Classes are in session at École de Gemmologie de Montréal (EGM) for 13 Syrian-Armenian refugees awarded scholarships by the Armenian Jewellers Foundation (AJF).
This is the second group to go through the program since last fall. Students are taught the formation of crystals, mining, gem cutting, and distribution. The curriculum is designed to enable an understanding of the basics of identifying gems, including separating natural stones from imitations.
Last month, the graduating class received their ‘attestation’ certificates for completing Gemmology 1 and diamond grading laboratory courses. Seven students were selected to continue their studies in Gemmology 2.
“We are extremely lucky to have this opportunity to learn at such a reputable Canadian institution, which is giving us top knowledge and expertise,” said student Viken Apkarian. “I am confident this will help all of us integrate and improve our employment prospects. Thanks to AJF, I was recently offered a new job and re-launched my career as a jeweller in Canada.”
Apel Camgozlu, chair of the Armenian Jewellers Association’s (AJA’s) Ontario chapter, says a recent job fair in Toronto attracted about 50 Syrian-Armenian jewellers looking for work in everything from goldsmithing to setting to refining. He says the chapter has started a database to help place them, preferably in Toronto or the surrounding area.
“The quality of the candidates is astounding,” says Camgozlu, whose family owns Mary Jewellery in Toronto.”If I could, I would start a factory with these jewellers.”
He says a lot of the refugees are university graduates and their English skills are quite good, while others don’t speak any English at all. “But at the end of the day, jewellery is an art and as long as you can get your point across, the artist can do the job. If you are looking for really talented and hardworking individuals, you have a great opportunity to grab the cream of the crop and advance your business.”
AJF says it is granting 50 new scholarships this year to support the jewellery and diamond sector in Armenia and the Diaspora. In Canada, the AJF program exclusively supports recent Syrian-Armenian refugees.
“We wholeheartedly thank our AJF Scholarship Fund sponsors for supporting our educational mission, as well as refugee integration efforts,” said AJF chair Pierre Akkelian.
“We look forward to partnering with new patrons, and promoting more young talents in becoming the next generation of industry leaders. Our sponsors’ generosity has allowed AJF to grant 45 scholarships to date to students from Armenia, Artsakh, Syria, Iraq, Georgia, and Lebanon. Namely, we recognize the Birks Family Foundation, Canadian Jewellers Association (CJA), Jewelers Mutual, École de Gemmologie de Montréal, Invessa Financial & Insurance Co., Melisende Diamonds, AJA Ontario, AJA Montreal, as well as Pierre Hajjar, Lucy Kilislian, Alfred Boghossian, Apkar Papazian, Habib Malo, Levon Yappar, Vahe Urun, Diran Avedian, Harout Missirian, and Sylvia Minassian.”
Recent Syrian-Armenian refugees to Canada who wish to study gemmology at EGM may apply for an AJF grant. For more information, e-mail info@egmtl.com.
Anyone interested in prospecting a Syrian-Armenian jeweller through the AJA Ontario chapter can do so at ajaontario@gmail.com.
