A Message from Minister Jason Kenney on the Occasion of the 99th Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide

Today, I join all Canadians of Armenian origin in marking the 99^th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

 

The events of 1915 represent a terrible page in the history of humanity, punctuating what Blessed Pope John Paul II referred to as “the century of tears.”  As you know, Canada’s Senate and House of Commons have adopted motions recognizing the mass killings of Armenians in Anatolia in 1915 as genocide, and condemning it as a crime against humanity. We are committed to ensuring that all Canadians remember the lessons of the past so that such crimes are never repeated. For example, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights being constructed in Winnipeg will included a permanent exhibit on the Armenian Genocide.

 

The Armenian community is to be commended for keeping alive the flame of memory of the Medz Yeghern, never to forget the sacred memory of those whose lives were taken, and to teach future generations about the violent consequences of racial and ethnic hatred.  At the same time, all Canadians must work together to advance mutual respect, overcoming the burden of historic enmities.