This archive report was first published on 13 January 2020.
On January 13, 2020, a plane crash in Iran sent shockwaves across the globe, but nowhere was the impact felt more deeply than in Canada's Iranian diaspora community.
Flowers, candles, and photographs were placed outside the offices of faculty members who perished in the tragedy, as well as on the steps of Alberta's sandstone legislature, a poignant reminder of the lives lost.
Edmonton, a city of nearly one million people, observed a period of mourning, with flags lowered throughout the city and a railway bridge illuminated with red and white lights, the colors of the Canadian flag.
Iranians are a relatively recent arrival in Canada, with most settling in the country after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Today, Canada is home to the third-largest number of expatriate Iranians worldwide, with many pursuing higher education at Canadian universities.
Iranian-Canadians have made significant contributions to their adopted country, excelling in fields such as medicine, engineering, and academia.
