Vigil of Solidarity commemorates lives lost on Flight 752

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On February 18, 2020, Vanier College held a Vigil of Solidarity to commemorate the lives lost in the downing of flight 752 over Iran on January 8. All 176 people on board lost their lives, including 57 Canadians.

In a simple but very moving ceremony that brought together some 70 people, including staff, students and members of the St Laurent community, speakers addressed the loss of loved ones, expressing sympathy and a hope for a future devoid of such tragic events.

Speakers included Vanier Director General John McMahon, Léonardo Torosian, representing St. Laurent MNA Marwah Rizqy, Noma Sarai representing St. Laurent MP Emmanuella Lambropoulos, Francesco Miele, Deputy Mayor of St. Laurent, Ms. Farnoosh Boroomand, President of the Chamber of Commerce of the Iranian Quebec community, and Niloufar Entekhabi from the Vanier Department of Economics and Political Science.

The powerful words of Niloufar Entekhabi revealed the heartbreaking impact of the terrible tragedy, as she spoke of losing several very close friends that day. She described the pain, confusion, loss, sadness and anger she had felt for the past 40 days since the day of the event. More importantly, she invoked and described her deep friendship with one of the victims who had first welcomed her to Canada when she arrived from Iran 20 years ago as an immigrant.

Ms. Farnoosh Boroomand also spoke of some of the people she knew on the flight and described what it means for Iranians who leave their homeland to make a new life in Canada.