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Canada: 40th annual memorial for Air India Bombing victims to be held in Vancouver on June 23
Babushahi Bureau
Vancouver (Canada), June 23, 2025: The 40th annual memorial to honour the 331 victims of the Air India bombing, the deadliest terrorist attack in Canadian history, will be held on Monday, June 23, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. at the Air India Memorial site in Stanley Park's Ceperley Playground area, Vancouver.
Former Surrey MLA Dave S. Hayer, whose advocacy for victims' rights has spanned decades, is calling on the public to attend the solemn event. “This observance not only honours the 329 innocent lives lost aboard Flight 182, including 82 children, but also commemorates two baggage handlers killed in a related bombing at Tokyo’s Narita Airport,” said Hayer.
The Air India tragedy occurred on June 23, 1985, when a bomb planted on Air India Flight 182 from Vancouver exploded mid-air off the coast of Ireland.
he bomb was traced back to Canada and linked to extremist elements being monitored by Canadian law enforcement before the incident. Despite this, only one person has ever been convicted in connection with the attack.
“These horrendous acts remain etched in the hearts of families and communities. This memorial reminds us that terrorism has no place in a civilized world and must be fought at every level,” Hayer said.
The annual remembrance is organized by families of the victims, including Major Sidhu, who lost his sister Sukhwinder Uppal, nephew, and niece in the bombing. The Air India Memorial in Stanley Park, unveiled in 2007, stands as a symbol of remembrance and resistance against terrorism.
Members of the public and media are welcome to attend the ceremony, with a request to maintain the dignity and privacy of grieving families.