Horizon Weekly
Encyclopedia
Horizon Weekly is an Armenian Canadian newspaper publication and is the official political organ of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(ARF)'s Canadian Central Committee.
's Horizon Armenian Weekly was first published in 1979, sharing its birthday with Armenia's first Independence Day, May 28th.
Born as the official political organ of Canada's Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Central Committee, Horizon was first conceived during ARF Canada's first regional meeting held in 1977. During its first two years, until March 1981, Horizon was run by different editorial boards.
In March 1981, a three-member editorial board was established with Vrej-Armen Artinian, Antranik Bedrossian and Levon Benguian. A couple of years later, Vrej-Armen Artinian became the first editor-in-chief and held the title for a decade. Giro Manoyan took over as Horizon's second editor-in-chief until his move to Armenia
in 1999. Vahakn Karakashian, then the editor-in-chief of Boston
's Hairenik
Weekly, was invited to Montreal, and has since been at the helm of the newspaper.
. Edited by Vrej-Armen Artinian, this supplement brings together the works of talented writers across the Diaspora. The literary supplement has an editorial committee. Other Horizon supplements include a youth page, reborn in May 2000, thanks to the contributions from Canada's regional executive committee of the Armenian Relief Society
and its local chapters, who saw the importance of publishing such an educational, yet diverting tool. More than 200 youths actively participate in the monthly brainteasers, whereas more than 800 copies of the youth supplement are freely distributed in Armenian schools in Toronto
and Montreal
. All winners are awarded prizes from the weekly. The editor of the youth supplement is Zepur Assadourian.
Between 2000 and 2006, more than 50 thematic supplements have been published, covering a wide array of topics, such as, Artsakh
, Shoushi, Javakhk, The Armenian Genocide
, the first Republic of Armenia, the 1700th anniversary of Armenian Christianity, Nakhichevan's Khachkar
s and so forth. Horizon's manager is Sylva Ehramdjian and her assistant is Mireille Merdkhanian. The editor of the English and French weekly supplements is Viken Aprahamian.
Photo Director of the Middle-Eastern division Harry Koundakjian, political analyst Khachig Der Ghougassian from Argentina, Journalist Nayiri Megerdichian from Yerevan and many free lance contributors from Armenia and Artsakh.
The French and English sections include the following contributors, section editor Tina Soulahian, Varant Yessayan, Lalai Manjikian, Mary Nercessian, Taline Abrakian, Raffi Boudjikanian and Lory Hovsepian. Horizon Weekly also has other contributors in different communities and includes the Horizon editorial board of Toronto and all the writers of the literary supplement, as well as the French and English sections of Horizon's yearly special issue.
. Horizon Weekly is currently a member of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada and participates in Council meetings through its representative in Toronto.
In November 2009, Seneca college (Toronto) hosted more than 225 members of Canada's ethnic media for The 2009 National Ethnic Press and Media Council (NEPMC) Seminar. The three-day seminar, running from November 19 to 22 brought together members of the ethnic media, provincial and national dignitaries, Seneca experts and dignitaries including Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada; Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism. During this event, 12 ethnic newspapers, including Horizon were honoured. The prime minister personally handed the awards to the editors of those publications. “Our government will continue to collaborate with cultural media and communities in pursuit of a common vision of a stronger, richer sense of Canadian citizenship,” said the Prime Minister.
Armenian Revolutionary Federation
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation is an Armenian political party founded in Tiflis in 1890 by Christapor Mikaelian, Stepan Zorian, and Simon Zavarian...
(ARF)'s Canadian Central Committee.
History
CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
's Horizon Armenian Weekly was first published in 1979, sharing its birthday with Armenia's first Independence Day, May 28th.
Born as the official political organ of Canada's Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Central Committee, Horizon was first conceived during ARF Canada's first regional meeting held in 1977. During its first two years, until March 1981, Horizon was run by different editorial boards.
In March 1981, a three-member editorial board was established with Vrej-Armen Artinian, Antranik Bedrossian and Levon Benguian. A couple of years later, Vrej-Armen Artinian became the first editor-in-chief and held the title for a decade. Giro Manoyan took over as Horizon's second editor-in-chief until his move to Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
in 1999. Vahakn Karakashian, then the editor-in-chief of Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
's Hairenik
Hairenik
Hairenik is an Armenian language weekly newspaper published in Watertown, Massachusetts in the United States.The newspaper, serving the Armenian American community, was established as a weekly in on May 1, 1899, making it one of the longest-running Armenian publications...
Weekly, was invited to Montreal, and has since been at the helm of the newspaper.
Supplements
Horizon Weekly publishes several supplements, including the only Armenian monthly literary publication in the DiasporaArmenian diaspora
The Armenian diaspora refers to the Armenian communities outside the Republic of Armenia and self proclaimed de facto independent Nagorno-Karabakh Republic...
