Kurl: 40 Years On, we owe it to the victims of the Air India bombing to remember

'The death of a beloved is an amputation' – C.S. Lewis
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In the wake of grief, the ghost pain of amputation follows: the ache of knowing a love now gone. The daily, monthly, yearly reminders of existences obliterated.
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After 40 years, it is also an apt reflection of the ways in which Canada has — and hasn't — reckoned with the deadliest terrorist attack on its own people. Exactly four decades ago today, 280 Canadian citizens, including 54 children, were murdered. Twenty-eight of them were from Ottawa. They met their end in a plane whose journey originated in Vancouver B.C., then was ripped apart over the Atlantic Ocean by a deliberately placed bomb. The plane belonged to India. The vast majority of its 329 passengers were Canadians. But the events have never been fully owned by this country.
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We report and reflect, for a moment, at this time every year. Outside of June 23, however, an event that should be seared into national memory is generally mentioned only in passing, appended to news coverage of bungled CSIS and RCMP investigations, or to discussions about Canada-India relations.
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The death of a beloved is an amputation, Lewis wrote. Except for the ghost pain of victims' families, it has been lost, forgotten.
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A new Angus Reid Institute survey canvassing awareness and perceptions of the attack finds more than 80 per cent in this country unable to correctly identify the bombing as the single worst case of mass murder of Canadians in our history. One-in-three (32 per cent) say they've never heard of the incident. This rises to a stunning 54 per cent among those aged 18-to-34.
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What can the victims' families possibly take from this lack of awareness among their fellow citizens? At a gathering in Hamilton last month, it was a topic of still-raw anger, and floods of tears. Relatives recalled facing uphill fights for support from municipal parks boards and councillors merely in an effort to place memorial plaques across the country, such as the one at Ottawa's Dow's Lake. For some, it struck a pervasive chord of revictimization. Having lost so much, they had to fight, for so little.
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Fifty per cent of the general population itself says the attacks were never treated as a Canadian tragedy; this can be nothing short of an indictment of our leaders, our educators and ourselves.
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There is danger in forgetting, or not knowing at all. We're living in an era of disinformation. Activists are believed when they say vaccines are more harmful than helpful to populations. Grifters like Alex Jones only admit his lie that the gun-killings of 20 elementary school children at Sandy Hook Elementary school was a 'hoax' when dragged into court.
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The circumstances of Flight 182's bombing are also now subject to disinformation. Elected politicians who know better are unwilling to talk about the origins of the bombing. Veteran journalists who know the facts far better than those trying to rewrite history are reticent to deal with this, because they don't want to feed the conspiracies.

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CBC

an hour ago

• CBC

40 years after Air India bombing, son's grief fuels his work in counterterrorism and victim support

