As Canada prepares to mark 40 years since the worst terror attack in its history, two major Indo-Canadian organisations have come forward with an appeal to the British Columbia government to build a memorial and learning centre to honour the victims of the 1985 Air India bombing, also known as the Kanishka tragedy

The Khalsa Diwan Society (KDS), which manages the historic Ross Street Gurdwara in Vancouver, and the North American Hindu Association (NAHA), a grassroots body representing the Hindu diaspora, have jointly written to British Columbia Premier David Eby requesting a dedicated site for remembrance and education

A call for honour, remembrance and education

In a heartfelt letter, the groups requested that the government build a Kanishka Memorial and Learning Centre by June 23, 2025—the 40th anniversary of the bombing that killed 329 people, mostly Canadian citizens of Indian origin

The memorial proposal includes:

• A memorial wall bearing the names of the victims

• A reflection garden offering a space for peace and remembrance

• A public learning centre with educational materials on the bombing

• Community-led programmes aimed at educating younger generations about the impact of extremism

“The families of the victims deserve more than silence,” the KDS wrote in its letter “They deserve a place of honour, reflection and remembrance”

NAHA echoed the sentiment, urging the provincial government to acknowledge the long-standing grief of affected families and to uphold Canadian values by formally recognising the Kanishka bombing as a defining national tragedy

The deadliest act of terror in Canadian history

On 23 June 1985, Air India Flight 182, en route from Montreal to Mumbai, was destroyed midair by a bomb planted by Khalistani separatists The attack, which occurred over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Ireland, killed 329 people, including 268 Canadians, 24 Indians, and others from various nationalities

Despite being the largest mass killing in Canadian history, many members of the Indian diaspora feel the tragedy has not been sufficiently recognised in national memory

“There is still no permanent, dedicated site that honours the memory of the Kanishka victims,” said a spokesperson from the Khalsa Diwan Society “This sends the wrong message about what we as a society choose to remember and why”

United for justice and future generations

The letter emphasised that this initiative is not merely about commemorating the past, but also about ensuring that younger generations understand the devastating consequences of extremism and terrorism

“We envision the Kanishka Memorial and Learning Centre as a living space for education and reflection,” wrote the KDS “A powerful statement of our collective values, of resilience, and of a commitment to justice”

They added that the overwhelming support received through petitions and community outreach showed that thousands of Canadians stand behind the effort to create a site of remembrance

Past efforts and ongoing neglect

While commemorative events have occasionally been held across Canada, no centralised memorial or museum has ever been built to house the memories and legacy of those lost in the bombing

In 2007, a small memorial was inaugurated in Toronto, but families and advocates argue that a more prominent, permanent site in British Columbia, where a large section of the diaspora resides, would be far more meaningful

A memorial park was proposed in Vancouver in the early 2000s, but bureaucratic hurdles and lack of political will stalled the project. Many relatives of the victims have since passed away without seeing any formal tribute to their loved ones

Call to action ahead of 40th anniversary

With just over a year left until the 40th anniversary of the Kanishka tragedy, community groups are urging the Canadian government to act swiftly and show moral leadership

“The time for silence and inaction is over,” the NAHA said in a separate statement “If we are to be a nation that truly values human life and justice, we must honour those we lost”

The groups believe that establishing the memorial by June 23, 2025, will not only bring closure to grieving families, but also help strengthen national unity by publicly acknowledging one of the darkest chapters in Canada’s history

As anticipation builds, many in the Indian and broader Canadian communities now wait to see how the government responds to this collective call for remembrance, education, and dignity

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