QUEBEC, Canada – On Tuesday, July 9, Governor General of Canada Julie Payette received the newly appointed ambassadors of six countries, who submitted their letters of credence. Among these ambassadors was Anahit Harutyunyan of Armenia, who in her turn invited a delegation of ten members from the Canadian-Armenian community to accompany her.
Payette in her words of welcome alluded to the Canadian-Armenian community, and in particular stressed its exceptional vitality through its numerous ecclesiastical, educational, cultural and social structures and organizational life. This was a moment of special pride for the Armenian delegation.
The Armenian ambassador was also accompanied by Consul of the Republic of Armenia in Ottawa Ara Mkrtchian and Honorary Consul of the Republic of Armenia in Toronto Varoujan Lapoyan. In the customary photographs with the governor general that are taken on such occasions, Bishop Abgar Hovakimyan, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada, was present along with the new ambassador, consul and honorary consul, Archbishop Papken Charian, and representatives of the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, the Social Democratic Hunchakian Party, the Tekeyan Cultural Association and the Armenian General Benevolent Union.
As Payette is a graduate of the Electrical Engineering Department of Montreal’s McGill University, she insisted that Dr. Arshavir Gundjian, a retired professor from the same department of this university, stand next to her in the photograph.
In the evening, Harutyunyan, accompanied by Mkrtchian, hosted the members of the delegation who had come to Quebec in a local restaurant. In this more intimate atmosphere, numerous speeches and toasts were made offering all possible assistance to the new ambassador and the best possible wishes for her success in her new post.
