Prince George’s Iranian community is hosting a memorial for those who died onboard flight 752.
The Ukraine International Airlines plane, en route to Kyiv from Tehran, had 138 people on board on their way to Canada when the plane crashed shortly after take-off on Wednesday, Jan. 8.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani later confirmed an Iranian missile fired “due to human error” and downed the aircraft, killing all 176 people on board including 63 Canadian citizens.
Many of those killed in the crash were on their way back to their studies, in universities and secondary schools across Canada.
Others were preparing to resume their jobs teaching in those institutions or doing research. The victims also included newlyweds and young families.
Several of the victims were on their way home to British Columbia including, Firouzeh Madani and Naser Pourshaban, a North Vancouver couple in their mid-50s who were both award-winning physicians in Iran.
Another British Columbian lost in the crash was Delaram Dadashnejad, a 26-year-old Langara College student who was aiming to become a dietitian.
The plane was also carrying 82 Iranians, 11 Ukrainian passengers and crew, 10 Swedes, four Afghans, three Germans and three Britons.
The crash comes in a region where tensions have been running high following the American assassination of a top Iranian general near Baghdad and retaliatory missile attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq.
Prince George will honour the lives lost in a special memorial taking place at the Centre of Peace and Reconciliation at St. Michael and All Angels Church Hall (1505 5 Ave.).
The memorial is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 26 from 2 to 4 p.m. and all are welcome to attend.
Everyone is encouraged to bring a rose; there will be coffee and treats available afterwards.
— with files from The Canadian Press
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