Toronto, ON – The Armenian National Committee of Toronto, (ANCT) mourns the passing of Mr. Diran Terzian and extends its deepest condolences to the Terzian family.
Mr. Terzian who was a long-time member of the ARF and other Armenian organizations, an ANC activist and supporter, and one of the oldest remaining survivors of the Armenian Genocide passed away on April 10, 2009 in Toronto, Ontario. Mr. Terzian, who was born in the historic city of Erzerum in 1912, lived a life full of faith and dedication to the Armenian Cause. He would have turned 97 in June. Mr. Terzian is survived by 3 children and their spouses, 5 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.
Over the past several years he had become a regular honoured attendee at community events organized by the ANCT, including a reception in October 2007 on the occasion of the Town of Markham’s unanimous passage of a resolution officially recognizing the Armenian Genocide. Town of Markham Mayor, Frank Scarpitti, recognized Mr. Terzian as a special guest at the reception and presented him with a gift on behalf of the Town of Markham (pictured below).
Mr. Terzian was also recognised as one of the last survivors of the Armenian Genocide in the Toronto area at the 92nd commemoration of the Armenian Genocide as the ANCT honoured the Georgetown Boys April 2007. In Ottawa alongside Canadian political dignitaries, Jason Kenney, Jim Karygiannis, Vivian Barbot, and Alexa McDonough, two survivors from the Genocide, Diran Terzian and Knar Bohdjalian, and other relatives of Genocide survivors, placed wreaths around the Centennial Flame, in memory of its 1.5 million victims.
“As time passes, fewer survivors of the Armenian Genocide remain but their memory still inspires us to seek justice for the Armenian Cause” stated ANCT chairperson Mr. Shahen Mirakian.
Mr. Terzian remained a mainstay at the community’s events until his final days. As pictured below (left) on December 8th 2007, Mr. Terzian participated in a cake cutting ceremony at an event at the Armenian Community Centre. Mr. Terzian also attended the 93rd commemoration of the Armenian Genocide organized by the ANCT in April 2008 (below, right).
Mr. Terzian was also present in the Ontario Legislature on March 26, 2007, when The Honourable Brad Duguid, Member of Provincial Parliament for Scarborough Centre, and currently the Minister of Labour, introduced Bill 189 which would designate April 24 of each year as Armenian Genocide Memorial Day. Mr. Duguid specifically mentioned the presence of Diran Terzian in his address to the Legislature.
”This is a sombre moment for our community indeed” expressed Sam Manougian, member of the Armenian National Committee of Canada. “For years, Mr. Diran Terzian had been an icon of our community. Particularly for the youth, Mr. Terzian represented a tangible living link to our ancestral homeland including places such as Erzerum, Van, Ani, Dikranagerd and Kharpert, before they were stolen from the Armenian nation in the Armenian Genocide. Today is a very sad day for the Canadian-Armenian community, as we have lost an icon. But we vow to continue the struggle for the Armenian Cause in Mr. Terzian’s memory.”
In honour of Mr. Terzian’s memory, the ANCT will pay tribute to Mr. Terzian at the 94th commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. Please see the details of the event below.
Armenian Genocide Commemoration
When: Sunday April 26th, 2009 @ 2:00 pm
Where: ACC Toronto, 45 Hallcrown Place Toronto, Ontario Main Hall
Topic: Denial, The last stage of Genocide
The Armenian National Committee of Toronto is a chapter of the Armenian National Committee of Canada, a grassroots organization that was founded in 1965 to address the concerns of the Canadian Armenian community on a broad range of issues.