On January 12-13, 1946, the Armenian Church Youth Organization of America (A.C.Y.O.A.) was formed at a Constitutional Assembly held in Providence, Rhode Island. The founder, inspiration and guiding light of this youth organization was His Eminence, the late Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan, then the Bishop and Primate of the Armenian Church in North America.

The [late] Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan, a religious and intellectual giant, stepped into the work of bringing cohesion and purpose to the youth, and with selfless devotion and inspiring leadership, he challenged the youth with spiritual and intellectual goals. The youth were quick to see the value of this man and of the Church he represented and thus, immediately set about establishing parish youth groups throughout the Diocese.

The A.C.Y.O.A. developed, and Archbishop Tiran's dream of preserving an active youth presence within the Church was slowly coming true. With Canada being an integral part of the Diocese of North America, Armenian-Canadian youths were heavily involved within the organization. The first Canadian chapter was founded in Toronto in 1954. Other Canadian chapters were Montreal (1958) and St. Catharines (1962). The A.C.Y.O.A. General Assembly was held in Canada on three occasions, twice in Toronto and once in Montreal. And the Sports Weekend was held on Canadian soil twice, both times in Toronto (in conjunction with the General Assembly).

In 1984, the Canadian Diocese of the Armenian Church was created as a distinct institution, separate from the two American Dioceses (Eastern and Western). Soon after, the newly elected Primate, the late Archbishop Vazken Keshishian, stated his bold intention to found an A.C.Y.O. for the new Diocese. On May 22nd, 1988, he appointed the Primate's Advisory Committee for youth, whose purpose was the establishment and operation of the A.C.Y.O.C. With the appointment of the Very Rev. Father Hovnan Derderian as Youth Director, this committee was soon to become the A.C.Y.O.C.'s first Central Council and instructed to organize the new A.C.Y.O.C..

On May 28th, 1988. a special constitutional meeting was held, presided by His Eminence, the late Archbishop Vazken Keshishian. Active Church youth members from Toronto and St-Catharines drafted a constitution, based on the ACYOA Constitution, proving our common origins. It was then decided to immediately expand the A.C.Y.O.C. to the other parishes and organize its founding Convention.

On June 18-20th, 1988, the first annual A.C.Y.O.C. General Assembly was held in Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Toronto. Presided by Vazken Serpazan, delegates were gathered from Toronto, Montreal, St. Catharines and Vancouver parishes to firmly root the A.C.Y.O.C. Also held at that time the first A.C.Y.O.C. annual Sports Weekend. During the summer and fall months of 1988, the four Chapters organized, raised their membership numbers and worked to establish themselves in their respective communities. In March, 1989, a fifth Chapter was created in the Ottawa parish.

Between June 18-21st, 1989, the second annual A.C.Y.O.C. General Assembly was hosted by the Montreal Chapter and held in St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral. The A.C.Y.O.C. General Assembly elected the Central Council for the first time as well as choosing the site of the 1990 Assembly and Sports Weekend, deciding on the St. Catharines Although very successful, the St. Catharines Assembly was saddened by the passing of both Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan, founder of the A.C.Y.O. movement and of Archbishop Vazken Keshishian, the A.C.Y.O.C.'s first Primate and President. The Assembly also welcomed the Very Rev. Father Hovnan Derderian, not as Youth Director but as our Primate. Father Hovnan would be elevated to the rank of Bishop by the end of the year and Archbishop in 1993.

In 1991, the A.C.Y.O.C. took a position of leadership among Armenian and Church youth organizations by proposing a bold new humanitarian project to the Diocesan Council, namely the construction of a medical clinic in Artik, an area devastated by the 1988 earthquake. Originally, A.C.Y.O.C. members were to go to Armenia and build the clinic with prefabricated pieces from Canada or Europe. This idea was eventually abandoned as it was discovered to be too costly. Instead, a much larger clinic was built for the same price, using local materials and labourers, thus providing jobs and boosting the local economy. The Armenia Medical Clinic Project (A.M.C.P.), one of the most important Diocesan projects, took three years and over $400,000 to complete, of which over $100,000 was raised by A.C.Y.O.C. chapters across Canada. The new clinic was formally inaugurated in July 1994, and baptized the St. Nareg Clinic.

At the start of 1991, a new chapter was formed in the newly created St. Vartan's Church in Mississauga, Ontario. The 1991 General Assembly and Sports Weekend was held on the Pacific Coast for the first time, when the Vancouver Chapter hosted the annual reunion. That Assembly also took the bold step of creating a Winter Leadership Seminar, as to provide a forum for training new executive members in needed skills, presented within a social atmosphere. The first such Winter event was held in February of 1992, hosted by the Toronto Chapter.

The 1992 General Assembly and Sports Weekend was hosted by the Montreal Chapter. Thus the A.C.Y.O.C. was doing its share in taking part in the 350th anniversary celebrations of the founding of Montreal. In 1993, the General Assembly and Sports Weekend was held in a mission parish for the first time as the Mississauga community and chapter hosted the A.C.Y.O.C. In 1994, the A.C.Y.O.C. returned to its roots, as the Toronto Chapter and Parish hosted the annual Sports Weekend for the first time since the founding Assembly of 1988.

In 1992, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian and the Canadian Diocese created a new youth program, to come to the aid of our brothers and sisters in need in Armenia. Through the direct delivery of aid, rather than just sending it, the Canadian Youth Mission to Armenia was much appreciated both by the citizens of Armenia and the youth in Canada. During the first two years, C.Y.M.A. operated as a project of the Diocese, separate from the A.C.Y.O.C. Since 1994, the A.C.Y.O.C. has been assigned the mandate of fundraising and recruitement for C.Y.M.A. by the Diocesan Council, thus assuring its continuity as a permanent program of the Diocese.

In 1994, the A.C.Y.O.C. continued to expand with the creation of a new chapter in the new Holy Cross parish of Laval. The new Laval chapter participated actively in the ACYOC's Assemblies and Sports Weekends in Toronto, the 1995, in Montreal in 1996 as well as in Vancouver in 1996, where the chapter won the Babayan Cup as well as being chosen as the host chapter for the 1997 10th Annual ACYOC Assembly and Sports Weekend.

As we look back at the 50 year history of the A.C.Y.O. movement in North America, we can see that it has been the key instrument which has helped preserve and strengthen our communities, and has prevented the loss of Armenian culture and heritage, in a society where assimilation of minority groups was and is rampant. History has proven that the Armenian people have always depended on their Church to assure their cultural, linguistic, moral and, in most troubled times, political and even physical survival. The creation of A.C.Y.O.A./C. chapters across North America has given the youth a sense of purpose and belonging within the Armenian community. It has also introduced the youth to the life and worship of our Beloved Church, and also the glory and beauty of our spiritual heritage. Today, one can easily find parish council members, Diocesan Delegates, Ladies' Guild members, deacons, choirmasters, choir members, and Sunday school teachers who were once or who still are A.C.Y.O.C. members.