The University of Ottawa held a memorial ceremony on Friday, January 10 to honour three of our students who died in the tragic crash of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 in Tehran.
The following students were among the victims of the tragedy:
- Mehraban Badiei Ardestani, an undergraduate student enrolled in the Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences at the Faculty of Health Sciences
- Alma Oladi, a graduate student at the Faculty of Science who was completing a PhD in mathematics
- Saeed Kadkhodazadeh Kashani, a graduate student at the Faculty of Science who was completing a PhD in chemistry
“Our international students are a vital part of the uOttawa community and it is with heavy hearts that we mourn their loss. We would like to express our sincerest condolences to their loved ones, to those who worked with them on campus, and to the broader Iranian community. We are heartbroken and they will be dearly missed,” said University of Ottawa President and Vice-Chancellor Jacques Frémont.
Watch Jacques Frémont’s remarks.
The Iranian Student Association of the University of Ottawa (ISAUO) and Nowruz Student Association joined the University in hosting a non-religious memorial ceremony. We thank all members of the community who gathered to honour Mehraban, Alma and Saeed, as well as all the victims of the crash.
Books of condolences will be available in the University Centre (UCU) from Monday, January 13 to Friday, January 17.
Flags on the main campus have been lowered to half-mast to honour our three students, and all the victims of the crash.
For those who may need immediate support, the following resources are available:
Students
Good2talk (bilingual confidential 24/7 hotline): 1-866-925-5454
Mental Health and Wellness support
Employees
Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP, 24/7): 1-844-880-9142
In case of an emergency
Protection Services (24/7): 613-562-5411 (or ext. 5411 on campus)
Emergency services: 911