“The Armenian genocide was a horrific event that took place right around World War I,” says Anita Desjardins, chair of the ACA. “When the whole world around it was collapsing, the Armenian genocide and the Armenians from that era suffered.”

She believes that acknowledgement of the past and recognition of the genocide is necessary to prevent these atrocities in the future.

Remembering history

In relation to the Armenian community and its diaspora around the world, Desjardins speaks of political upheaval, forced migration and ethnic cleansing as having a strong impact.

“As descendants of genocide, what that means for us in particular is that our ancestors, my great grandparents – everything was taken from them,” she says. “After they were forced out, basically, they tried to make a life for themselves in various other parts of the world, and they did.”

In addition to recalling this history of losing ancestral lands, Desjardins also draws attention to the recent conflict of the 44-Day War in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

“120,000 [Armenians] forced from their homes, forced from ancestral homelands where they had lived for millennia,” she says.

While ensuring that the past is not forgotten, the mandate and purpose of the ACA is non-political and non-denominational.

“The ACA is very focused on promoting a greater understanding of Armenian history, Armenian traditions [and] Armenian customs within the broader Canadian community,” she adds.

The chair says that Armenians are very committed to Canada, while retaining their history, culture and identity. Adding that her children were born in Canada, she believes that it is possible to be 100 per cent Armenian and 100 per cent Canadian.

“There is no reason that you can’t be both; it’s not a zero-sum game,” she adds. “We can enjoy the best of both worlds; that’s what we try to do with the ACA.”

Building community

Celebrating their heritage, the ACA has a track record of partnering with other local organizations, including arts and culture associations as well as universities, bringing successful events to the Vancouver community. The association shares stories old and new; recent events include co-presenting the film Monsieur Aznavour (2024) with Alliance Française Vancouver. The film depicts the life of Charles Aznavour, a French singer with Armenian heritage. Another notable partnership led to the presentation of Tigran Hamasyan’s The Bird of a Thousand Voices at the University of British Columbia’s Chan Centre.

“We want to nurture and cultivate our heritage and foster a wider appreciation of our history, our culture, our values,” Desjardins adds.

Other past events celebrating Armenian talent and heritage include those in film, theatre, comedy, music, art and wine. Commenting on this cultural enrichment, Desjardins shares that an Armenian folk dance, the Kochari, has even been recognized by UNESCO.

“As Armenians, we are fully integrated into the larger Canadian society, not just focused on looking inward, but looking outward too,” she continues. “We want to ensure the best of us, that we are relevant and have contributions that we can make, in Canada and globally as well.”

Despite the challenges of a politically divided world, the past traumas and the “psychological imprint” of genocide, Desjardins is hopeful and committed to a thriving future. She encourages people to come together and recognize their similarities through discussion.

“I think what we have to remember is, fundamentally, we all want similar things,” Desjardins says. “We want safety for our children, we want peace, we want happiness – these are universal values that we all share.”

For more information, see: www.acaofbc.com