Remember. Run. Represent. How Toronto’s Armenian youth are redefining advocacy
TORONTOHYE—For most people, 111 kilometres represents a casual weekend getaway. It is approximately the length of the stretch of highway from Toronto to Cambridge, Ontario, or a scenic drive toward the shores of Lake Simcoe. Usually, this distance is measured by fuel gauges and highway exits, but on the evening of Saturday, April 25, Toronto's Albert Ajemian will redefine that journey through the gruelling cadence of overnight footsteps.
The event, organized for the second year in a row by the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) Simon Zavarian chapter, will see Ajemian lace up his running shoes at the Armenian Community Centre of Toronto. The Zavarian alumnus is set to embark on a 111-kilometre ultramarathon, a distance that is intentional: Each kilometre serves as a living marker for every year since the start of the Armenian Genocide.
This initiative, titled 'Remember. Run. Represent,' is the evolution of a community initiative that began one year ago. The event seeks to bridge a painful past with a resilient present by rooting its symbolism in history. During the Genocide, hundreds of thousands of Armenians were forced into death marches across the Syrian Desert, journeys defined by starvation and exhaustion. By reclaiming the act of movement through this endurance run, Ajemian and Toronto's Armenian community are flipping the narrative of the march and transforming a symbol of forced death into a marathon of life and remembrance.
The route is designed as a series of 11 consecutive 10-kilometre loops through the streets of North York, primarily spanning Victoria Park Avenue. The course's repetitive nature serves as a rhythmic meditation on the passage of time. Ajemian will not be entirely alone; throughout the night, members of the AYF and the local community will join him for segments, offering pace-setting and moral support as the temperatures drop and the physical toll mounts.
Ajemian was a longtime participant in 'A Run to Remember,' an annual charity event organized by Homenetmen Toronto and the Armenian Community Centre to support causes such as the SickKids Foundation. After the event went on hiatus for a few years, Ajemian felt it was vital to involve the next generation in the tradition. "I wanted to bring something back for the youth in a new way," he explained. "Last year we ran 110 kilometres, and this year we're continuing with 111 in hopes that this becomes a tradition we carry forward." While his overnight journey is a solo test of will, the event transforms into a massive collective effort on the morning of Sunday, April 26. At 9:30 a.m., the solemnity of the overnight vigil will be replaced by the energy of hundreds of supporters.
A scene from last year’s event. Photo provided by the AYF Simon Zavarian chapter.
"In our second year of organizing this event, it has become clear how powerful it is in uniting the community. Participants come together to run and walk in unity and remembrance so they can Remember, Run, and Represent. As we run for memory and walk for truth, we demonstrate to the world that our presence and resilience remain strong 111 years later," says Elizabeth Kandaharian, the chair of the organizing committee.
Elizabeth says the public is invited to join the final leg of the journey through a community 10-kilometre run and a five-kilometre walk. This inclusive approach ensures that the commemoration is not restricted to elite athletes but is accessible to families, elders, and youth alike. The finish line, located at the Armenian Community Centre (45 Hallcrown Place), is expected to be an emotional scene. Ajemian is scheduled to complete his 111th and final ceremonial kilometre between 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., greeted by the very community whose history he carried through the night.
The 'Represent' portion of the event's title refers to its charitable mission. The organizers have ensured that this act of remembrance translates into tangible aid for those in need. Proceeds from the event are earmarked for two major causes: SickKids Hospital and the Armenian Relief Society's (ARS) Hearths of Hope initiative. Hearths of Hope is a particularly poignant choice. The program provides housing for displaced families from Artsakh who were forced to flee their ancestral homes following the 2023 ethnic cleansing of the region. For many in the Toronto community, the recent events in Artsakh felt like a modern echo of 1915, making the need for community action feel more urgent than ever.
"For our community, the Armenian Genocide is more than just history because they continue to shape our present," Kandaharian says. "What we saw in Artsakh is a painful reminder that displacement and injustice are still realities today, making our support for these families not just meaningful, but necessary." By supporting SickKids, the AYF also reinforces its commitment to the local Toronto community, bridging the gap between its heritage and its home in Canada. It is a gesture that acknowledges the safety and opportunity Canada provided to genocide survivors and their descendants.
For the Simon Zavarian chapter, the run represents a shift in how the diaspora engages with its history. Traditionally, April 24th commemorations in Canada involved large-scale demonstrations in Ottawa. However, starting in 2025, the community began 'decentralizing' these efforts, focusing on local initiatives that engage the public in more interactive ways. The success of last year's 110-km run proved that there was a deep hunger for physical, visible acts of solidarity.
Photo provided by the AYF Simon Zavarian chapter.
Having participated in and organized protests, Zavarian chapter member Carmen Dean has seen the power of collective action firsthand. She believes this marathon carries that same purpose: "Bringing people together through movement, unity, and a shared sense of resilience is a way to show that, as Armenians, we are still here, still strong, and still united, while also turning that unity into tangible support for initiatives in our community and in our homeland," she says.
The organizers believe that the run's visibility is a form of education in itself. As neighbours see Ajemian and the community moving through the streets, it sparks conversations about the Genocide, the recognition of human rights abuses, and the importance of preventing such atrocities in the future.
Seeing the excitement of the youth as they join the run is what motivates Albert Ajemian to stay the course. "When they come out and run together with me, it reminds me why I keep going," he says. When Ajemian crosses the finish line on Sunday morning, he will be completing an ultramarathon, yes, but he will also be proving that even after 111 years, the spirit of a people remains in motion. ֍
