The North Shore’s Iranian community is reeling from both tension and tragedy as the country deals with the prospect of war and a plane crash that left 176 dead.
Media reports in Iran and B.C. have named at least three North Vancouver residents as victims in the crash that killed 176 people, more than 63 of whom were living in Canada.
North Vancouver residents Delaram Dadashnejad, a Langara College student, as well as Daniel Saket, an engineer, and his hygienist wife Faye Kazerani have been named among the casualties so far.
Delaram was an international student flying home to Vancouver after a visit with family in Tehran, according to a statement released by Langara president Lane Trotter issued on Tuesday morning.
“On behalf of the Langara College community, I would like to offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Delaram Dadashnejad,” it read. “The loss of one of our students is one that impacts our entire community.”
The school is offering counselling to those in grief.
“We are heartbroken over the fatal tragedy that took place; our thoughts and prayers are with those in mourning from this incident.”
The North Shore is home to the largest community of Persians in Canada, according to the last census, with 12,835 of B.C.’s total 18,890 immigrants from Iran making their homes here. Two thousand and nine hundred newcomers came from Iran in the last census period alone.
More to come…
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