News

  • Sunday, September 24, 2023 2:00 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)


  • Sunday, September 24, 2023 2:00 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)


  • Tuesday, September 19, 2023 5:52 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Entertainment committee would like to invite ZSO members who would like to be a part of our Entertainment Committee.

    We are looking for new members / volunteer chefs to join our committee.

    If you wish to join the committee please email us your:

    • Full name
    • Goals for the committee
    • Plans to execute these goals
    • 3-4 sentences about yourself

    Please do send in your information to entertainment@zso.org by October 31st, 2023.

    Looking forward to your email.



    Thanking you,

    Minoo Bharda

    (Entertainment Committee Chair)

    &

    Mahanaz Sheriar

    (Entertainment Committee Co-chair)

  • Thursday, September 14, 2023 2:22 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)


    First photo is of the author Pablo Vazquez. Second photo is of members of the Zoroastrian Association of Chicago in the Parade of Religions before the start of the Parliament.


    As I tell people often, the Parliament of the World's Religions, the world's largest interfaith event representing over 150+ different religious traditions, is important to my own Zoroastrian development and directly responsible for my conversion. Before it, I knew next to nothing about Zoroastrianism, thinking it to be the dead religion of the ancient Persians. Yet here it was, at the FEZANA booth, where I met the Rivetnas, the first Zoroastrians I ever met. They gave me, like so many other attendees walking amongst the booths representing countless religious traditions, something I had never imagined would even exist, a pamphlet with some basic information and a book. With this simple act, by the time of the next Parliament, I was already a Zoroastrian, sedreh and all! In fact, I was there for this year's Parliament in Chicago volunteering with FEZANA telling many curious attendees who, like me previously, had no idea our faith was even still around. This is only a portion of the power, influence, and life-changing experience of the Parliament of the World's Religions with its more than 10,000 attendees who are able to sit and dialogue with each other every four years in ways that rarely happen in our day-to-day lives.



    Leading figures including Ervad Mirza and Arzan Wadia marching at opening ceremony


    Founded in 1893 at the World's Fair in Chicago, the Parliament of the World's Religions was the Upper Western World's first exposure to so many of the world's varied religions. Swami Vivekananda represented Hinduism there, receiving a standing ovation from an audience that included many who had never ever seen a Hindu before, and our own Sir Jivanji Jamshedji Modi delivered a paper prepared by both Dadabhai Naoroji and Ervad Sheriarji Dabadhai Bharucha that gained the attention of many there. It cemented the Zoroastrian community's stalwart involvement with the Parliament that continues to this day with not only a booth where attendees can buy books and learn more about our beautiful faith but also with Zoroastrians as invited major speakers to address the Parliament, including Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman and CNN reporter Parisa Khosravi, and with Zoroastrians on its board of trustees such as Mahrukh Motafram and Dolly Dastoor who have made our presence there all that more impactful. This year, as we have before, Zoroastrians even took part in the Parade of Faith both before and during opening ceremonies where both the head of FEZANA, Arzan Sam Wadia, and the head of NAMC, Ervad Tehemton Mizra, were present showing that once again our beautiful community, despite our numbers, packs an outsized punch in global affairs. As Mr. Wadia himself puts it: "Every four years, the Zoroastrian faith shines brightly at the Parliament thanks to the hard work of our leadership teams and respected speakers who showcase the beauty and majesty of our storied religion...We always look forward to participating and joining arms with our fellow co-religionists for what is a memorable and impactful week of interfaith dialogue and collaboration".

    This sort of interfaith work is important because we're able to not just increase knowledge about our own faith and traditions but also help increase wisdom and understanding in a troubled world where so many are scared to even talk to their neighbors, or go into certain neighborhoods because of what they believe, who they worship, and the like. In matters of interfaith, I am proud to say that our community has not just been at the forefront consistently throughout North America and the world, but has a sacred calling towards it. Zarathushtra proclaims in the Gathas, in Yasna 30.9, that "We thus desire to be those who will bring magnificence to what exists, Oh Mazda and you other Ahuras, alongside the renovators and Asha, when we have centered our thoughts wherever wisdom and understanding may be found." Zarathushtra declares that his followers will not only seek wisdom and understanding wherever they can but also be the ones to help renovate existence, make our reality all that much better, and bring us closer to the Frashokereti, the "making beautiful" of our world. Interfaith work, if anything, is building and seeking wisdom and understanding with our global neighbors and with events like the Parliament, where through panels, speeches, ritual performances, informative lectures, and even simple conversations over lunch, we accomplish the duty set forth to us by Zarathushtra thousands of years ago.

    Written by: Pablo Vazquez (Zoroastrian Center of Austin)

  • Saturday, September 09, 2023 2:00 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    NAMC institute of Zoroastrian Studies


    We are pleased to announce our upcoming course:

    Click Here To Register

  • Saturday, September 09, 2023 1:00 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    FEZANA is happy to announce a Zoroastrians Studies Symposium in honour of our own dear Ervad Dr. Jehan Bagli.

    This seminar is being organized by the University of Toronto, The Elahe Omidyar Mir-Djalali Institute of Iranian Studies and is co-sponsored by FEZANA and others.

