YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. The unveiling of the Armenian Genocide Forest of Hope took place on September 24 in the City of Markham. “Armenpress” reports, citing The Armenian Weekly, Markham Mayor, His Worship Mr. Frank Scarpitti was joined by the Ambassador of Armenia to Canada, H.E. Mr. Armen Yeganian, as well as the Chairs of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committees of Canada and Ontario Mr. Mher Karakashian and Mr. Krikor Chitlian for the official ribbon cutting ceremony.

Amongst the more than 600 attendees from across the Greater Toronto Area, were representatives from all levels of government. Representing the Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honorable Justin Trudeau, was Member of Parliament and Chair of the Canadian Armenian Parliamentary Friendship Group, Arnold Chan. Representing the Premier of Ontario, the Honorable Kathleen Wynne, were the Honorable Dr. Helena Jaczek, Minister of Community and Social Services and Honorable Michael Chan, Minister of International Trade.

From the City of Markham, Markham Deputy Mayor Jack Heath, York Regional Councillor Joe Li, and Markham City Councillors Alan Ho, Logan Kanapathi, and Amanda Colluci joined Mayor Scarpitti.

“We know the meaning of genocide, its history and the importance of education,” said Armen Yeganian, ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to Canada. “We have to continue to educate, not just today, tomorrow or the first 100 years. But always, because unfortunately it still continues to happen.”

The Forest of Hope Project was launched by the City of Markham on Dec. 19 2015, on the occasion of the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide, which was commemorated throughout 2015.

“Despite being displaced, the Armenian community is determined,” said Mayor Scarpitti. “The next generation of Armenians will be just as proud as the first Armenians who came to Canada. That’s a wonderful thing.”

The project involved planting a small forest in the confines of the Ashton Meadows Park, in memory of the 1.5 million victims of this first genocide of the 20th century. The forest will serve as a permanent reminder of this dark period of human history and will remind us of our collective responsibility to ensure such crimes are never repeated again. The specially designed forest, designed by renowned landscape architect Haig Seferian, will feature 100 trees of varying species, to celebrate the survival and rebirth of humanity from the ashes of Genocide.

Marianne Davitjan, who presented the Armenian National Committee of Canada’s message, outlined the importance of memorials such as the Forest of Hope. “The places in present day Turkey and Syria, where the Armenian Genocide took place, had the potential to serve as sites of memory and education, much like how the concentration camps in Europe served for the Holocaust,” she explained. “Due to denial and continued violence however, those sites have been destroyed and forgotten. Hence why it is important for Armenians around the world to build genocide memorials in their home cities, in order to promote collective commemoration and education.”

The Armenian Genocide, which began on April 24, 1915, was the planned extermination of a million and half Armenians at the hands of Ottoman Turkey. More than two million Armenians were forcibly taken from their homes and villages, men drafted into and murdered in the Ottoman Turkish army, and women, children and the elderly driven into the Syrian deserts where they were starved, beaten, raped, drowned, or burnt alive. Survivors ended up in orphanages and refugee camps across the Middle East and the West. 150 of the genocide orphans were brought to Canada starting in 1923 in what became known as Canada’s Noble Experiment.