10,000 Montrealers march to commemorate Armenian genocide –

(photo by Mgo Hagopian, Badger photography)

Montreal politicians marched with an estimated 10,000 people to honour 1.5 million victims killed in the 1915 Armenian genocide. 

WESTMOUNT – A group of Montreal politicians marched with an estimated 10,000 people in honour of the 1.5 million victims killed in the 1915 Armenian genocide.

The march was a show of solidarity against all forms of genocide and crimes against humanity, organizers said.

The Montreal area is home to about 20,000 people of Armenian descent — almost half the Canadian total.

One of the Armenian-Canadians whose family came here following the genocide was Harout Chitilian, the vice president of Montreal’s executive committee.

“Not only have we found a home in Canada, but we actively participate in politics and the economy,” he said. “Canada has been great to us.”

The mayors of Montreal and Laval, along with federal Liberal leader Justin Trudeau met at Westmount Park and walked to Place des Arts.

“By recognizing the atrocities of theArmenian Genocide, we are reminded of the pain and suffering endured by those affected,” Trudeau wrote in a prepared release.

The demonstration started on St. Catherine street around 2:30 p.m.

It commemorated the 100 years since the beginning of what many historians call the Armenian genocide.

Global News