MONTREAL — Educator and Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (ADL) and Tekeyan Cultural Association (TCA) pillar Vartouhie Balian passed away on August 19 in Montreal.
She was born in Alexandrette (then under Syrian control) to Arsene Balian and Loussaper Shakelian, both originally from Chork-Marzban (Dört-Yol), on December 13, 1932. She moved with her family at a young age to Beirut. After graduating there from the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU)’s Tarouhi Hagopian Girls’ Secondary School in 1950, she studied psychology at the American University of Beirut and specialized in pedagogy.
Before her marriage, she taught Armenian language and Armenian history at Beirut’s Giligian [Cilician] National School (later renamed Apkarian Giligian School) and was appointed by the local Diocese as vice-principal. Along with this work, she taught for five years at a local Armenian Sunday School.
In November 1956, she married Onnig Balian and moved to Aleppo. In 1968, the couple and their children Ara and Maral moved to Montreal. In her new country of Canada, Vartouhie Balian became busy with community, educational, and political party activities.
In 1970, she began her collaboration with Dr. Arshavir Gundjian, one of the founders of the AGBU Alex Manoogian School. She served as principal of this school until 2002, where she also taught Armenian history and language. Her motherly care of the Armenian students became the reason for many parents to register their children at this school, which by now has produced over 1,000 graduates. It is an important educational institution which also perpetuates the Armenian identity.
Balian, as principal, was given a golden medal upon the thirtieth anniversary of the founding of the school. She also received the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal dedicated to the 50th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II in 2002. This medal was awarded in Canada to nominees who made exemplary contributions to public life.
