Earlier this year from mid-March to April Iran was hit by unprecedented rainfall and floods that impacted approximately 10 million people in all of the country’s 31 provinces. 

In response, the Iranian Canadian Congress (ICC) immediately contacted the Canadian Red Cross and the Canadian Minister of International Development requesting assistance for the flood victims in Iran. 

Shortly thereafter, the Canadian Red Cross launched a campaign to raise donations for the flood victims in Iran and provided a dedicated platform for the Iranian Canadian Congress to raise donations as well. Based on the final report from the Canadian Red Cross, $150,000 was raised for providing emergency assistance to flood victims in Iran. 

In the last month, there has been a new change in the ICC board of directors. Hooman Shirazi, who was elected onto the ICC board in 2017, announced his intention to resign from the board.

ICC President Ms. Soudeh Ghasemi, upon learning of Mr. Shirazi’s resignation and the difficulties this this empty seat posed to the organization and the reaching of quorum, received recommendations to fill the vacancy (those who ran in the previous election withdrew their candidacy and were not technically runners-up, as confirmed by legal counsel), as per Section 12 of the ICC bylaws:

For the vacancy of a director who is not also an officer, all vacancies shall initially be filled by appointing the runner-up in the immediately preceding election and if such runner-up is not willing or available to accept the appointment, by appointing the next willing and available individual among the unsuccessful candidates in the preceding election with the highest number of votes. Should no such candidate be available or willing to accept the appointment, then within 21 days of the vacancy the members of the board of directors, except the president, may submit names of candidates to fill the vacancy, provided each candidate meets the qualifications for serving on the board. The board president shall, within 30 days of the vacancy, and after consultation with the other officers, appoint one of the submitted candidates to fill the vacancy.

Ms. Ghasemi received the name of Amir Moazzami, a volunteer with the ICC, through a recommendation by the board. She accepted this recommendation and Amir Moozzami was appointed to fill Mr. Shirazi’s position on the board until the upcoming AGM. 

We welcome Mr. Moazzami to the board and thank him for filling the position.

On August 21st, 2019, Foreign Minister Freeland responded to the ICC's Parliamentary petition e553. This petition was signed by over 15,000 Canadians and asked for Prime Minister Trudeau to fulfill his promise to Iranian Canadians and reestablish diplomatic relations with Iran. 

The Iranian Canadian Congress (ICC) is deeply disappointed with the Canadian government’s answer to the ICC’s petition and strongly believes that the current policy of the government does not protect the safety of Canadians abroad as the “top priority for Government of Canada” as indicated in the response letter. 

Members and Supporters of the Iranian Canadian Congress,

We'd like to inform you that Bijan Ahmadi has decided to leave the ICC Board of Directors on Aug 15, 2019. Bijan has served the ICC as a volunteer in different positions since 2015. After he was elected to the board by members of the ICC in 2015, he served as the PR director. In 2016, he was appointed by the board as the President of the ICC and served for two years in this position, afterwards serving as a board member and adviser. Bijan was steadfast in his dedication to the mission and the mandate of the ICC and he dedicated countless hours as a volunteer to further the goals of the ICC and the Iranian-Canadian community.

The following letter was sent to the Minister of Democratic Institutions Hon. Karina Gould and the Minister of Public Safety Hon. Ralph Goodale from the ICC VP Pouyan Tabasinejad on behalf of the Iranian Canadian Congress (ICC), warning them about foreign interference by pro-war groups including the cult group MEK:

Here is an announcement from the Iranian Canadian Congress:

Here is a letter from ICC VP Pouyan Tabasinejad to members of the Canadian Parliamentary Subcommittee on International Human Rights:

Here is a letter to ICC members and supporters from the ICC VP Pouyan Tabasinejad:

Here is a statement from the Iranian Canadian Congress (ICC):