SOAR - Vancouver Chapter
Vancouver joined the SOAR family in December 2015. The 2006 census determined that there were more than 50,000 Armenians living in Canada, and 30,130 had Armenian as their mother tongue. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Armenians settled in communities in southern Ontario. Early immigrants congregated in kratarans, or reading rooms where Armenian Canadians shared Armenian literature. A large part of the Armenian diaspora in Canada came from nations in the Middle East and Europe. Canada has also seen increased immigration from Armenia, especially after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Most Armenian-Canadians are in the provinces of Quebec and Ontario and are active in community life. Smaller communities exist in the central and Maritime Provinces, with a slightly larger community in British Columbia.
The Armenian community in Vancouver, British Columbia, which had 1,915 people of Armenian ancestry per the 2006 Canadian Census, is home to two Armenian Apostolic Churches: St Vartan Armenian Church (diocese to the See of Holy Echmiadzin) and St. Gregory the Illuminator (in Richmond, pertaining to the diocese of the Holy See of Cilicia). Armenians in Vancouver include those that immigrated from Iran, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Turkey. In 2014, the community inaugurated the Armenian Genocide Memorial, commemorating the first Genocide of the 20th century.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Inessa Manukyan
President
“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another”. Charles Dickens
Inessa Manukyan is a digital marketing strategist, entrepreneur, and personal branding advocate. She holds a Master’s in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s in Communications from the American University of Armenia.
As the Founder & CEO of LEADIN Personal Branding Agency, she helps professionals and executives enhance their presence on LinkedIn and beyond. Previously, she served as the Head of Digital Marketing at Viva, Armenia’s leading telecom operator, where she helped to establish the company’s digital marketing section and launched its first audio podcast series.
Beyond her professional work, Inessa is actively engaged in global education and youth empowerment. She has participated in international academic programs in the Czech Republic and Austria contributing to initiatives that foster leadership and cross-cultural collaboration. Inessa has authored a “TOEFL iBT Crash Course: A Personal Guidebook”, supporting students and educators in test preparation.
Inessa has traveled to over 20 countries continuously expanding her perspective on culture, innovation, and human connection. She is fluent in English, Russian, and Armenian, currently learning Italian. In her free time, she enjoys skiing and cooking.