page_title: Armenian Canadians
section_title: Armenian Genocide recognition and commemoration
hierarchical_section_title: Armenian Canadians / Armenian Genocide recognition and commemoration
context_page_description: Armenian Canadians are citizens and permanent residents of Canada who have total or partial Armenian ancestry. According to the 2016 Canadian Census they number almost 64,000, while independent estimates claim around 80,000 Canadians of Armenian origin, with the highest estimates reaching 100,000. Though significantly smaller than the Armenian American community, the formation of both underwent similar stages beginning in the late 19th century and gradually expanding in the latter 20th century and beyond. Most Armenian Canadians are descendants of Armenian Genocide survivors from the Middle East, with less than 7% of all Canadian Armenians having been born in Armenia. Today most Armenian Canadians live in Greater Montreal and Greater Toronto, where they have established churches, schools and community centers.
context_section_description: In 1996 and 2002 Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien released statements on the "Armenian tragedy of 1915" and the "calamity suffered by the Armenian community." 
  In 2002 the Senate of Canada passed a resolution (39-1) sponsored by Shirley Maheu that called upon the Government of Canada to "recognize the genocide of the Armenians and to condemn any attempt to deny or distort a historical truth as being anything less than genocide, a crime against humanity, and to designate April 24th of every year hereafter throughout Canada as a day of remembrance of the 1.5 million Armenians who fell victim to the first genocide of the twentieth century."
  However, it was not until April 21, 2004 when Canada officially recognized the Armenian Genocide. On that day the House of Commons adopted a "strongly worded" resolution which stated: "That this House acknowledges the Armenian genocide of 1915 and condemns this act as a crime against humanity." It passed with 153 votes in favor, 68 against. The motion was opposed by the Liberal cabinet of Prime Minister Paul Martin, who was absent during the vote, however, most Liberal backbenchers voted in favor of the Bloc Québécois motion, while cabinet members rejected it.
  Since 2006, Prime Minister Stephen Harper released annual statements explicitly referring to the Armenian Genocide. The tradition has been continued by his successor, Justin Trudeau.
  On April 24, 2015, on the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the House of Commons of Canada unanimously passed a resolution that designated the month of April as Genocide Remembrance, Condemnation and Prevention Month and April 24 as Armenian Genocide Memorial Day. The parliament also reaffirmed its support for the Armenian genocide recognition resolution adopted on April 21, 2004.
  According to the Armenian National Institute there are six Armenian Genocide memorials in Canada.
caption: Raffi
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