Social Sharing Susheel Gupta was 12 years old when his mother, Ramwati Gupta, boarded Air India Flight 182. It was supposed to be a special summer for the Ottawa boy, whose family had planned a trip to India to visit relatives. He was originally meant to fly ahead of his parents so that he could spend some extra time with his grandparents. But his Grade 7 graduation ceremony was coming up, and he didn't want to miss it. "Had I gone early, I would have missed Grade 7 graduation, so I nagged and nagged my parents," Gupta told CBC's The Early Edition. Ultimately, the family changed their travel plans, and Gupta's mother flew ahead, with the intention that he and his father would join her a few weeks later. "She was travelling on my plane ticket and my seat," he said. That flight never made it. On June 23, 1985, Air India Flight 182 exploded off the coast of Ireland, killing all 329 people onboard. Around the same time, a bomb exploded at Japan's Narita Airport, killing two baggage handlers transferring a Vancouver suitcase to an Air India flight. It is considered the worst mass murder in modern Canadian history. Irish compassion, Canadian silence Monday marks 40 years since that tragedy. Gupta, now a senior RCMP official working in counterterrorism, said the pain never fully goes away. "I've got two little girls and not a day goes by that I don't wish my mom were alive so they could meet her." But Gupta says it wasn't just the loss that devastated families. It was also the way they were treated. In the hours after the bombing, Gupta remembers his family scrambling for answers but facing a void of official information. "There used to be something called a phone book … and my father was trying to reach government agencies," he said. "There was no one answering any of our calls. "We didn't know if there was a rescue mission or a recovery mission." Two days later, Gupta and his father flew to Cork, Ireland, using the two tickets Air India had offered each family. His brother, 18 at the time, stayed behind. In Ireland, they joined "thousands" of grieving relatives from around the world seeking answers. "There were U.S. government officials, U.K., France had officials, India, of course, and so forth," Gupta recalls. But there were no Canadian officials present at the site — and it would be nine days before any officials arrived to speak with the families. "Here's a tragedy where the majority [of people killed] were Canadian citizens, and there's not one Canadian official who could even bother. That's how the country treated it at the time." Despite the absence of Canadian support, Gupta said he'll never forget how Irish residents opened their arms. "[Locals] would come out of their homes in tears," he said. "They would invite us to have tea, to have a meal, and to have cookies with them." "Just the kindness we received from the Irish … certainly contrasts with how we were treated by our own government." Gupta believes Canada has still not fully accepted the tragedy as its own. "I think many Canadians unfortunately think that terrorism is something that happens somewhere else," he said. "I don't think they acknowledge or understand that it has happened here." No support for victims' families According to an RCMP press release marking the 40th anniversary, the bombing exposed "major gaps in intelligence-sharing, inter-agency coordination, and the way we support victims' families." A 2010 federal inquiry led by former Supreme Court Justice John Major described the government's early response as " wholly deficient," saying victims' families were treated like "adversaries." Gary Bass, a former RCMP deputy commissioner who later oversaw the Air India investigation, acknowledges that families weren't given timely updates. WATCH | Ujjal Dosanjh says Air India bombing should be recognized as a national tragedy: Former health minister of Canada speaks at Air India anniversary memorial in Vancouver 2 years ago Duration 0:42 "There were no victim services supports back in 1985," he said in the RCMP statement. "One of the big complaints from victims' families was that they were not getting any updates." Bass credits Gupta's father, Bal Gupta, for helping establish regular briefings that eventually built trust between families and investigators. In the months that followed the tragedy, the Air India Victim's Families Association (AIVFA) was formed, which according to the RCMP, continues to play a pivotal role in advocating for justice, remembrance and police reforms related to terrorism. Senior Gupta acted as the coordinator for the group from 1985 to 2005. "It was through Bal Gupta that we started setting up a series of briefings two to three times a year," added Bass. Turning pain into public service The tragedy and its aftermath became a turning point in Gupta's life. "If there was a way to deal with the frustration of how we were treated … it was to become part of the system." Now 52, Gupta is the Senior Strategic Operations Director with the RCMP's Counterterrorism and National Security section in Ottawa. He has also served as a federal prosecutor with the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. His current role involves planning and delivering support for victims of terrorism and mass casualty events. It's work that has taken him across Canada and abroad — most recently to Vancouver following the April 2025 Lapu-Lapu Day tragedy, when a driver struck a crowd at a street festival, killing 11 people and injuring many more. "We organized a gathering of over 100 victims and families because we felt it was important." He said many of the families didn't know each other before that event, much like the Air India tragedy, but shared trauma creates an important bond. "We become a sponge, we absorb that grief and absorb that pain." On Monday, memorials are being held across Canada and in Ahakista, Ireland to mark the 40th anniversary of the Air India bombing and the 20th National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism. In a statement, the RCMP said it reaffirms its commitment to ensuring the tragedy and its lessons are never forgotten. For Gupta, the anniversary is not just a time to mourn but to reflect on the change that's still needed. "Our national security framework was ultimately changed because of this tragedy and because of families who never gave up," he said. "I don't want any Canadian to have to go through this the way we did."

CTV News

an hour ago

• CTV News

4 local women win prestigious provincial award for volunteering

Four local women have been awarded the 2025 June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award for Voluntarism (JCOAAV). The annual provincial honour is awarded to people who have dedicated their time to community causes, including youth advocacy, health care and mental health, the arts, environmental sustainability, and work with vulnerable populations. 'Volunteers are essential to protecting Ontario and building stronger communities,' said Graham McGregor, Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism. 'This year's recipients have gone above and beyond, and we are deeply grateful for their service to make Ontario a better place to live, work, and raise a family.' Named in honour of the late author, social activist, and journalist June Callwood, this award recognizes up to 25 individual volunteers, volunteer organizations and volunteer administrators for their outstanding leadership, innovation and contributions. Outstanding Volunteer Category – Individual Kathleen Doherty, Barrie A retired Staff Sergeant with the Ontario Provincial Police, Kathleen Doherty has devoted her post-retirement years to volunteerism. From Hospice Simcoe to international disaster relief with Global Medic and Team Rubicon Canada, her leadership in crisis response, community recovery, and health advocacy has brought hope and stability to countless individuals—locally, nationally, and around the world. Ann-Marie MacDairmid, Thornbury Ann-Marie, a resident of Thornbury, Ontario, has led the Shoreline Chorus in Owen Sound for 25 years. She founded the choir in 1999 and has managed it entirely as a volunteer. Her leadership has created meaningful opportunities for community engagement through concerts supporting local food banks, therapeutic riding programs, and church outreach initiatives. Beulah Osei, Newmarket Since 1996, Beulah Osei has volunteered with York Region Children's Aid Society, providing safe, compassionate transportation for children and youth across the region. More than a driver, she offers stability and care, helping young people stay connected to family, school, and community. Her dedication has touched countless lives and exemplifies the power of consistent, heartfelt service. Excellence in Volunteer Management - Individual Jane Weiland, Huntsville For over a decade, Jane Weiland was the heart of Hospice Huntsville, leading both the Visiting Volunteer and Grief and Bereavement programs. She introduced vital Complementary Therapies and built partnerships with hospitals and care homes to ensure no one faced the end of life alone. Her leadership, compassion, and innovation profoundly shaped hospice care in her community. All 2025 award recipients have shown commitment to positive change and protecting communities across Ontario. During local ceremonies, recipients will receive an award statue and a certificate signed by the Premier of Ontario and the Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism. Quick Facts Anyone can submit a nomination for the JCOAAV. Since 2002, 414 individuals and groups have received the JCOAAV. Applications for the JCOAAV close on December 5 each year. The late June Callwood was a distinguished Canadian journalist, author, social activist, and an appointee to the Order of Ontario and the Order of Canada. Throughout her life, she established and co-established over fifty Canadian social action organizations. The Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism fosters an equitable Ontario and a sense of belonging by promoting citizen engagement and unity. In 2024, over 50 recognition ceremonies celebrated the achievements of more than 7,200 recipients who make the province a better place to live.

