VERUSCHKA MUNGROO
Toronto – The Iranian community is one of the largest growing communities in Canada. With a rapid increase in population in the past 10 years – the highest concentration residing in Toronto – it comes as no surprise that Iranians plays a pivotal role in the diversity of the country, with its unique culture.
Mainly due to the history of political tensions in their home country – Iranians are often attracted to the opportunities that lie in Canada including stability; the potential of gaining Canadian citizenship, a universal health care system; world class government-funded education; safe environment; and freedom of speech, religion and movement, etc and is slowing gaining momentum as one of Canada’s leading source of new immigrants.
It’s a case of a win-win situation as Iranians import much needed job skills to Canada due to their high level of education, professional work experience and entrepreneurship background.
According to the 2016 census there were about 210 405 Iranians in Canada. This number formed part of the largest intake of Iranians in a single year in 2015 when Canada welcomed 11 640 Iranians. Subsequently in 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, a record number of just over 6 000 Iranians obtained permanent residency, making it the eighth leading nationality of successful candidates with the Express Entry stream and ranked 10th among Canada’s immigrant source countries.
Kiumars Rezvanifar, the founder of KVC Communications and the Iranian Canadian Business Expo, who arrived in Toronto in 1990, said that he has personally seen the Iranian community flourish especially in Toronto.
“When I came to Canada, the community in Toronto alone was around probably 45 000 to 50 000. Right now in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area), we have close to over 150 000 Iranians including the second generation and new-borns.
“What makes Iranians different is our culture – we are among the most affluent and highly educated communities in Canada and United States. We are involved a lot in academia, technology, real estate development, high tech medicine, and in every level that you can think of. We have had ministers and members of parliament in the federal and local government, and have evolved and engaged in Canadian society in every imaginable area,” said the board member of of the Ontario Media Development Corporation, Iranian Canadian Cultural Fellowship and York Region Police Integrated Strategic Community Advisory Council and advisors to the United Nations Association of Canada in Toronto and to Canadian Journalists for Free Expression.
Speaking with Afshin Yazdani, the founder of YLG Law Group, one of the largest Iranian-Canadian immigration law firms in Canada, Yazdani said that in the past three years our practice has been in undated with applications from Iranian wanting to have a better life in Canada.
“There are several common ways to immigrate to Canada and the most common ones include the permanent residency via Express Entry; work permits, business visas, etc.”
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Veruschka Mungroo is an international journalist with over 15 years experience in the media industry. She is no stranger to contentious issues having written on human right issues, entertainment, crime and politics.