The Armenian presence in Canada dates back to the late nineteenth century, when the first Armenian immigrants began settling primarily in Ontario. Persecution and massacres in the Ottoman Empire, particularly the Hamidian massacres of the 1890s and the Armenian Genocide of 1915, brought additional Armenian families to Canada. Early communities developed in cities such as St. Catharines, Hamilton, Toronto, and later Montreal.

Faith and the Armenian Apostolic Church played a central role in preserving the spiritual, cultural, and national identity of these new communities. In the absence of Armenian churches and resident clergy, visiting priests from the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America periodically traveled to Canada to celebrate the Divine Liturgy and administer the Sacraments, often using local Anglican churches.

A major milestone came in 1930 with the consecration of St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church in St. Catharines, the first Armenian Apostolic church established in Canada. As Armenian immigration increased after the Second World War, particularly during the 1950s and 1960s, communities in Montreal and Toronto grew considerably, leading to the establishment of permanent churches, parish organizations, choirs, schools, youth groups, and women’s guilds.

In 1967, the Regional Vicarate of Canada was established under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America. As Armenian communities continued to grow across the country, the need for an independent Canadian diocese became increasingly evident.

On November 15, 1980, His Holiness Vasken I, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, officially authorized the creation of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada. The first Diocesan Assembly was convened on September 3, 1983, at Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Toronto, formally establishing the Diocese under the spiritual authority of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Its headquarters were established at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Cathedral in Montreal.

In 1984, Bishop Vazken Keshishian was elected the first Primate of the Canadian Diocese. Under successive Primates, the Diocese continued to expand its spiritual, educational, cultural, and charitable ministries, while new parishes and mission communities were established throughout Canada.

Today, the Diocese continues its mission of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to the faith and sacred traditions of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Through its parishes and communities across Canada, it remains committed to worship, Christian education, pastoral care, youth ministry, charitable service, and the preservation of the Armenian Christian heritage for future generations.