With equal parts flair and substance, the Armenian Bar Association convened its 2025 Annual Meeting in Toronto, Ontario, from June 13–15, banding together distinguished legal professionals, scholars, and community members from across North America. The weekend-long gathering featured continuing legal education panels, special recognitions, and strategic planning sessions to chart the organization’s course for the year ahead.
The Association’s new slate of officers for the 2025–2026 term is comprised of:
- Taline Sahakian, Chair
- Steve Dadaian and Mariam Kuregyan, Vice Chairs
- Zaven Sargsian, Secretary
- Mesrop Khoudagoulian, Treasurer
- Lucy Varpetian, Chair Ex Officio
The Board of Governors also welcomed San Diego Superior Court Judge Sharon Kalemkiarian as its newest member, adding her distinguished voice and judicial experience to the Association’s leadership.
The weekend’s activities got off to a felicitous start on Friday evening with a warm Welcome Reception at The Wine Academy in downtown Toronto. Saturday’s full-day program, held at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, featured a robust schedule of panels and presentations, blending local Armenian and broad professional themes:
- Panel 1: History of Armenians in Canada, focused on community contributions and narratives and spotlighted Dr. Isabel Kaprielian-Churchill and Raffi Sarkissian, moderated by Robert P. Adourian.
- Panel 2: Privacy in the Age of AI, addressed evolving legal and ethical challenges in emerging technology, with extraordinarily qualified panelists Dr. Ann Cavoukian, Kathy L. Ossian, Annie Davtian, and Nareg Froundjian, moderated by Christian Ohanian.
- Panel 3: Cross-Border (CAN/US) Constitutional Law, explored comparative constitutional law through a binational lens, headlined by Professor Aram A. Gavoor and Dr. Christopher Waters, moderated by Taline Sahakian.
A Gala Luncheon and Awards Ceremony followed, where the Association honored its “20 Under 40 Rising Stars,” recognizing young legal professionals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and service in their respective fields and communities.
Saturday afternoon concluded with the Membership and Board of Governors Meetings, where strategic initiatives and organizational matters were discussed and adopted. This included the appointment of Alex Kolandjian as Chair of the Ontario Chapter.
Sunday’s programming offered a memorable tour of Niagara Falls, including a group excursion on the Maid of the Mist, a delightful lunch, and a capping wine tasting.
The Association extends its heartfelt appreciation to the organizers—including outgoing Chapter Co-Chairs Elina Marinosyan and Elen Gasparyan and Board Liaison Giselle Mazmanian—and to the panelists and attendees whose contributions made the event a success. We look forward with great enthusiasm to the leadership of the new Toronto Chapter Chair, Alex Kolandjian, as we continue our mission of uniting Armenian legal professionals in the pursuit of justice, education, and community empowerment.