“Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund, Toronto
5005 Steeles Avenue East, Suite 208,
Toronto, Ontario, M1V 5K1, Canada
Contact : Migirdic Migirdicyan
Tel: (416) 332 0787
Fax: (416) 332 0736
e-mail : migomigo@sympatico.ca
June 13, 2006 Toronto, ON – On Sunday, June 11, Hayastan All-Armenian Fund had its annual banquet at the AGBU Manookian Hall, at a capacity audience. This year’s Guest of Honour was Baroness Caroline Cox, the Deputy Speaker of the British House of Lords and a great humanitarian, who is a true friend of Karabagh and its people. The Master of Ceremonies of the evening was Vahan Kololian, who ran the proceedings in an impeccable manner. The program started with the national anthems of Canada, UK, Armenia and Karabagh interpreted by baritone Garo Nishanian and accomplished pianist Raffi Bedrosyan. The first key item of the evening was the Letter of Greetings from the Prime Minister of Canada, Right Honourable Stephen Harper. The letter was presented and read by Hon. Jason Kenney, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister. After that Ara Boyajian, the treasurer of the Fund’s Toronto Chapter, gave a detailed presentation of all the projects of the Fund since its inception. Then, a congratulatory letter from the NKR Washington, DC, office representative Vardan Parseghian was read.
The highpoint of the evening had arrived. Migirdic Migirdicyan, the local chairman of the Fund, introduced the key-note speaker Baroness Caroline Cox who gave a superb presentation, accompanied by slides, of her experiences in Karabagh during and after its struggle of independence. The speech was interrupted by several standing ovations. Inspired by the Baroness’ presentation several patrons increased their pledges. Thereby, as soon as the construction of the school in Madaghis finishes, a new school will be built for another village with the same architectural plan. This school will be named after Baroness Cox. A total of $300,000 was raised.
At the end of this intellectually and emotionally charged evening, in appreciation of all of her tireless work for the people of Karabagh, the Toronto Chapter of the Fund presented Baroness Cox with a life-size portrait of herself, painted by internationally acclaimed painter Robert Amirault.
The evening ended with the prayers and the closing remarks of Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, the Primate of the Canadian Diocese.
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