Greetings from the Canadian Chapter 'Assyrian School Kirkuk' Reunion

By Mr. Shmaiel S. Younan, Chairman
For The Canadian Chapter
'Assyrian School Kirkuk' Third Reunion


We wish to express our gratitude to the 'Assyrian School Kirkuk Reunion' Founding Committee (Illinois, USA) under the chairmanship of Mr. Awisha Z. Lazar who granted us the opportunity of sponsoring the Third Reunion in Canada. We would also thank him for giving us the hand of help as and when we asked for. We can't express how much this gentleman is sincerely devoted to his work in all respects that are related to the matters of Assyrians as a whole. Mr. Lazar has been a very active person for many, many years in the past until to-day, and he was a very strong pillar for the Assyrian School of Kirkuk. There is so much to say about him but we have to make it short.

We are privileged to take the opportunity to welcome each and every one of you that came from U.S.A. and those who have traveled from overseas (Australia, Holland, England, Spain, etc.) and across the country to celebrate this Reunion. To-night, we are honored by rejoicing together as a whole Assyrian family with no distingual of where they originally comes from but, to consider ourselves one family and to try to make this event very successful so that it will stay with us as a memory for many years to come. The main objectives of such reunions is in the sense of reminding our people of their past and also to give the new generation to stop into the same course that their parents have been and are till to-day.

We are proud to say that Assyrians have the greatest history in the world, they were a mighty empire that at one time they were able to rule for 1200 years BC. The cradle of civilization started in Bet Nahrain not in any other country, so today that we come from those roots where we are standing? Thank God that until to day we could survive and exist. Assyrian Empire came to an end in the year 612 BC.

Assyrian School Kirkuk was established by late Rev. Isaak Rehana in year of 1928, in the year of 1933 he was deported from Iraq on political matters related to Assyrians. From there on late Rev. Khoshaba Khamis took over the School till his death on December 24, 1949. Let me give some of my personal views and comments on late Rev. Khamis. I am one of the students of his time that is why I can say something about him. He was a very straight priest in all respects, weather church matters or school and the community as a whole. The late priest Khamis had a very strong and affective personality. H also had a good and strong control on the Assyrian community without distinguishing who is who with except to consider them as a whole family. His contacts with the Government officials were affective and strong; of course this was related to the problems and the requirements of our people. There is so much to say about him but, to make it short, he was very kind to everyone, helpful always when ever a person would ask for it, so God rest his soul in peace.

In 1948 the School was registered at the Ministry of Education as an Elementary Private School. The students of the said School were always the top ones in the Baccalaureate examinations compared to the other schools in Kirkuk. In 1974 all private schools were nationalized and taken over by the Ministry of Education.

In conclusion our hopes are that we are at more freedom in North America, so let us put hand in hand, unite with a strong support of each other so that we will be able to establish schools, sports activities, etc., if we think about it seriously, we can do it, there is nothing to stop us from doing it, with except to have an understanding and strong unity to achieve our goals. We hope that tonight and the day after, the 'Picnic Day' will be very enjoyable and historical in Canada, and it will also stay in our mind and heart as long as we live. Hoping that the Fourth Reunion will take place in any country that our people live, so let us hope for the best and thank you all.


Sincerely,
Shmaiel S. Younan, Chairman
For The Canadian Chapter
'Assyrian School Kirkuk' Third Reunion