On June 23, the 39th memorial anniversary of the tragic Kanishka bombing was held at the memorial site in Stanley Park’s Ceperley playground area in Vancouver.

Over 150 friends and family members of the victims attended this solemn event, remembering the worst and most gruesome terrorist act in aviation history.

Among the attendees were prominent figures such as Conservative MP from Langley, Tako Van Popta, Provincial Minister of Health Adrian Dix, NDP MLA Jinny Sims, former MLA Dave Hayer, City Park Board Commissioner Angela Hayer, and representatives from the RCMP and CSIS.

The event proceedings were managed by Adrian Dix, who has personal connections to the tragedy through his wife’s family. MP Tako Van Popta delivered a message on behalf of Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, condemning terrorism. The Consul General of India laid a wreath and emphasized the importance of unity in combating terrorism.

Dave Hayer made an emotional plea to federal leaders, urging them to observe a two-minute silence in Parliament in memory of the victims of this heinous act. Adrian Dix solemnly read out the names of all 329 victims, including the two who perished at Tokyo airport. He poignantly highlighted that Air India lost 24 crew members in the tragedy and urged against politicizing the issue of terrorism. For several years, Dix has dedicated himself to managing the proceedings of this event, ensuring they run smoothly. The event was secured by RCMP and Vancouver Police Department personnel.

After the formal proceedings, tensions briefly flared when some relatives of the victims confronted radicals displaying Khalistani flags at the venue. The radicals were questioned about their presence and subsequently left the site.

This annual memorial serves as a stark reminder of the events of June 23, 1985, when 329 passengers, including 268 Canadians and 24 Indians, lost their lives in the bombing of Air India Flight 182. The investigation implicated Babbar Khalsa International and its leaders, including Talwinder Singh Parmar and Inderjit Singh Reyat, who were convicted by Canadian courts.

In a related event, a show aired on June 24, 2024, featuring an interview with Dave Hayer. He reiterated his call for federal leaders to take the issue of terrorism seriously and observe a two-minute silence in honour of the victims. He pointed out the irony that the federal Parliament had previously observed such a tribute for Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a known offender.

This memorial not only honours the victims but also serves as a call to action for Canadian leaders to acknowledge and remember the gravity of the Kanishka bombing, ensuring that such a tragedy is never forgotten.

(Image and text courtesy: Khalsavox.com)