It is with the utmost sympathy and respect for family, friends, and loved ones that I acknowledge ten members of our University of Alberta community who died on Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 on January 8, 2020:
- Mojgan Daneshmand, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Radio Frequency Microsystems for Communication and Sensing, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
- Pedram Mousavi, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Intelligent Integrated Sensors and Antennas, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
- Pouneh Gorji, student, Master of Science, Department of Computing Science, Faculty of Science
- Elnaz Nabiyi, student, Doctor of Philosophy, Department of Accounting, Operations and Information Systems, Alberta School of Business
- Arash Pourzarabi, student, Master of Science Department of Computing Science, Faculty of Science
- Nasim Rahmanifar, student, Master of Science, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
- Saba Saadat, student, Bachelor of Science student, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science
- Amir Saeedinia, student, Doctor of Philosophy, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
- Sara Saadat, alumna, 2019 Bachelor of Science, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Science
- Mohammad Mahdi Elyasi, alumnus, 2017 Master of Science, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
As I have seen personally in visits across campus, these individuals were integral to the intellectual and social fabric of our university and the broader community. We are grieving for lost colleagues, classmates, teachers, and mentors, as well as loved ones, family, friends, and roommates. In the coming days, we will be sharing and celebrating each person's unique contributions to their academic fields and to the many communities they touched. We will feel their loss - and the aftermath of this tragedy - for many years to come.
This tragedy has also been felt deeply in our city and in the local Iranian-Canadian community, and since yesterday, we have been in conversation with the broader community on hosting a fitting tribute to those lost. Thanks to the tremendous and immediate efforts of many people, we will hold a public memorial in collaboration with the Iranian-Canadian community and the City of Edmonton to honour all victims from Edmonton on Sunday.
Please join us to remember and mourn:
Sunday, January 12, 2020
Memorial service from 3-5 p.m.; Doors open at 2 p.m.
Saville Community Sports Centre
11610 65 Avenue NW
Edmonton, Alberta
I want to thank everyone who has reached out over the past two days to offer messages of support and condolence - your kindness has been felt across campus. I know that our community is reeling from this loss, and I encourage you to reach out and seek any support needed during this time. A dedicated support centre is available from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. today in 1-386 Donadeo Centre, and you can find more information on campus supports.
Finally, on behalf of the University of Alberta, I want to extend our heartfelt condolences, thoughts, and sympathy to our colleagues across Canada. So many Canadian universities have also lost students, faculty, staff, and alumni in this tragedy, and we share in their sorrow.
David H. Turpin
President and Vice-Chancellor
The University of Alberta extends our deepest condolences to all those affected by the loss of life on Flight PS752 in Iran. If you would like to pass along your condolences or share any memories to be displayed on the University of Alberta website, please do so here.