May 13, 2015

On Saturday May 2, 2015 Jerry Arzoumanian was asked to host one of Alex Manoogian’s most glorious events: the school’s 45th anniversary gala in presence of Me Berge Setrakian, President of AGBU and Mrs. Hranush Hakobyan, Minister of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia. In the blink of an eye more than five hundred people had feverishly booked their tickets. Among the revelers were honorable guests, current and retired staff, and most importantly throngs of students and alumni, graduates from the 70s all the way to the latest-and-greatest 2014 generation, both on and off the stage. One could appreciate the impact of AGBU Alex Manoogian School on its community and in the Armenian world since its inception.

During that night $300.000 (three hundred thousand dollars) were raised. Grand benefactors of the school Mr. and Mrs. Arden and Christine Dervishian generously donated $200 000.

President Setrakian’s presence had created a lot of enthusiasm in the community. Mr. Setrakian stated in his remarks that he is proud of the Montreal Armenian community who’s always thriving by keeping our Armenian identity strong and making our Armenian culture flourish within the younger generations. He congratulated the presence of so many young alumni which meant that the torch has been successfully passed to the younger generation who will now take on the leadership of the community.

The program of the evening was planned around the participation of a wide variety of alumni. Attending were families, alumni who have given back to their school and even world renowned musicians and singers whose performances sent shivers down our spines.  All the testimonials and performances pointed to one thing: that our students have a drive and motivation that can only come from a person who was brought up in a nurturing and stimulating environment. Alex Manoogian School is a living member of the Canadian Armenian community; like its current students and alumni, it is an example of creativity, resilience, empathy and leadership. These were the underlying themes that were revealed on the night of the 45th anniversary.