Attention high school graduates, the application process for the Annual ZSO Academic and Community Service Award has open up for 2022. 

The deadline for receiving completed applications this year is Monday, July 18, 2022. All pertinent details are in the application form.

Good luck to all the applicants.

I would like to wish Norooz Pirooz to all the Zoroastrians in our community. 

We, the ZSO board members, are looking forward to seeing everyone in person for the upcoming year. 

Let’s all celebrate the spring equinox as a new beginning of life everlasting friendships to come.

Tandorosti,

Mitra Jam

ZSO President

The California Zoroastrian Center (CZC) presents 2022 Essay Contest Winners.

The contest was for youth ages 14-18 with the topic, "According to the Gathas, can one be a Zoroastrian without a belief in God?"

We received 4 entries, all intelligently written.

After collaboration with the contest judges, we will announce one winner and three honorable mentions as follows:

Winner: 

Mr. Zeyus Spenta from British Columbia (ZSBC)

Honorable mentions:

Mr. Rayhan Driver from Illinois (ZAMC)

Ms. Chista Irani from California (PZO)

Ms. Mantra Roointan from California (CZC-LA)

The winner will receive a check for $300 dollars and the honorable mentions a check for $75 dollars each.  Please give us a few weeks to process the checks and mail them to you.

Many thanks to our wonderful contestants, contest judges, Mr. Parviz Manoochehri our wonderful web master, Ms. Azadeh Hormozdiari for designing our flyer, California Zoroastrian Center, FEZANA, and all the religion teachers for their support.

Best,

Artemis Javanshir

Essay Contest Organizer

With key public health and health system indicators continuing to improve over the coming weeks, we are happy to share that by following the timelines and changes under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA) for places of worship below are the revised changes to the Mehraban Guiv Darb e Meher (MGDM) drop in visits, social and religious gatherings. All reopening changes will continue to follow public health measures and requirements i.e. proof of vaccination, face coverings, physical distancing and environmental cleaning and disinfecting.   

As we cautiously and gradually start the re-opening, The MGDM revised hours of operations effective, March 1^st, 22 are as below:

Day of the Week	Time
Monday	4:30pm - 8:30pm
Tuesday	9am – Noon | 4:30pm - 8:30pm
Wednesday	4:30pm - 8:30pm
Thursday	CLOSED
Friday	9am – Noon | 4:30pm - 8:30pm
Saturday	9am – Noon | 4:30pm - 8:30pm
Sunday	9am – Noon | 4:30pm - 8:30pm

When planning a visit to the MGDM please be sure to follow the mandatory requirements and guidelines:

• Provide proof of vaccination (For large gatherings)
• Wearing a non-medical mask/face covering is mandatory
• Bring your own prayer book , head covering, sandalwood or other prayer related items
• Maintain a social distance of two meters/six feet
• Food and drink sharing is prohibited

We are grateful to all our donors and well-wishers and request everyone to donate generously by visiting our website (www​.zso.org).

Cash Donations

Cheque Donations

Drop off in the ZSO safety deposit box

DO NOT drop off any cheques in the safety deposit box Make Cheque payable to ‘Zoroastrian Society of Ontario’ Complete the donation form and attach it with your cheque Provide your email address if applicable to ensure timely and accurate issuance of donation receipts Deliver the cheque and completed form together to our custodian or send it by mail NOTE: Cheques made payable to ZSO are not acceptable by the bank and rejected

We thank you all for your support, patience and cooperation on keeping our community safe and healthy.  We continue to monitor guidance at all levels from local to provincial to federal, and closely assess any impact to our approach.  You continue to have our commitment to keeping you informed, as updates are available.

Disclaimers and resources: 

Global Zoroastrian Glossary The FEZANA Talks #26 The Global Glossary was created to unify the English spelling of Zoroastrian terms used in North America. It is an important initiative launched by the FEZANA Religious Education Committee with the hope to help future authors and publications maintain regularity and consistency. Please join Armaity Homavazir and Tashan Mistree as they discuss the work that went behind this initiative and how Zoroastrians can practically use it in their community. Add event to calendar Date: Saturday March 12th, 2022 Time: 9 AM Pacific | 12 Noon Eastern | 5 PM UK | 10 PM Karachi | 10:30 PM India Speaker Bios Armaity Homavazir Armaity Homavazir has been involved with the Zoroastrian community from a very young age. She has participated in, organized and spoken at many congresses over the years. In 1996 and 1998, she was creator and co-director of Camp Pardis – a successful, six-week, summer camp for Zoroastrian children in Toronto. At present, she is a Religion Class teacher in Toronto and involved with the FEZANA Religious Education Committee in their endeavour to create lesson plans for local teachers. Armaity is a Special Education teacher working with students with Dyslexia and/or other Language based challenges. She has a passion for languages and has studied Gujarati, French, and Italian. She also has a background in Linguistics and Psychology. It is through her work with students challenged in literacy, and her own growing awareness of English spelling and orthography, that inspired this project.   Tashan Mistree Tashan Mistree was fortunate to have been taught classical Zoroastrianism from a young age and has been teaching since she was a teenager. She currently resides in Philadelphia with her husband and two children and is a member and teacher at the Zoroastrian Association of Pennsylvania and New Jersey (ZAPANJ). Tashan believes in teaching Zoroastrianism the ‘fun way’, through activities, songs, arts, crafts, and relatable content for both Parents and children. She brought her everyday experience in living Zoroastrianism as a teacher parent to this project. Add event to calendar

Join On ZOOM

FEZANA is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: FEZANA Talk: The Zoroastrian Glossary Project Time: Mar 12, 2022 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)   Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/98328802460?pwd=K28yM3d1USs4UVdhcmRWMTJIeFNRdz09 Meeting ID: 983 2880 2460 Passcode: FEZANA One tap mobile +16468769923,,98328802460#,,,,*050253# US (New York) +13017158592,,98328802460#,,,,*050253# US (Washington DC) Dial by your location         +1 646 876 9923 US (New York)         +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)         +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)         +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)         +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)         +1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)         +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) Meeting ID: 983 2880 2460 Passcode: 050253 Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/adPibro867

NAMC Institute of Zoroastrian Studies Lecture Series Sunday, March 13, 2022,  at 2 pm Eastern Time,11 am Pacific Time Topic:            Role of Urvan and Fravashi                        in the Physical and Spiritual Worlds Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82432181448?pwd=Mjh5dDJHOFJ2SmNBMXJqeXZqdnRTQT09 Meeting ID: 824 3218 1448    Passcode: NAMCIZS

You recognize this image, but do you know the Zoroastrian concept of Urvan and how it differs from Fravashi? Discover their origins in Zoroastrian texts and their functions in the physical and spiritual worlds. Learn the meaning of the symbol of Fravashi and its various interpretations.

Presenter: Ervad Dr. Soli Bamji Soli holds a Ph.D. in solid state physics, and prior to his retirement he pursued Research and Development in dielectrics at the National Research Council of Canada. He is a Life Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and past president of the IEEE Dielectrics Society. As a Mobed, he volunteers religious services to the Zoroastrian community in Ottawa and has participated in Interfaith Activities in the National Capital Region. For more information, please visit https://namcmobeds.org/

OZCF Super Bowl Fundraiser Curbside Pickup Menu - 6 Wings (Honey Garlic or Hot Buffalo Sauce) - Half Rack of Ribs - Spicy Fries - Bag of popcorn - Brownies Please email your pre-orders to jeroomadan@ozcf.com by February 5, 2022 & ensure you receive an order number. All payments must be sent via etransfer to easypay@ozcf.com