Canada’s Minister of Industry and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly, in Montreal, received the prestigious “Boghos Nubar” award during the 94th General Assembly of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU).
One of the AGBU’s highest awards is granted for exceptional services rendered to the Armenian people and community and for significant contributions.
Joly has played an important role in strengthening Canada-Armenia relations, particularly in 2021-2025, while serving as Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. She has repeatedly addressed Azerbaijan’s military operations and the consequences of the forced displacement of the Armenian population of Artsakh.
Expressing her gratitude on receiving the award, Joly described herself as a proud ally of the Armenian community. She stressed Canada’s support for Armenia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, for the right of displaced Artsakh Armenians to safe return, for the release of Armenian prisoners and for the preservation of Armenian cultural and religious heritage.
She also emphasized the importance of establishing a permanent Canadian diplomatic representation in Yerevan, recalling that she had raised the issue of opening a Canadian embassy in Armenia in 2015.
In October 2023 Joly visited Armenia to officially open Canada’s first permanent embassy in Yerevan. During the visit she announced additional humanitarian assistance for displaced Artsakh Armenians, bringing Canada’s total assistance to 3.9 million dollars.
More than 30 delegates and community leaders from over 30 countries participated in the AGBU’s 94th General Assembly held on 15-17 October. The Assembly coincided with the 120th anniversary of the organization’s founding and included discussions devoted to Armenia’s challenges and prospects for future development.
The “Boghos Nubar” award recognizes Mélanie Joly’s long-standing engagement in Armenian issues and her contributions toward strengthening diplomatic ties between Canada and Armenia.
