ARS Armenian Private School seventh grader Hagop Gokchenian successfully serves as Legislative page at Queen’s Park
Hagop and MPP Aris Babikian (Photo courtesy of Aris Babikian’s office)
TORONTOHYE – The Toronto-Armenian community has a new reason to celebrate as Hagop Gokchenian, a 12-year-old student from ARS Armenian Private School, recently completed a term as a Legislative Page at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
Representing the riding of Scarborough-Agincourt, Gokchenian was selected for the competitive program following an application process that highlighted his academic achievements and community involvement.
The program is highly selective, accepting approximately 150 students annually from across the province. During his service at Queen’s Park, Gokchenian worked as a messenger on the floor of the Legislative Chamber, where he was responsible for assisting Members of Provincial Parliament and observing the functions of the provincial government. His performance led to his appointment as Page Captain, a leadership role in which he managed a cohort of pages from various ridings across Ontario.
In addition to his duties in the Chamber, Gokchenian met with several senior parliamentary figures, including Premier Doug Ford and the Lieutenant Governor. These interactions provided him with a practical look at the legislative process and the responsibilities of Ontario’s elected officials.
The achievement was highlighted by Aris Babikian, the MPP for Scarborough-Agincourt and the first Canadian of Armenian descent elected to the Ontario Legislature. In a statement shared on social media, MPP Babikian noted that it was a pleasure to welcome the family to Queen’s Park, adding that "it is always inspiring to see young Armenian Canadians contributing to public life and shaping our province’s future." ARS Armenian Private School also shared the news with its community, noting that his role as Page Captain was "an immense honour." The school further stated, "We are very happy to have the Armenian-Canadian community and our school represented at Queen's Park."
The Legislative Page Program is designed for students in grades 7 and 8 who demonstrate leadership and responsibility. While at the Assembly, participants receive instruction from a certified teacher to ensure their education continues alongside their legislative duties. For Gokchenian, the term offered a firsthand education in provincial governance and an opportunity to represent his school and riding on a provincial stage. ֍
This article and its Armenian version were published in Torontohye’s May 2026 (#225) issue.