Montreal Gazette

2 hours ago

• Montreal Gazette

Opinion: Air crash in India reverberates with families in Canada still grappling with 1985 tragedy

The June 12 Air India crash in the northwestern Indian city of Ahmedabad, with 230 passengers and 12 crew members aboard, is sending deep reverberations through a group of Canadians who know all too well the shock, grief and horror of losing loved ones in hauntingly similar circumstances. They are the families of those killed in the bombing of Air India Flight 182 en route from Canada to India 40 years ago. I work closely with these families as a researcher and advocate. I began interviewing these families in 2014 and have witnessed firsthand their pain, advocacy and emotional turmoil of living in the shadow of a historical event. As reports of the Ahmedabad crash came in, the WhatsApp account of the Air India Flight 182 families immediately flooded with expressions of shock, concern, sympathy and memories triggered by the latest incident. On June 23, 1985, Flight 182 was brought down by terrorist bombs created and planted on Canadian soil. The devastating mid-air explosion occurred over the Atlantic Ocean near Ireland. It killed all 329 passengers and crew, including 268 Canadians. The crew and most of the passengers were of Indian origin. Investigations into the causes of the crash of Air India Flight 171, en route to London's Gatwick airport, shortly after take-off are still underway. At least 279 people died in the crash, which also impacted people on the ground. A recent public conference at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont., commemorated the 40th anniversary of Flight 182, bringing together Indian and Canadian families, researchers, creative artists and community members. The conference dealt with critical themes, including the challenge of Flight 182 families recovering from their losses within a climate of broad indifference among their fellow Canadians. Regardless of what may have caused the more recent crash in western India, these Canadian families know the shock and loss that a new set of victims' families are facing, and how important it is to support them. Hopefully, the home countries of last week's crash victims — most of them Indian and British citizens, with at least one Canadian reported to have been aboard — will regard their deaths as significant losses. If so, this would be unlike what the 1985 victims' families experienced in Canada. In Canada, we have a national day to remember on June 23, 1985. The bombing has been called a Canadian tragedy in a public inquiry report. And yet, according to a 2023 Angus Reid poll, 'nine out of 10 Canadians say they have little or no knowledge of the worst single instance of the mass killing of their fellow citizens.' That essentially means the bombing has yet to penetrate the consciousness of everyday Canadians or evoke shared grief or public mourning. The families continue to carry the torch of remembrance as they organize annual memorial vigils every June 23. Few others attend. Many victims' relatives have died since 1985. Some spouses, siblings or parents are now in their 80s, wondering why the bombing is still not widely discussed in schools or in public discourse. The grinding and unsatisfying criminal proceedings, the belated public inquiry and the welcome but lukewarm apology by the Canadian government 25 years after the fact have all contributed to the failure of this tragedy to adhere more solidly to the Canadian consciousness. In fact, many continue to deny the Canadian significance of Flight 182 and view the bombing as a foreign event. At last month's conference, my research team launched the Air India Flight 182 archive to counter this collective amnesia and lack of acknowledgement. Canadian archival consultant and writer Laura Millar has said that archives act as 'touchstones to memory' and can aid the process of transforming individual memories into collective remembering. Adopting NYU professor Carol Gilligan's ethics of care for the archive, we have been consulting with families to find ways to share their grief with the public. The Flight 182 memory archive — both physical and digital — serves as a repository for artefacts, first-person narratives, memorabilia and creative works related to the tragedy produced by family members. Family donations of artefacts such as dance videos and pilot wings redirect notions of archives away from a documental deposit. Hopefully, they can move the public to learn and care for the impacts of the Flight 182 bombing. The archive is a publicly accessible record of the tragedy, where scholars and everyday citizens can learn about the victims and their families. Since the past involves both the present and the future, the archive will enable a meaningful recognition of marginalized voices and histories. It can offer a form of memory justice for those who would otherwise be forgotten by sustaining memory from generation to generation. While the archive articulates the demand from families that the bombing of Flight 182 and its aftermath be incorporated into Canadian national consciousness, establishing this archive alone will not be enough to elevate the memory of Flight 182 to the place it deserves. But at least it establishes a rich, permanent academic and personal legacy for the community of mourners, and for the Canadian and global public to find it, use it and learn from its many lessons. Families of those on board the 1985 flight are preparing to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the terror bombing of Flight 182 that has devastated their lives. As we learn more about the tragic Air India Flight 171 crash on June 12, the lessons of Flight 182 will hopefully prevent a new set of families from feeling the pain of indifference on top of the unimaginable agony of loss they're already experiencing.