Keeping Artsakh’s intellectual fire burning: A living legacy with Toronto roots
By: Varazdat Khachatryan
The late Davit Zargarian
TORONTOHYE—In the Armenian tradition, we often say that a person truly dies only when they are forgotten. For Noel Shahnazarian, the memory of his close friend, the late Davit Zargarian, was never going to fade. But Noel wanted to do more than just remember; he wanted to build a bridge from a painful past to a digital future.
Through a generous contribution to the Technological Education Foundation (TEF) of the Armenian Code Academy (ACA), Noel established a scholarship fund in honour of Davit, who was near and dear to Toronto’s Armenian community. Today, that legacy has a heartbeat. It lives through two young women from Artsakh who are currently mastering the world’s most advanced technology: Machine Learning.
The faces of the future: Amalya and Greta
While the scholarship was born from the bond between two friends, its impact is best seen in the eyes of its beneficiaries. Since the start of 2026, Amalya Arstamyan and Greta Grigoryan have been immersed in intensive Machine Learning studies at ACA, proving that while they were forced to leave their homes, they brought their brilliance and ambition with them.
Originally from the Martuni region of Artsakh, Amalya’s life took a drastic turn in 2023. Shortly after the joy of getting married, she faced the heartbreak of forced displacement as she relocated to Yerevan. With a solid foundation in Applied Mathematics from Artsakh State University and a Master’s in Mathematics Education, Amalya is no stranger to complex logic. Now, she is pivoting, using the scholarship to transition her pedagogical skills into the tech sector. For Amalya, Machine Learning isn't just a subject—it’s a tool she is eager to apply professionally to help rebuild and innovate within the Armenian economy.
At just 18, Greta Grigoryan has already endured more than most do in a lifetime. Also from Martuni, her family was first displaced in 2020 and forced to leave permanently in 2023. Despite the instability, Greta’s focus has remained laser-sharp. Currently a student of Applied Mathematics at Yerevan State University, Greta already possesses a foundational knowledge of Python. She chose to pursue Machine Learning because she believes Artificial Intelligence is the ultimate frontier of innovation. For Greta, this scholarship is the "fast-track" to becoming a leader in the industry that will define the next century.
A living tribute
Davit’s deep roots in the community began when he immigrated to Canada at age 18 alongside Noel. Over the decades, both friends achieved remarkable success in their respective fields in Canada—Noel rising to become a prominent business executive as the President of DKSH Canada Corp., and Davit establishing himself as a distinguished academic. After earning his BSc from the University of Toronto in 1985, Davit completed his graduate degrees at the University of Waterloo and the University of Ottawa, eventually dedicating his life to research and teaching as a professor of Chemistry at the Université de Montréal until his retirement in late 2024.
More recently, Davit became a vital pillar of the local diaspora as a highly active member of the Armenian Association of Toronto’s (AAT) Public Awareness Committee. Through the AAT, he lent his exceptional intellect and dedication to moderating major community forums, including vital discussions on endangered monuments and rural development.
The scholarship created by Noel Shahnazarian pays for tuition, yes, but it also transforms this profound legacy of service, deeply cherished by the Toronto community, into a career path in an industry where Armenian talent is globally recognized.
As these two daughters of Artsakh navigate the complexities of algorithms and neural networks, they do so as a living tribute to Davit. Through their success, they are helping ensure that the intellectual fire of Artsakh continues to burn brightly in Yerevan and beyond.
If you are interested in supporting the Technological Education Foundation or learning more about the Armenian Code Academy’s initiatives for Artsakh refugees, visit their website or email var.khachatryan@tef.am to see how you can contribute.
This piece was published in Torontohye’s July 2026 issue (#227). Special thanks to Varazdat Khachatryan for penning this piece for Torontohye.
