held regularly.
The Varak Chapter in Vancouver maintains the “Mesrob Mashtots” children’s choir and the “Masis” dance group. The chapter has been reactivated after many years and organizes various events throughout the year, including handicraft sessions.
The Datev Chapter in Cambridge has a library and organizes various cultural presentations during the year, including book sales, film screenings, and craft workshops. It cooperates closely with the Sanahin and Klatsor Chapters to organize theatrical, literary, choral, and dance performances.
Hamazkayin is a permanent presence in the life of the Armenian community in Canada and frequently participates in both Armenian and broader public events.
Email: regional@hamazkayin.ca