. Edited by Vrej-Armen Artinian, this supplement brings together the works of talented writers across the Diaspora. The literary supplement has an editorial committee. Other Horizon supplements include a youth page, reborn in May 2000, thanks to the contributions from Canada's regional executive committee of the Armenian Relief Society
Armenian Relief Society
The Armenian Relief Society, A.R.S or H.O.M , is an independent, non-governmental and non-sectarian organization and NGO, serving the social and educational needs of Armenian communities everywhere, seeking to preserve the cultural identity of the Armenian nation, and, whenever and wherever the...
and its local chapters, who saw the importance of publishing such an educational, yet diverting tool. More than 200 youths actively participate in the monthly brainteasers, whereas more than 800 copies of the youth supplement are freely distributed in Armenian schools in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. All winners are awarded prizes from the weekly. The editor of the youth supplement is Zepur Assadourian.
Between 2000 and 2006, more than 50 thematic supplements have been published, covering a wide array of topics, such as, Artsakh
Artsakh
Artsakh was the tenth province of the Kingdom of Armenia from 189 BC until 387 AD and afterwards a region of Caucasian Albania from 387 to the 7th century. From the 7th to 9th centuries, it fell under Arab control...
, Shoushi, Javakhk, The Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
, the first Republic of Armenia, the 1700th anniversary of Armenian Christianity, Nakhichevan's Khachkar
Khachkar
A khachkar or khatchkar is a carved, cross-bearing, memorial stele covered with rosettes and other botanical motifs. Khachkars are characteristic of Medieval Christian Armenian art found in Armenia.-Description:...
s and so forth. Horizon's manager is Sylva Ehramdjian and her assistant is Mireille Merdkhanian. The editor of the English and French weekly supplements is Viken Aprahamian.
Volunteers
Horizon Weekly has many volunteers who have contributed their time, even across long distances and include France's former Radio AYP director Hagop Balian, photographers Hawk Khacherian and Kaloust Babian, columnists Soliné Chamlian and Diroug Manjikian, long-time contributors Krikor Hotoyan, Sako Ghazarian, Aris Babikian and Journalist Karin Saghdedjian from Toronto, New York's Associated PressAssociated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
Photo Director of the Middle-Eastern division Harry Koundakjian, political analyst Khachig Der Ghougassian from Argentina, Journalist Nayiri Megerdichian from Yerevan and many free lance contributors from Armenia and Artsakh.
The French and English sections include the following contributors, section editor Tina Soulahian, Varant Yessayan, Lalai Manjikian, Mary Nercessian, Taline Abrakian, Raffi Boudjikanian and Lory Hovsepian. Horizon Weekly also has other contributors in different communities and includes the Horizon editorial board of Toronto and all the writers of the literary supplement, as well as the French and English sections of Horizon's yearly special issue.
Yearly Special issues
The publication keeps the tradition of publishing a year-end Special issue that started in 2001. The issues covered the political, social and cultural aspects of Armenia and the diaspora.Honors
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Canadian Ethnic Press Council, the Council had organized an Ethnic Press Day in Toronto on September 1, 2002. During this event, the Council honoured eight ethnic newspapers from across Canada, including Horizon Weekly, which was the only Quebec publication to take home the title. The eight newspapers were chosen from more than 800 ethnic publications in 125 languages. The award was presented to Vahakn Karakachian by Canada's former Heritage Minister Sheila CoppsSheila Copps
Sheila Maureen Copps, PC is a former Canadian politician who also served as Deputy Prime Minister of Canada from November 4, 1993 to April 30, 1996 and June 19, 1996 to June 11, 1997....
. Horizon Weekly is currently a member of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada and participates in Council meetings through its representative in Toronto.
In November 2009, Seneca college (Toronto) hosted more than 225 members of Canada's ethnic media for The 2009 National Ethnic Press and Media Council (NEPMC) Seminar. The three-day seminar, running from November 19 to 22 brought together members of the ethnic media, provincial and national dignitaries, Seneca experts and dignitaries including Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada; Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism. During this event, 12 ethnic newspapers, including Horizon were honoured. The prime minister personally handed the awards to the editors of those publications. “Our government will continue to collaborate with cultural media and communities in pursuit of a common vision of a stronger, richer sense of Canadian citizenship,” said the Prime Minister.
Website and Other Media
Horizon Weekly was the first Armenian publication on the international scene to have its own website during the 90s. However, during the first three years of the 21st century, the weekly could no longer be found on the internet. In 2003, the Central Committee presented a detailed report regarding Horizon's site and www.horizonweekly.ca was launched in May 2004.External links
- Horizon Weekly official website