Armenian Community to build new church and community centre in Laval

Among those present at the announcement was His Eminence, Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, the Primate of the Armenian Church of Canada. "The new church and community centre will be built to better serve the ever-growing needs of the Armenian community in Laval," the bishop stated.

Explaining that the Armenian community in Laval has been blessed with substantial growth and expansion during the last decade, the bishop made it known that it was time to build a new spiritual and social centre that could and would more effectively respond to the needs of the community.

"The existing facility in Laval can no longer adequately accommodate the spiritual and social needs of our community," Mr. Vicken Darakdjian, member of the Parish Council and chairman of the fund-raising committee told Courrier Laval Weekly News in a telephone interview.

Mr. Darakdjian also cited several other reasons for the launching of this $5.5 million project expected for completion in early 2008, with the first shovel hitting the ground this coming spring, at a site on Souvenir Blvd. in Chomedey.

"The Armenian Churches in Montreal are too far from Laval. People who may want to attend these churches are dissuaded by the distance, especially in the wintertime. Many of these people told us that because of this, it wasn't very appealing for them to be part of the Armenian Church and to take part in the Community's activities, so for these and many other reasons the Diocesan Council decided that the Armenian community in Laval should have its own separate religious, social, and cultural facilities close to them on Île-Jesus," Mr. Darakdjian elaborated.

But for now, the new church and community centre will be built to provide a new home for the Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Church, presently serving its faithful at 4464, St-Martin Blvd. West, in Chomedey, Laval.

"It was a simple decision, really," stated Mr. Darakdjian. "We wanted a new home in which to better serve the religious, social, cultural, and educational needs of the 12,000 Armenian residents of Laval and in the process also enhance the humanitarian services and facilities we presently offer, all of which, we sincerely believe, will improve the quality of life of the members of the Armenian community.

The activities and facilities envisaged at the new church include a children's glassed-in playroom adjacent to the Mezzanine, a Memorial Wall in memory of the departed, a Church Choir, Sunday School and Bible Study, a Women's Auxiliary, a Professional Day Care Centre, a Youth Centre (with Internet access, games and TV), a Seniors Activity Hall (exercise programs, bingo, card and Tavli tournaments, TV, Bible reading and outings), a Lecture and Exhibition Room (fully equipped with projection and sound systems, adjacent to small kitchen for catering services), a Library, a reception hall with a capacity for 365 (300 in main hall + 65 with moveable wall and moveable dancing stage, state-of-the-art kitchen and accessories), and furnished conference rooms.

The preliminary conceptual design for the new church and community centre, which was was produced by architect Mardiros Baygin, was made public by Mr. Hagop Seradarian, the president of the Holy Cross Parish Council.

For more information, feel free to contact Mr. Vicken Darakdjian at (514) 889-8100 or the Church office at (450) 687-5355.