Iranians Vancouver

Quick Facts

Place of Origin: Iran is southwest of Asia and is surrounded by Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Turkmenistan to the east, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Turkey to the west.
Religion: 99.6% Sunni and Shia Muslims (although many are nominal).
Population: 82.91 million in Iran; in Metro Vancouver the 2021 census population was 46,000, with the local community estimating a population of closer to 100,000.
(Primary) Languages: Persian
Other Information:

Iranian-Canadian is used interchangeably with Persian-Canadian. Iranian-Canadians tend to categorize themselves as "Persian" rather than "Iranian", mainly to dissociate themselves from the Islamic regime of Iran and the negativity associated with it. It also helps them clarify their Persian ethnicity. About 65% of Iran's population is Persian. The remaining 35% is comprised of ethnic Azeri, Kurd and other smaller minority groups.
Iranian Flag: The Iranian flag has three colors, an emblem in the middle and script along the bands of color. The green color symbolizes nature, growth and vitality (important in Persian culture), but also Islam. The white color symbolizes peace and freedom. The red color symbolizes the blood of the martyrs and courage. The emblem in the middle is a stylized Persian symbol for God—a reminder of those who gave their lives as martyrs for Iran. The white stylized script repeating along the color bands, is the phrase Allahu Akbar (God is the greatest).
Nowruz, a New Year Celebration celebrated by both Iranians and Kurds, was declared an official holiday in BC and is celebrated around March 21s. https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018PREM0038-000431

When did Persians first come to Canada?

Up until the Second World War there were only twelve known Iranians in Canada. By the early 1950s a small Persian community existed in Vancouver. In the early ‘80’s, after the establishment of the Islamic Republic in Iran in 1979, and the Iraq-Iran war in 1980, many Iranians immigrated to Canada, choosing either Toronto or Vancouver. A second wave of Iranian immigrants arrived in Canada in the early 90s fleeing post-revolution economic hardship and restriction of personal freedoms. Recently Vancouver has become an increasingly popular Canadian destination due to its milder climate.

Where do Persians live in the Lower Mainland?

West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Vancouver (downtown) Burnaby, Coquitlam, Port Moody
The larger, more established community lives in North and West Vancouver. Those who have come in the last 7-10 years have chosen the Tri-Cities (Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam & Port Moody) to live because the cost of housing is lower.
“There are more than 100,000 Iranians in the greater Vancouver area, with most of them concentrated on the city’s North Shore. This city, with its proximity to the mountains, sea and lush greenery, first became a magnet for Iranians during the 1980s. It reminded them of both the sought-after neighborhood of Evin in North Tehran and the resort area near the Caspian Sea...In fact, a ten-block strip of an area called Lonsdale, in North Vancouver, feels a bit like a portal into Tehran. The area is full of Farsi signage and a plethora of Persian shops, cafés and restaurants.” - Hanadi Ditmars Travelblog

What are Persian lives like?

Iranians come to Canada to escape the repressions of the Islamic Republic of Iran. They come with big dreams, are generally hard working, and pursue higher education to move into higher paying jobs. Many become prominent and successful in their area of expertise.
The appearance of success is important in the Iranian community. Often families will carry large personal debt in order to fulfill social expectations within the community.
Recent brutal crackdowns by the Islamic regime, resulting in ongoing protests within Iran, have been met with weekly protests demonstrating solidarity, by Iranian Canadians in Vancouver.
Some Iranians have been incredibly successful in Canada. The Ghermezians, a Jewish-Iranian family that came to Canada in the 1960s, built a real estate empire that developed some of the largest shopping centres in the world, including the West Edmonton Mall in Alberta. Their company also owns the Vancouver-based financial company, Peoples Group.

What do Persians believe?

Iranians are generally secular. A recent study by York University scholars, for example, showed that in contrast to Canadian Pakistanis, Afghans and Palestinians, over 80% of Iranian-Canadians do not consider themselves religious and are ‘tending to the secular’.
A higher percentage of recent immigrants (up to 49%) identify as Muslim. Many of these do not actively practice their faith but identify culturally as adherents to Islam.
The remainder of Iranian Canadians generally do not identify with any religion--although a minority may align with Zoroastrianism and Baha’i faiths.
A growing segment of Iranians are exploring the Christian faith and choosing to become disciples of Jesus Christ. Missiologists state that the Iranian church, while still quite small, is one of the fastest growing globally.