On the afternoon of Sunday, July 21, 2024, the Canadian Iranian Foundation hosted its annual scholarship award ceremony at a community center in West Vancouver, recognizing the achievements of outstanding students.

The event began with a stirring rendition of the Canadian national anthem and the song "O Iran," both beautifully performed by Anita Shahriari, a young and talented artist from Vancouver. Following the performances, Nassreen Filsoof, the president of the Canadian Iranian Foundation, warmly welcomed the attendees and provided insight into the foundation's mission. She emphasized the importance of supporting the next generation, noting that the foundation not only awards scholarships to deserving students each year but also allocates a portion of its surplus income to organizations in need.

Among the distinguished guests were Suzie Chant, the representative for North Vancouver-Seymour in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, and Sherwin Shahriari, an active member of several charitable organizations including Battered Women's Support Services, the North Vancouver Food Bank, and the Canadian Red Cross. Both delivered thoughtful speeches, underlining the importance of community support and the role of education in empowering future leaders.

Canada-Iran Foundation 2024 Scholarship Recipients:

Parshan Ghaffari, University of Victoria (UVic)

Madeleine Ghatavi, McGill University

Nikki Hessami Ghajar, Simon Fraser University (SFU)

Saba Taghiakbari, University of British Columbia (UBC)

Eleena Shahbazi, University of British Columbia (UBC)

Arta Razavi, Capilano University (CapU)

Darya Rasooli, University of British Columbia (UBC)

Yassmin Hessami Ghajar, University of British Columbia (UBC)

These students received a financial scholarship of $2,500 each. At the end of the program, the scholarship recipients were called to the podium one by one to receive their awards, along with several books donated by Masoumeh Price.

During the event, financial donations from the Canada-Iran Foundation were also given to Lions Gate Hospital, and the Yara Charity Foundation, whose mission is to support female entrepreneurs and single mothers in Iran. The program concluded with a musical performance and a group photo session.

Journalist: Majid Mahichi

Skyrise Media Society