by Mona Selyan
The 29th Canadian Diocesan Assembly was hosted by Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Toronto from May 25-26, 2012.
The first took place Friday, May 25, 2012, 8:00-10:30pm.  After His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, Primate, opened the Assembly with prayer, quorum was established with 30 Delegates present.  The Assembly officers were elected as follows:
•    Chairman – Arto Basmadjian
•    English Secretary – Mona Selyan
•    Armenian Secretary – Rev. Father Myron Sarkissian
•    Parliamentarian – Taro Alepian
•    Courtesies Committee – Madat B. Mamourian
The head table comprised the Primate, Meguerditch Kanondjian, Vice Chairman of Diocesan Council (acting as Chairman in Ara Boyajian’s absence), Father Myron and Mona Selyan.
Other clergy present included our own Pastor Rev. Father Arch Zareh Zargarian, Rev. Father Serop Azarian, Rev. Father Keghart Garabedian, Rev. Father Komidas Mirzakhanyan, Rev. Deacon Ivan Gyadanyan, and guest of the Primate Very Rev. Father Isahak Boghossian.
Words of Greetings to the Assembly were read from the Rt. Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario, and Mayor Rob Ford, Mayor of the City of Toronto.
After the Approval of Minutes of the 28th Diocesan Assembly, the Assembly heard verbal presentations of the various bodies reports, which were all passed, including
•    Report of Clergy Conference
•    Reports of the Ministries
•    Press office & Governmental Relations Department
•    Women’s Guild Central Council
•    Ararat Summer Youth Camp
•    CFFA
•    CAAPA
•    Hay Doun
•    And a special report from Rev. Fr. Myron Sarkissian
•    Diocesan Endowment Fund 2011
•    Diocesan Council-Parishes Special Projects Reports
The Primate closed the first session with prayer at 10:00 pm.
SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
The second session was opened with prayer by the Primate, and quorum again established at 30 delegates present.
All delegates stood for the Message of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, which was followed by the Message of His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, Primate.
The following reports were also presented and passed:
•    Report of the Diocesan Council – Financial 2011
•    Auditing Committee report
•    Budget 2012

BYLAWS: The assembly had a special second reading and inspection of the proposed Bylaws revisions that were discussed and voted upon at last year’s assembly at Holy Cross Armenian Church of Laval, Quebec.
All changes were unanimously approved by a show of hands.  The second session was closed at 12:50 to take group photograph and break for lunch.

SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012, 2:00-5:30 p.m.
The 3rd session began without preamble or prayer at 2:00 pm.
Albert Yeghikian, Chairman of Holy Cross of Laval gave his detailed verbal report on the ongoing construction and future plans for that church.
ELECTIONS:
Nominating Committee: successful nominees are Antranig Tchilingirian, Hrair Der Kevorkian and Madat B. Mamourian.
Auditing Committee: successful nominees are Aram Isnar, Vahe Kerestejian and Jirayr Dolar.
Board of Trustees: successful nominee is John Satouri.
After the report of the Courtesies Committee, it was confirmed that 2013 30th Anniversary Diocesan Assembly will take place in Vancouver.
His Eminence the Primate thanked the Chairman Arto Basmadjian, recording secretaries Father Myron and Mona Selyan, and expressed his hopes for the bright future of our Diocese.  He thanked in turn Holy Trinity Toronto Pastor, Parish Council, Women’s Guild, Bible Study Committee, office staff and Assembly Organizing Committee for their hard work in making this a successful Assembly.
Mona Selyan was asked to read the minutes “as is” of this Assembly, which were accepted by the Delegates.
The Primate led all present in a prayer for those departed including the First Primate Archbishop Vasken Keshishian, and all clergy and delegates.  He then led all present in closing prayer.  The 29th Canadian Diocesan Assembly was adjourned at 5:10 pm.