Calgary Iranian Community: The Global Day of Action Hits Home

CALGARY, AB — Calgary's Iranian community took to the streets today as part of a coordinated "Global Day of Action" calling for regime change in Iran, joining an estimated 350,000 marchers in Toronto and 50,000 in Vancouver.

The rally, organized in response to a call from exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, marks the latest chapter in a diaspora mobilization that has intensified since widespread protests erupted in Iran on December 28, 2025. Those demonstrations—driven by economic collapse and demands for structural reform—have been met with violent crackdowns that human rights advocates say have killed thousands.

Canada Doubles Down on Sanctions

The timing is sharp. Yesterday, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand declared at the Munich Security Conference that Canada seeks regime change in Iran and will not re-establish diplomatic ties until it happens. Today, she announced sanctions against seven more individuals linked to Iranian state bodies responsible for intimidation and transnational repression, bringing Canada's total to 222 sanctioned individuals and 256 entities.

The federal stance has hardened steadily. In late 2024, the RCMP informed former Liberal cabinet minister Irwin Cotler of an imminent Iranian threat against his life. By June 2025, the Canada Border Services Agency had opened 115 investigations into suspected Iranian agents who entered Canada despite a 2022 ban, resulting in three deportations and one removal order.

Local Echoes of a Global Movement

Calgary's Iranian community has been vocal. On January 15, a rally outside City Hall—organized by Eghbal Kayadan—expressed solidarity with protesters in Iran. Today's march amplifies that message, connecting local voices to a transnational push for accountability.

The demonstrations underscore a deepening divide: a diaspora community mobilizing for change abroad, while Canadian authorities work to root out threats from the very regime those marchers oppose.