Members of Regina's Iranian

Members of Regina's Iranian-Canadian community unveil memorial

Bench in Wood Meadows green space honours those killed in Jan. 8, 9 protests in Iran

Dozens of Iranian-Canadians gathered at a green space in Regina's Wood Meadows neighbourhood on Saturday to unveil a memorial plaque for the thousands of people killed during the protests in Iran on Jan. 8 and 9, 2026.

The memorial also marked the fourth anniversary of the killing of Jina Mahsa Amini whose death sparked the launch in 2022 of the Woman, Life, Freedom movement in the Middle Eastern country

Members of the community laid flowers on the bench bearing the plaque, and observed a minute of silence.

Dariush Davoodi, who helped organize the memorial, said he wanted a physical symbol to remember the many who died during the protests.

"Our goal was for people in Regina to have the opportunity to get familiar with what happened in Iran," Davoodi said. "We hope people someday pass this bench, [and] take a look at it to see this memorial plaque. It reminds them about the tragedy that happened in Iran," .

The plaque reads "in honour of the countless brave Iranian women, men and children, who gave their lives for freedom and human rights during the Lion and Sun movement."

Many who attended the memorial still have deep connections with Iran, Davoodi said.

"They have families there. We are in touch with them. We know that they're under oppression," Davoodi said.

Farrokh Javanmardr thought of his parents and siblings, who are all still in Iran.

He immigrated to Canada when his daughter was five years old because he wanted her to be able to attend school without having to wear a hijab.

"I didn't want that. I came here to give her freedom, but I want that freedom for all Iranian people," Javanmardr said.

Davoodi said he's grateful to be in Canada.

"We appreciate Canada, Saskatchewan and the kind people of Regina," he said. "We have this freedom here in this land to remember."

Laura Gillis is a Regina-based journalist. You can reach her at laura.gillis@cbc.ca.