OTTAWA — In his inaugural year in office, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released a statement commemorating the 101st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
“On this day, we mark the 101st commemoration of the tragic loss of life of the Armenian population during the waning days of the Ottoman Empire in 1915,” the statement reads and continues:
“Both the Senate of Canada and the House of Commons have adopted resolutions referring to these events as genocide.
“We preserve the memory of those who lost their lives, and those who suffered during this genocide and pay our deepest respects to their descendants, including those who now call Canada home.
“In solemnly acknowledging this event, let us use this moment as an opportunity to look forward and strenghthen our collective resolve to ensure such acts are never again repeated.
“While we must never forget the lessons of history, we must also be reminded that past injustices do not serve our communities if they divide us. Canadians of all backgrounds and faiths stand together in reaffirming our collective commitment to the values of pluralism, human rights, and diversity.
“On this anniversary, please join me in my hope for a peaceful future based on tolerance, respect, and reconciliation.
Zoryan Institute has welcomed Prime Minister Trudeau’s Statement saying. “We are grateful that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau preserves the memory of those who lost their lives during the events of 1915 and acknowledges those events as genocide against the Armenian people. He reaffirmed once more his principled stance on genocide, demonstrated earlier in his remarks on the Canadian Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report a few months ago”.
