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The Iranian Community

 

An annual “yellow page” directory known as Zarvaragh (www.zarvaragh.com) published by Shahram Saremi lists the large number of Canadian Iranian professional services and business activities in the city. Toronto’s Iranians are involved in almost all areas of business, including the insurance and real-estate businesses, import/export and international trading, construction, banking, and financial services, education, politics, and medicine. Most of Toronto’s 120,000 Iranians are highly educated—physicians, engineers, bankers, teachers, lawyers, architects, and business people—from the Islamic Republic of Iran, formerly known as Iran. The majority of immigrants have arrived since the late 1970s.

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The first recorded Iranian immigrants to Canada were predominantly students who came between 1946 and 1965. Non-student immigrants began to arrive after 1966, and the third wave, from 1979 to 1981, brought Iranians seeking refuge from political upheaval in their homeland. Other Iranians have come to Canada indirectly from the United States, England, France, Germany, and other countries.

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Iranians are spread throughout Toronto but there is a concentration in North York, and Richmond Hill, where the first language and cultural heritage school was established. In 1982, an Iranian soccer league was formed with four teams. In 1983, a special ceremony was held to honour the year’s champions and to encourage participation in the Iranian Soccer League.

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Hints of ancient Persian culture can be unearthed around Toronto. Persian musicians playing various musical instruments and theatrical troupes are regular performers at Toronto’s theatres. The Persian Traditional Art and Cultural Foundation of Ontario has organized a number of events, including an international folk songs concert; a Persian Traditional Concert to commemorate Ontario’s bicentennial; arts exhibitions and cultural seminars; and an International Congress on Persian Heritage to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the birth of Sa’di, Iran’s greatest poet. The foundation plans to start a library and open a community centre.

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Places to Go

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Traditional popular Persian entertainment and foods, including Chelow Kabab, cornish hen marinated in saffron served with yogurt drink (with herbs and flavoured mint), and grilled tomatoes, Persian tea, coffee, desserts, and pasteries, are served in dozens of restaurants and pastry shops, including: Karoon Restaurant, (Tel. 905-886-4443, 5 Glen Cameron Rd., Thornhill); Zaffron, (Tel. 416-223-7070, 6200 Yonge St); Shirini Sara Pastry House, (Tel. 416-510-1050, 1875 Leslie St., #6); Red Rose, (Tel. 416-223-5551, 6184/5467 Yonge St); and Via Egnatia Restaurant, (Tel. 416-766-2332, 395 Keele St).

Popular Iranian foods, such as dried lime, saffron, and basmati rice are available at over a dozen stores, including: Super Khorak, (Tel. 416-221-7558, 6125 Yonge St). Books, videos, and cassettes in the Farsi (Persian) language are available at Pars Video, (Tel. 416-512-2414, 6113 Yonge St).

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Iranian owned businesses prominently display their colourful signs in Toronto.

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Religious Centres, Schools and Other Institutions

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The majority of Iranians are Muslims but the eastern Christian and Bahai faiths are also represented in the community.

Farsi language courses are offered at:

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  •   GLENVIEW PUBLIC SCHOOL, (Tel. 416-393-9390, 401 Rosewell Ave).

  •   THE SCHOOL OF CONTINUING STUDIES, (Tel. 416-978-2400, www.learn.utoronto.ca, at the University of Toronto, 158 St. George St) offers classes in Farsi.

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Holidays and Celebrations

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  •   NOW-RUZ (IRANIAN NEW YEAR), March 20–22, is held at the beginning of spring. Traditions include baking cookies, buying new clothes, planting vegetables, and setting the table with haft-sin: seven things that begin with the letter “S” in the Persian language—for example: vinegar (serkeh), coins (sekkeh), and apples (sib). Mirrors are symbolic of light and universe, candles honour fire, and apples represent productivity. The Iranian Association of Ontario holds a reception party on this day.

  •   LONGEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR. December 20–22 is a joyous celebration that marks the end of the longest night of the year. The holiday provides a break in the long winter season.

 

See Holidays and Celebrations in Glossary.



Media

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  •   IRAN STAR (WEEKLY NEWSPAPER), (Tel. 905-763-9770, Fax 905-763-9770, www.iranstar.com, 72 Steeles Ave. W., Suite 205, Thornhill). Editor-in-Chief: Bijan Binesh.

  •   SHAHRVAND NEWSPAPER, (Tel. 416-739-1086, Fax 416-739-6418, www.shahrvand.com, 4610 Dufferin St., Unit 208). Editor: Hassan Zerehi.

 

 

Organizations

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  •   MOTHER’S VOICE, (Tel. 416-789-7092, 377 Ridelle Ave., Unit 1822).

  •   IRANIAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO, (Tel. 416-441-2656, 5330 Yonge St. Suite 205). Provides support services for newcomers and arranges various cultural events, picnics, and parties.

  •   IRANIAN WOMEN’S ORGANIZATION, (Tel. 416-296-9566, Fax 416-496-0881, 2975 Don Mills Rd., 2nd floor).

  •   IRANIAN CANADIAN CONGRESS, (Tel. 416-840-3222, Fax 416-222-7422, 5330 Yonge St., Unit 202, www.iccongress.ca).

 

The University of Toronto has an Iranian Students’ Group, Ryerson University and York University have Iranian Students’ Associations set up to help Iranian students familiarize themselves with Canada.

 

 

Consulates, Trade Commissions and Tourist Bureaus

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  •   IRANIAN EMBASSY, (Tel. (613) 233-4726, Fax (613) 236-4726, www.salamiran.org, 245 Metcalfe St., Ottawa). Consul General: Mr. Hadi Karimitabr.

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Prominent Torontonians

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Nasser Akmal, owner of Persian Alborz Rugs; Shane Baghai, developer; Sheida Gharachedaghi, composer; Mr. Hakim, owner of Hakim Optical; Edik Hovespian, conductor; Mihan Kazemi, computer graphic designer and miniaturist, portraitist, publisher; M. Sadegh Kazemi, author and founder of Persian art and cultural foundation; Dr. Lotfi Mansouri, former Director General of the Canadian Opera Company; Dr. Arsalan Mohajer, recipient of the Roy Thomas Award; Dr. Reza Moridi, MPP; Dr. Fahimeh Mortazavi, member of Immigration and Refugee Board, and community leader; Reza Navabi, artist and architect; Dr. Siavash Taheri, lawyer; Mr. Admad Tabrizi, entrepreneur; Fariba Motamed, architect; Jafar Amini, Ph.D., a designated consulting engineer in Ontario; Norman Ahmet, former director of the city of York Board of Education; Jian Gomeshi, musician and radio personality.

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Contributor: Massood Mashadi, Shahrvand Newspaper.

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Sources: Shahin Assayesh; Anoush Binesh; B. Binesh; Dr. F. Mortazavi; K. Rezvanfar; Dr. M.H. Yazdanfar; and Ali Tahbazian.

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