ACYOC Ski Trips to Blue Mountain

Talin Orfali

The Armenian Church Youth Organization of Canada has been organizing ski trips for their Senior and Junior members for years.  This is considered one of the most exciting events of the group and every year more people join in to spend couple of days enjoying the great outdoor activities in one of the best places that Ontario has to offer.

In February & March 2010, the Seniors’ group led by Garen Hagopian, and the Juniors’ group led by Nareg Zargarian, had weekends away, starting by gathering at Holy Trinity Armenian Church.

Following a prayer in the evening and receiving Rev. Archpriest Zareh Zargarian’s good wishes and advice, the groups settled in their buses and were on their way to Blue Mountain Resort in Collingwood.

Youth representatives from Montreal also attended the Senior ACYOC group’s trip in February.  We spent the days skiing, snowboarding, eating beavertails, going to the village, shopping, swimming in an outdoor warm pool, listening to music, playing cards, cooking and having meals together.  But most of all we enjoyed each others company, strengthened our friendships and made new friends.  

The main focus of ACYOC is to connect Armenian youth together, and organize events that we will talk about for years to come and creating everlasting memories.  We hope to see more youth joining us in ski trips and other events in the years to come.

Bringing Armenian youth together is, and always has been, the focus of the ACYOC. 
After the elections in late November, our newly formed committee felt that it was absolutely crucial that we hold more religious based events, so that our youth can have a better understanding of Christianity and what it means to live a Christian lifestyle.  The March 27^th ACYOC sleepover was just that: an event where our youth gathered together under one roof and had deep, meaningful discussions about God with their religious leaders.  We were joined by Rev Archpriest Fr. Zareh Zargarian, His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian and guest speaker Peter Nigoghossian who gave his testimony and sparked much discussion with the youth. Our own Ari Boyaci also gave an insightful presentation on the role of Lent in the Armenian Apostolic Church; a lot of valuable information was extracted from these discussions. This was followed by a question period, where our youth were given the opportunity to ask faith related questions and receive answers. To leave a true spiritual imprint on the youth, they were escorted upstairs into the church to participate in an “Arevakal” service, which really ended the formal programme off with a sentimental tone.  The event was very successful, and we look forward to having another sleepover very soon!

Garen Hagopian, ACYOC

On April 5th, 2009, both Junior and Senior A.C.Y.O.C took part in the annual Palm Sunday Luncheon.   During the Divine Liturgy the new Junior and Senior committees were blessed by Rev. Archpriest Zareh Zargarian and then everyone was invited to join in on the festivities downstairs.   The ACYOC members worked hard in decorating the hall and preparing the food. The afternoon entertainment consisted of the Holy Trinity “Yeraz Choir” and “Sasoon Dance Ensemble,” performances by Khatchig and Saro Wanes on piano and duduk and by Gary on the accordion accompanied by Sevag Avakian.

A.C.Y.O.C. (Armenian Church Youth Organization of Canada) was originally organized in 1954 as the Armenian Church Youth Organization of America and it remained so until 1980, when it became A.C.Y.O. of Canada with the establishment of the Armenian Diocese in Canada. Since its inception A.C.Y.O.C. has evolved to meet the needs of an ever-changing youth culture, yet it has stayed true to its founding principals.

Ours is an organization dedicated to fostering and developing a sense of community pride among young Armenian-Canadian men and women. Through a variety of engaging social and cultural activities, we promote youth leadership within both the Armenian community and the greater community of Toronto. We are the youth of today and the leaders of tomorrow; we are the inheritors of an Armenian legacy and the architects of an Armenian destiny.