16 Facts About Aris Alexanian

Aris Luke Alexanian was a noted world traveller, prominent Armenian Canadian and business man.

Aris Alexanian was orphaned at an early age with the untimely death of both his parents.

Aris Alexanian went into hiding for 6 months, in the Anatolia region of the empire, to escape from the Armenian genocide.

Aris Alexanian arrived in New York City in 1920 and then moved to Canada in 1921.

In 1923 Alexanian moved to Georgetown, Ontario, to become a teacher and assistant superintendent at a school and farm for Armenian orphans called the Armenian Boys' Farm.

Aris Alexanian was included as a character in a play set around the Georgetown orphanage.

Aris Alexanian is featured as a character in a children's book titled "Call Me Aram", which is about the Georgetown Boys.

In January 1927 in Georgetown, Aris Alexanian married Mary Boghosian, who had recently arrived in Canada from Egypt.

Aris Alexanian moved to Hamilton, Ontario in 1927, where he opened an oriental rug store, called Oriental Art Galleries.

Aris Alexanian imported handmade carpets from around the world and eventually travelled extensively in the Middle East to buy carpets for his business.

Aris Alexanian's travels were often chronicled in The Hamilton Spectator.

Aris Alexanian was an accomplished linguist and could speak six languages, which he used to his advantage for business negotiations in the more that 15 countries he typically visited during his travels.

Aris Alexanian began to expand his carpet business in 1950, and opened a second store in Ottawa, Ontario.

Aris Alexanian was a supporter of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Ancient Landmarks of Hamilton group, and the Kiwanis Club.

Aris Alexanian was a personal friend of Mirza Osman Ali Baig, the Pakistani High Commissioner to Canada, who visited Hamilton in May 1955 and was a guest speaker at the Hamilton Kiwanis Club.

Aris Alexanian is special advisor to the University of Waterloo Circle K Club.