Statement of MPP Aris Babikian on the occassion of the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
43rd Parliament 1st Session
April 24, 2024
Armenian Genocide
Mr. Aris Babikian: Today, April 24, Armenians in Ontario, in Canada, and all over the world will observe the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire. On the night April 24, 1915, the Ottoman authorities gathered Armenian intellectuals, members of the parliament, clergy, teachers, writers, civic and political leaders and marched them to the consternation camps for slaughter.
The Armenian Genocide claimed the lives of 1.5 million Armenians and over one million Greeks. Among the victims were my great grandparents on my Armenian grandfather’s side and my maternal Greek grandmother’s side.
Who would have thought that one day the grandson of survivors of two genocide’s will be serving as Canadian citizenship judge and be elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario?
This is the promise of Canada to the persecuted people of the world.
In March 1980, the Ontario Legislative Assemblies of Ontario recognized the Armenian Genocide. On April 24, 1986 the Premier of Ontario declared April 24 as Armenian Memorial Day in Ontario.
In his annual commemoration statement, Premier Doug Ford stated: “Today, we remember the strength and bravery of the Armenian people and honour the memory of those who perished during this dark chapter in human history. In remembering, we ensure that present and future generations reject hatred, intolerance, and injustice in all its forms.”
I feel proud as an Ontarian for having such a principled, ethical, and visionary leader.
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