Sustaining hope and heritage AMAC rallies community support for Armenian schools in Lebanon

Toronto banquet slated for Sept. 27 TORONTOHYE—In times of deep national crisis, a diaspora's strength is measured not just by memory, but by action. For more than four decades, the Armenian Missionary Association of Canada (AMAC) has answered that call—transforming Christian solidarity into a practical lifeline for vulnerable Armenian communities across Canada, Armenia, and the Middle East. From emergency infant nutrition and child sponsorships to school subsidies and elder care, AMAC’s mission has long stood on the front lines of humanitarian need. Today, as families in Lebanon face unprecedented socio-economic hardship, that mission takes on renewed urgency. On Sunday, September 27 at 5:30 p.m., AMAC will gather the community at Lara’s Restaurant in Toronto (155 Consumers Rd.) for a special benefit banquet dedicated to sustaining the Armenian schools and students fighting to keep learning alive in Lebanon. Torontohye sat down with AMAC President and CEO Ruth Demirdjian Duench to discuss the heartbeat behind the event and the historic institutions relying on this vital support. Torontohye: With Lebanon navigating profound socio-economic distress, this upcoming benefit banquet comes at a pivotal time. What is the central urgency behind organizing this event right now, and which schools and institutions will directly benefit from the community’s support?Ruth Demirdjian Duench: The situation in Lebanon remains exceedingly difficult for families, educators, and children. Our goal with this banquet is to mobilize the Canadian-Armenian community to ensure that our vital institutions continue to function and offer stability. The funds raised will directly support Armenian schools in Lebanon serving vulnerable populations, including the Armenian Evangelical Shamlian Tatigian Secondary School in Bourj Hammoud, the Armenian Evangelical Secondary School of Anjar, and other educational programs assisting