How Engage Armenia brings practical homeland impact home to Toronto
TORONTOHYE—For generations, the bond between the Armenian diaspora and the homeland has been defined by heartfelt sentiment, cultural preservation, and crisis response. Yet across community centres, classrooms, and university campuses in Canada, an unmistakable evolution has taken root. A new generation of diasporans wants more than emotional proximity to Armenia; they seek structured, sustainable, and professional ways to invest their intellect, skills, and energy directly in the country's civic and economic fabric.
That forward-looking mindset forms the cornerstone of the Engage Armenia Forum, which makes its Canadian debut this month. Following well-received stops across Europe and the Gulf, the travelling initiative arrives at Toronto's Armenian Youth Centre on Thursday, October 22, before heading to Montreal for two weekend sessions on October 24 and 25. Bringing a curated delegation of 15 leaders from Yerevan, the forum replaces broad rhetoric with concrete, field-tested pathways spanning technology, digital governance, regional education, healthcare training, social enterprise, and repatriation.
For readers in the GTA, the most relatable entry point into this homeland ecosystem is someone who grew up in their very midst: Toronto's own Emma Matossian.
Emma Matossian (Photo: Engage Armenia)
Born and raised in Canada, Matossian has spent more than 15 years active within the Armenian Youth Federation of Canada (AYF) Simon Zavarian chapter and currently serves on the AYF Canada Central Executive. Her own perspective shifted profoundly during her first visit to Armenia in 2019, an experience that permanently redefined how she viewed her personal relationship to the country.
"What changed for me after visiting Armenia was understanding that our connection to the homeland cannot only be emotional or symbolic; it has to translate into consistent involvement,” Matossian says. "Programs like AYF Canada Camp Vanadzor give us a very tangible way to do that. It's not by coming in for a few days and leaving, but by building relationships with the same communities, and continuing to invest in them year after year."
Matossian has returned to Armenia every single year since, dedicating significant energy to grassroots initiatives such as the AYF Youth Corps summer camp program in Armenia's third-largest city. By bringing diasporan youth into regional and border communities, the initiative creates immersive environments where young volunteers live and work alongside local children and families, building lasting, reciprocal relationships that transcend borders.
"What makes Camp Vanadzor so meaningful is the relationships that come out of it. For diasporan youth, Armenia becomes much more than a place we hear about or visit; it becomes people we know and care about. At the same time, the campers build connections with Armenians from across the diaspora. That exchange helps make the relationship between Armenia and the diaspora much more personal, lasting and real," Emma explains.
Taking the stage at the Toronto forum, Matossian hopes her journey demonstrates that anyone, at any stage of their career, has something tangible and valuable to offer. "Not everyone is going to run a summer camp, and they shouldn't have to," she admits. "Someone may contribute through healthcare, technology, education, business, communications, or another field entirely. What matters is finding a meaningful way to use what you already know and stay engaged over time. Engage Armenia helps people see what those opportunities can actually look like."
Alongside local leadership, the delegation brings veteran voices who have spent decades guiding diaspora engagement on the ground. For many in Toronto, Birthright Armenia - Դեպի Հայք Country Director Sevan Kabakian is already a familiar face and mentor. Over the years, dozens of young professionals, students, and community organizers from the GTA have volunteered or interned through Birthright Armenia, crossing paths directly with Kabakian in Yerevan.
Sevan Kabakian (Photo: Engage Armenia)
A former aerospace engineer from California who made the permanent move to Armenia in 2006, Kabakian has spent nearly 20 years welcoming, advising, and challenging diaspora youth. As Country Director, he has helped turn short-term idealism into rigorous, professional contributions across non-profits, clinics, tech startups, and government bodies throughout Armenia and Artsakh.
"Resources drive progress, and I have seen that Canada has many Armenian resources, including its youth, that are vital in this process in Armenia,” Sevan told Torontohye. For him, the essential premise has always been that emotional attachment alone cannot sustain a nation unless it is backed by practical, institutional conduits. Over the years, countless Birthright alumni from Toronto have returned home transformed, carrying a nuanced understanding of Armenia's challenges and opportunities, while others chose to remain in the country long term, even permanently.
"I would like to encourage people not to get comfortable in their routines in life, but rather be willing to open new doors and explore new horizons," Sevan explains. "Engage Armenia is all about helping open those doors and seeing practical opportunities that can lead to so much satisfaction outside our comfort zones. Plus, we really need you!"
The forum departs from traditional community gatherings by adopting an interactive, pitch-style format. Attendees will hear concise overviews of active initiatives across diverse sectors. Suzanna Shamakhyan of the Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST) will highlight pathways in artificial intelligence and tech education, while Nerses Yeritsyan and Shant Kassardjian from the Information Systems Agency of Armenia present on the country's digital governance rollout.
Samson Avetian of Eqwefy, Hrayr Barsoumian of Optimize Consulting, and Nazareth Seferian of the VIA Fund and Impact Hub will cover venture and business opportunities. Meanwhile, Katrina Shakarian of the Armenia Education Initiative, Nanor Balabanian of the Hidden Road Initiative, and Anush Ter-Khachatryan of Health for Armenia will share ongoing work to elevate schools and train healthcare leaders in remote villages. For those considering long-term relocation, Repat Armenia Co-founder Vartan Marashlyan will break down the practicalities of housing, career transitions, and community integration.
The Toronto session takes place on Thursday, October 22, at 6:30 p.m. inside the Hamazkayin Theatre at the Armenian Youth Centre, located at 50 Hallcrown Place. The Montreal tour follows on Saturday, October 24, at 1:30 p.m. at the AGBU Montreal centre, and Sunday, October 25, at 2 p.m. inside Sourp Hagop Armenian School's Pastermajian Hall. ֍
For more information and to register, click here.
This article was published in Torontohye's Oct. 2026 (#230) issue.
