A group representing Iranian-Canadians in the Tri-Cities will host a public meeting with the Canadian Heritage minister tomorrow (Saturday) in a bid to get more of the immigrant community up to speed on their rights.
Ardalan Hamidi, spokesperson for the Tri-City branch of the Civic Association of Iranian Canadians (Civic IC), told The Tri-City News the gathering with James Moore, MP for Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam, will be non-partisan and is aimed at encouraging the new Canadians to take part in civic, provincial and federal elections.
"We want Iranian-Canadians to get out and vote," Hamidi said. "Many of them don't even bother to go to the polls and we don't want that."
The social association has been active in the Lower Mainland since it formed two years ago, with branches in North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Vancouver-UBC as well as the Tri-Cities. Hamidi said its mandate is to educate Iranian-Canadians about the Canadian parliamentary and democratic systems, inform them about their responsibilities as Canadian citizens and encourage them to take part in local community advisory groups and other committees.
The group has also organized all-candidates' meetings, including in Coquitlam.
More than 10,000 Iranian-Canadians live in the Tri-Cities.
Hamidi stressed Saturday's event is not in response to the Canadian government's decision last month to close its embassy in Tehran and expel Iranian diplomats; Canada also declared Iran a "state sponsor" of terrorism. And last week, Canadian diplomats walked out of the United Nations general assembly before Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, spoke.
The meeting with Moore is scheduled for 3 to 4 p.m. at Douglas College's David Lam campus (1240 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam). For more information, visit www.civicactivist.com or email [email protected].
