Corning Centre Introduces “Women of 1915” at POM Special Screening

The Corning Centre had the honour of introducing Bared Maronian’s inspiring and powerful documentary, Women of 1915 for the second time at Hamazkayin Toronto Pomegranate Film Festival Committee’s special encore presentation in benefit of the A.R.S. Armenian School annual Telethon on Saturday, February 25. Corning Centre Founder and Chair Raffi Sarkissian introduced the film stating “The documentary you are about to see is very unique as was Bared Maronian’s previous documentary, Orphans of the Genocide. Both left audiences worldwide with knowledge they would not have otherwise come across and a high level of curiosity, prompting one to dig deeper and learn more. Bared’s creations embody every aspect of an excellent documentary. Therefore, it is no coincidence that he has received many honours and awards.”

At the event, the Corning Centre’s Director of Finance, Paul Ternamian, presented the Speak Out contest to the audience and invited the awardees to stage. Director Bared Maronian joined the Corning Centre on stage to present the awardees with their certificates and awards. On the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, among its several initiatives, the Corning Centre held an Essay and Creative Writing Contest called Speak Out. The contest was open to all senior level high school students in Ontario, awarding a first place prize in each category of $500 and a runner prize of $100.

This year’s winners represented two schools from two school boards. Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute in the Waterloo Region District School Board and Sir Allan Macnab Secondary in the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board. 

The students who won this year were fortunate to have had exemplary teachers who attended the event, both of whom have worked with the Corning Centre in the past. The Corning Centre recognized the two outstanding Ontario teachers for their commitment to genocide education, Erin Ledlow from Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute in the Waterloo Region District School Board and Deborah Brown from Sir Allan Macnab Secondary in the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board. The two teachers received a copy of Aram Adjemian’s “A Call From Armenia: Canada’s Response to the Armenian Genocide” and Bared Maronian’s two films on DVD “Orphans of the Genocide” and “Women of 1915”.

The Corning Centre awarded prizes to their students whose works were chosen for first and second places for the centre’s Speak Out Contest, held on the occasion of the Centenary of the Armenian Genocide. Congratulations to the winners of the essay contest, Gabriella Zepeda Ayala (first place)  and Nate Skeen (second place) and the winners of the creative writing contest, Casey Monkelbaan (first place) and Lareb Zahra (second place).
We want to congratulate all the winners and participants and thank teachers for their continued support and dedication to Genocide Education. Paul Ternamian concluded the award ceremony by stating “Education is the most effective means to equip every new generation with the knowledge and skills needed to become positive contributors in society and agents of change. The grade 11 Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity Course has been doing just this thanks to dedicated teachers like Erin and Deborah.”