ACC Aims and Objectives

The Armenian Community Centre (ACC) is dedicated to actively sponsor, promote, and support community activity, such as: cultural, sports, educational, recreational, theatrical, benevolent activities for the betterment of community life, civic improvement, and the preservation of Armenian cultural heritage.

The ACC operates from two facilities (approx. 50,000 sq. ft. each) – the Armenian Community Centre and the Armenian Youth Center, both on Hallcrown Place, Toronto, Ontario. The multipurpose facilities include, community halls, meeting rooms, a gymnasium, a theatre, classrooms, two libraries, two cafeterias, an art gallery, a youth wing with seminar rooms, and offices.

To carry out its objectives, the ACC has created the following sub-organizations within its charitable mandate:

To carry out its activities the ACC relies extensively on hundreds of volunteer members who devote countless hours of their valued lime and their talents.

Over the years, as the community grew, the list of services provided by the ACC expanded and the aims, and objectives of the ACC were amended in 2011.

The following is a detailed list of the activities in support of the amended list of aims and objectives.

Objective (a) Relief of Poverty

To relieve poverty by providing basic amenities, including food, clothing, and shelter to needy and the underprivileged.

Objective (b) Advancement of Education

Activities to advance education consists of the following:

Objective (c) Community Services

Activities to provide Community Services to the local community across the following five areas:

  1. Social Services
    • Provided by the ARS Social Services office located at the Armenian Community Centre through employees and volunteers. The ARS Social Services believes that people thrive when they have access to information, tools, and resources to enhance their health and well-being. Thus, they serve as a connection point for community members to identify and access financial, health and other services and support.
    • All services are private, confidential, and free of charge include Employment services, Communications, Citizenship preparation classes, Seniors, Youth, Housing, Translational services
    • Social Services application assistance for vulnerable families, abused spouses, children’s care, and healthcare supports
  2. Services directed to the youth
    Services aimed at the youth are carried out through the Armenian Youth Organization. A wing of the ACC at the 45 Hallcrown Place building is allocated to the specific use of the youth activities, serving its over 200 members (ages 16 to 25). The organization promotes community values and healthy social development through regular youth events and seminars. Its core objective is to provide a pleasant and safe environment for the youth where they can organize their own activities in a social setting.

    The organization encourages participation in the community affairs and emphasizes community service as a core value and teaches leadership skills.
  3. Services directed to Seniors
    Services aimed at the senior citizens of the community are carried out through the activities of our Seniors Club. This organization provides an active social environment to the elderly in our community in a friendly and supportive atmosphere.

    Activities include gatherings within the Community Center for social events, seminars, lectures on health, wellness, and financial matters. The seniors also organize activities to support seniors who are in need and in social isolation.
  4. Services of athletic and sports nature
    Services aimed at the youth, interested in athletics and sport including family-oriented activities, athletic events, basketball, soccer, field hockey, volleyball teams, that practice regularly and participate in various sports competitions.
  5. Other services
    Publishes a monthly newsletter with a circulation of 1,000 copies that is distributed at no cost to the community members. The newsletter provides news about the community and covers significant community events.

Objective (d) Promote Art and Culture

This objective is achieved mainly through the activities organized by the Armenian Educational and Cultural Association (AECA).

The following is a description of its activities:

Objective (e) Assistance to other charities and Non-Profit groups

The ACC supports and financially assists other charitable organizations that are also registered charities under the Income Tax Act (Canada).
In addition to the organizations that are part of the ACC and described above, the ACC makes its facilities available to many community-based non-profit organizations serving the community and the public, for a variety of uses and functions.
Among the many such non-profit organizations that use the ACC facilities as their base and carry out their activities to serve the community are:

The ACC and all the groups based at the ACC operate primarily with volunteers, utilizing only a handful of paid staff. Ongoing operations are entirely funded with community donations, bingo revenues, fund raising events (telethons, festivals, bazaars, etc.), rental of some of the facilities such as the banquet hall, the cafeteria, the auditorium etc. and some support and funding from governments for specific projects and events.

Objective (f) International Aid and Development

Part of the ACC’s annual budget (not exceeding 50%) may be dedicated to charitable activities outside of Canada. These activities are administered and supervised directly by ACC representatives that are tasked to supervise all expenditures.

Relief of Poverty, Advancement of Education and Assist Victims of Disasters