August 31, 2015 — Mr. Pierre Akkelian, CJA Past President and Founder of Canadian Gem and Nishi Pearls, was presented with the 2015 CJA Chairman’s Award during the Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Jewellers Association held in Toronto on August 24, 2015 (seeCJA,Jewellery Business Magazine&Canadian Jeweller Magazine).
Incoming CJA Chairperson Tanya Parrish, on behalf of the Canadian jewellery industry, presented the Award, which read: “In recognition of your contribution to the betterment of the Canadian jewellery industry by conscientiously maintaining the highest professional standards through your career.” According to her presentation “Pierre has been a tireless supporter of the industry, its associations and its cultural and charitable efforts. He has championed international and national causes for the industry and improved the standing of the industry with governments, media, associations and individuals over the years.”
Mr. Akkelian, in his passionate acceptance speech, recalled his experience as CJA’s past president and an advocate of reforms. Mr. Akkelian, who founded the Armenian Jewellers Association (AJA) during his tenure at CJA and currently serves as the Chairman of the Armenian Jewellers Foundation (AJF), thanked the CJA for its support to AJF’s scholarship program. As a token of appreciation, a copy of the Treasures of Western Armenia publication was formally presented to the Chairperson Tanya Parrish and President and CEO David Ritter.
Many Canadian jewellers were in attendance of the Annual General Meeting, including a strong contingent from AJA Toronto: Chairman Apel Camgozlu, Past Chairperson Sevan Titizian, Board Member Haigo Derian, chapter founding member Adom Knadjian and CJA Past Chairman Garo Baler. Yakup Tecimer was presented with the CJA Chairman’s Appreciation Certificate as outgoing executive board member and past chairman. AJA member Mariam Paylan presented the 2015 CJA Erol Paylan Memorial Award to Phyllis Richard.
Mr. Akkelian dedicated this prestigious award “to all those who supported efforts to eliminate the excise tax,” including family members, industry colleagues and politicians, singling out John Duncan, MP from Vancouver Island, “the greatest friend the industry has in Parliament who valiantly fought for our cause in Ottawa…and to our Very Honourable Prime Minister who as Leader of the Opposition made a handshake deal with me to get rid of the Excise tax in his first budget and honoured his promise!”