    The detailed program and line up of speakers is listed below.

    This is an in-person and online event and we encourage all those who can to attend.


    Date: September 9th, 2023
    Time: 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM
    Venue: Isabel Bader Theater, 93 Charles St W, Toronto ON, M5S 2C7

    Ervad Dr, Jehan Bagli is the most recent recipient of FEZANA's Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the faith and the community here in North America.

    He is the founding editor of the FEZANA Journal and has served local member associations and FEZANA in various capacities over the decades.


    If you are planning to attend in person please RSVP at the ink below. The venue has limited seating.

    Register for In-Person


    To attend the online Zoom session, click on the link below to register.

    Register for Online Event


  • Friday, September 08, 2023 12:00 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    null

    The OCZF's Place of Worship Advisory Committee (PWAC) are extremely pleased to inform the community that on September 08, 2023, the
    Town of Oakville issued the building permit that enables OCZF to start construction of their new Place of Worship.

    To read more click below:

    Read More

  • Saturday, September 02, 2023 1:30 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    The World Zoroastrian Chamber of Commerce (WZCC) Toronto Chapter is proud to announce the next meeting at the OZCF hall.

    We will hear from three entrepreneurs who all started their businesses during the COVID years. The challenges they faced and where they are today. If you are an entrepreneur who started a business during the COVID years, please contact: afreed.mistry@gmail.com to be a speaker at the event.

    We will have sign up for membership for WZCC for $50 (until Dec. 2024).

    Event Date: Saturday, Sept. 2nd, 2023 @ 1:30 PM

    Location: OZCF, 1187 Burnhamthrope Road E., Oakville, ON

    Event Fee: Free


    Please sign up to attend the event:

    Agenda:

    • 1:30 pm - Registration and Networking (snacks will be served)
    • 2:00 pm - Announcements and Introductions
    • 2:15 pm - Hear from the Enterprising Entrepreneurs
    • 3:15 pm - Networking with members


    Speakers:

    Diana Daver

    Diana is the owner of a small business called JustSoaps by Diana. She makes handmade organic soaps in small batches. These soaps are packed with natural goodness and are devoid of any harmful chemicals like phthalates and parabens found in commercial soaps which are all carcinogenic and cause more harm than good. Diana’s soaps contain glycerine (which is a natural compound derived from vegetable oils and is known for its moisturizing properties), organic essential oils, skin friendly ingredients and are as natural as possible. Since these are as the name says “just soaps” they contain no preservatives, foaming agents and toxic scents. These soaps  do have a small shelf life like all things natural and for all good reasons. They are perfect for all skin types and for all ages. What’s more is that these soaps are easily customizable too. They make for very unique and personal gifts as an added bonus.


    Dr. Armita Bhesania

    Drs. Armita and Adil Bhesania - two young sibling entrepreneurs have started a dental clinic in Mississauga, ON.

    Armita will be speaking at the WZCC event.  She went to dental school and graduated from Dalhousie University in 2019. She then did an additional year of intense training at Mount Sinai Hospital downtown Toronto.

    Adil and Armita always knew they wanted to buy a dental clinic together and serve the community in whichever way they can. After 2 years of constant searching, they finally found a clinic they loved and are proud to call it their own. Churchill Smiles Dentistry is located in Mississauga.


    Anaheez Karbhari

    Anaheez Karbhari is a UX Designer based in Toronto, Canada. She is the founder and owner of Jaan Joon, a small baking business that blossomed during the rise of the pandemic. As a self-taught baker, Anaheez enjoys the process of innovation while paying homage to traditional Persian & Indian palates. Honey, saffron, pistachios, rose and cardamom are some of Jaan Joon’s staple flavor profiles. Anaheez specializes in unique goodies such as bite-sized truffles, macarons, and cookies, and is now shipping across Canada & the United States.


    Regards,

    WZCC Toronto Chapter Team

  • Friday, September 01, 2023 1:00 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)


  • Friday, September 01, 2023 12:00 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    FEZANA Call for Participants for the 68th Annual Commission on the Status of Women Conference ~ March 11-22, 2024


    The FEZANA UN-NGO Committee is looking for participants to attend the 68th Commission on the Status of Women Conference at the UN Headquarters in New York from March 11-22, 2024.

    This year's main focus will be on accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective.

    For more information on the CSW68 check the website: https://www.unwomen.org/en/csw/csw68-2024


    Individuals interested in attending the conference, are requested to:

    1. Fill in the form: https://forms.gle/hszyHqKGa77Uifi56
    2. Two minute video recording of yourself on how you see yourself fitting into the UN.
    3. Send your video, resume and letter of intent for attending the CSW68 by September 1, 2024 to both individuals:


    FEZANA, as an NGO in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the Department of Global Communications (DGC), will facilitate registration to the CSW Conference. The conference will be in a hybrid format (partially in-person and partially online).

    The selected participants are expected to make their own financial arrangements regarding visas, tickets, accommodation, food, and transportation in the city.

    Details about the vision, mission and activities of the United Nations can be accessed at www.un.org.


    Regards,

    Co-Chairs, FEZANA UN-NGO Committee

© Zoroastrian Society of Ontario - All Rights Reserved