THE EARLY Iranians in Canada came as part of a massive flow of students to North American universities that began after 1965. Many would remain in Canada after completing their studies and having obtained immigrant status.

The freedom and political stability of Canada would also prove very attractive to the people of Iran, formerly known as Persia, in the after math of the revolution of 1978-1979 which toppled the government of Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. The Islamic Revolution brought Iranians seeking refuge from the traditions of the Shiite Muslim religion as interpreted by the Ayatollah Khomeini. There would be an initial headlong flight to Canada of members of the military, supporters and apparatchiks of the old regime. The Iran-Iraq War and both religious and political persecution subsequently provided the impetus for the middle class and the Bahais, the largest religious minority in Iran, to follow in their footsteps. The imposition of the hijab (veiling) as a daily requirement of female attire, immediate dismissal from so-called “non-traditional” jobs, and limited occupational choices, forced women who did not share these values to chart a route elsewhere. Many chose Canada.

According to the 1996 census, there are 64,405 (single and multiple responses) Iranians in Canada. Members of this ethnocommunity live primarily in Canada’s largest cities.

The earliest immigrants from Iran quickly joined the professional ranks as medical doctors, engineers, lawyers, nurses, and dentists. Those who came later chose entrepreneurship, focusing on the creation of construction companies, restaurants, bakeries, dry-cleaning shops, grocery stores, repair shops, and computer stores. Iranian women also offered a variety of community services, including catering, serving, and baking. The Iranian business community has generously supported Iranian identity in Canada through financial means and promotion of Persian language journals, magazines, radio and television programs. Advertising revenues bolster the production and free distribution of many group publications and programs. The Iranian-Canadian business sector is also a leader in hosting a number of live cultural events including poetry readings and musical evenings. This intricate alliance and entwining of community enterprise and group culture remains a glittering hallmark of Canada’s Iranian community.