Armenian ambassador attends exhibit honouring community’s presence in Windsor

The Armenian Ambassador to Canada, speaks with Windsor’s Armenian community at the Chimczuk Museum

A new exhibit paying homage to Windsor’s Armenian community was attended by dozen’s including Anahit Harutyunyan, the Armenian Ambassador to Canada.

Titled “The Armenian Community of Windsor,” the exhibit held its grand opening at the Chimczuk Museum on Saturday afternoon, with more than 100 people on hand for the event.

Harutyunyan, who has held her role since 2019, was making her first trip to Windsor.

“The bond between Armenia and Canada goes beyond political alliances, it is founded on shared priorities like democracy, human rights, rule of law, pursuit of peace,” Harutyunyan told the crowd.

Chris Waters, guest curator of the exhibit, said the Armenian community’s presence in Windsor dates back more than 100 years.

As part of the exhibit, photos from the 1920s depict Armenians new to the country in search of a new home.

“Many people were escaping the genocide in the Ottoman Empire and came to Windsor to find freedom and security, and have always remained grateful to this country for that,” Waters said.

Preparing the exhibit with help from the community, Waters said the work, as well as the ambassador’s attendance, shows a bond between Canada and Armenia.

“The fact that the Armenian ambassador to Canada is here today is a sign of these continuing links that are strong between the diaspora and Armenia itself, but also between Canada as a whole and Armenia. So it’s a real privilege to have her here visiting with us today,” Waters said.

The exhibit will remain on display until September.