Armenia on display at Carassauga
On Saturday, May 24, and Sunday, May 25, the Carassauga Festival of Cultures took place across Mississauga. Since 1985, this annual event has fostered a wholesome and respectful environment to celebrate the city’s multiculturalism. This year marked the third appearance of the Armenian pavilion, once again hosted at the Frank McKechnie Community Centre.
The opening ceremony was led by community leaders Christine Ermarkaryan and Noushig Tahtadjian, alongside Der Myron Sarkissian, pastor of St. Vartan Armenian Apostolic Church of Mississauga. After the singing of 'O Canada' and 'Mer Hayrenik,' the Armenian pavilion officially opened.
What makes this pavilion unique is the joint involvement of the Armenian communities of Mississauga and Oakville. Given the relatively small size of both communities, collaboration is essential. It’s for this reason that the Halton-Peel Armenian Community Centre was established, though it exists as an organizational body rather than a physical space. Along with St. Vartan Parish, the centre helps run the Saint Vartan Armenian Saturday School and Summer Camp. The Carassauga Festival remains a powerful platform that brings together diverse communities. As Christine Ermarkaryan noted, “The Carassauga Armenia Pavilion keeps getting better and better every year, with volunteers and support from not only the Saint Vartan Armenian Church, but also the newly formed Halton-Peel Armenian Community Centre. Armenians working together to celebrate and share our culture with all!”
The main hall of the community centre was decorated in the vibrant colours of the Armenian flag. Community volunteers greeted visitors as they entered to explore Armenian culture. Above the stage, a screen displayed a slideshow of Armenia’s tourist attractions and breathtaking landscapes. Throughout the weekend, the stage came alive with performances by Armenian dance groups and musicians.
The Kami Dance Ensemble of Mississauga returned for another year, performing on Saturday. The Noraik Dance Ensemble arrived from Ottawa and performed throughout the weekend. On Sunday, the Hamazkayin Erepuni Dance Ensemble wrapped up the festivities with their performance of traditional Armenian folk dances. The immensely talented comedian Kev Orkian was also a featured guest, entertaining packed audiences with his stand-up and piano performances.
The Armenian pavilion was further enriched by the presence of the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to Canada, Mrs. Anahit Harutyunyan, who took in the cultural performances and met with enthusiastic members of the community.
Armenian businesses from Toronto, Oakville, Mississauga, and beyond were also showcased in the main hall. Sar Kamler of Dudukhouse filled the space with the hauntingly beautiful sound of the duduk throughout the weekend. Dudukhouse is an online Armenian store offering duduks, sheet music, and books—one of many businesses on display. Representatives from the Toronto chapter of the Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief (SOAR) were also present, sharing their mission of providing humanitarian aid to orphaned Armenian children across the diaspora.
The main hall doubled as a food court, serving delicious Armenian dishes such as lahmajun, kebab, and crowd-favourite jengyalov hats. Armenian beer and wine were available for purchase, along with a variety of products from local Armenian businesses. The Armenian presence was palpable all weekend.
Beyond food and performances, a separate cultural room highlighted Armenia’s history and heritage. Volunteers Lucy Hamboyan and Ani offered insight into Armenia’s past and present, educating visitors on its culture and tourism opportunities. The walls were adorned with photos of churches and historical landmarks, and displays of the Armenian alphabet and maps captivated attendees, many of whom were surprised to learn that Armenian has its own unique script.
Longtime Oakville resident Gladys Grigorian helped visitors write their names in Armenian for name tags, while Tigran Bleyan played and taught chess with Armenian children in the centre of the room. Many guests were intrigued to learn that chess is a mandatory subject in Armenian schools and that games like chess and backgammon are beloved across all generations.
Community member Armen Kheir reflected: “I had a great time at Carassauga. I think it was a great opportunity to showcase to the rest of the GTA what makes the Armenian culture and community so special. I really want to thank the volunteers who worked so hard to make the event a success.”
For Armenians around the world, every opportunity to celebrate their culture is cherished. This vibrant community, located west of Toronto, came together to honour its heritage and affirm its presence in the Oakville–Mississauga area. It was also an opportunity to share Armenian culture with their neighbors, many of whom were encountering it for the first time. Surrounded by food, music, and history, visitors got a taste of Armenia all weekend long.
One of the best aspects of preserving culture is that it can then be shared and enjoyed by people from all walks of life. For Armenians, Carassauga was a celebration of unity and the perseverance of a small nation, on display for the world to see. ֎
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This article was published in Torontohye's July 2025 (#215) issue.
📸Photos courtesy of the Carassauga Armenian pavilion steering committee
