"Our goal is to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to thrive and that no one feels isolated or unsupported,” summed up the five-member youthful team from the Zoroastrian Society of Ontario (ZSO) in Canada that has just compiled their Resource Guide that they were planning to release around September 15, 2024. "The aims of this project are simple: spotlight Zoroastrian businesses; help newcomers land jobs; connect businesses with employees; provide newcomers with information to settle in Canada,” specify the youngsters Fravash Chothia, Kaizad Damania, Nasha Makujina, Arish Sanjana and Zane Tengra.
Clockwise from top l:
Ontario youth Fravash Chothia,
Nasha Makujina, Arish Sanjana,
Zane Tengra and Kaizad Damania
Divided into two sections there are currently around 55 entries, 48 listed under Business/Professionals, and seven under Accommodation featuring those who are willing to host a Zoroastrian for a week or more. Even after the initial release, the Resource Guide will keep incorporating new entries. Those who have shared information are considered to have "expressed their willingness to be listed in the ZSO Resource Guide, potentially opening doors to receiving resumes or inquiries from (Zoroastrian) newcomers.” They do however have the choice to opt out of this listing by sending an email to youth@zso.org.
Observing a growing need for community support, the youth decided to create the Resource Guide. "Additionally, we aimed to foster a stronger sense of interconnectedness within our community by supporting local businesses and professionals. By building this Resource Guide, we’re not only helping newcomers but also promoting the services and expertise available within our community. This will benefit individuals and families who migrated several years ago or who were born here,” wrote the youth when responding to queries from Parsiana.
"The community in Toronto (capital of Ontario province) sees around 100 to 150 new Zoroastrian migrants annually. This estimate includes individuals and families coming from countries like India, Pakistan and Iran, among others. The exact number can fluctuate depending on global migration patterns and specific circumstances in those regions,” clarified Makujina.
While a study done a few years ago indicated that there are around 6,000 Zoroastrians in Ontario with the recent increase in the number of immigrants coming to Canada, they expect the count to be higher. Even while they are hoping to get a more accurate picture through a study in the near future, according to their guesstimates, about 15-20% of the Zoroastrian population in Ontario are under 18 years, around 60-65% are between 18-60 years, and 15-20% over 60 years.