Thousands of Iranian Canadians and their supporters paraded along Vancouver’s West Georgia Street in solidarity with demonstrators in Iran on Sunday. The city saw a total of 11 separate demonstrations over the weekend, with up to seven protests occurring simultaneously in the downtown area at one point on Saturday.
One of these demonstrations involved Kurdish Canadians who gathered outside the Vancouver Art Gallery to advocate for an end to violence against protesters in Iran. Among the attendees was Kozad Vizheh, a Burnaby-based Kurdish Canadian, who emphasized the significance of downtown Vancouver as a platform for voicing their concerns.
Acknowledging the impact of protests on the city, Vizheh stressed the importance of raising awareness about injustices and violence affecting communities globally. He emphasized their commitment to peaceful and lawful demonstrations, recognizing Vancouver as a democratic city and country.
In response to the surge in protest activities, the Vancouver Police Department deployed additional officers across the downtown core to oversee the demonstrations and ensure public safety. While most protests remained peaceful, police had to intervene to prevent physical altercations at some locations.
The number of protests and participants notably increased over the weekend, with an estimated 15,000 individuals gathering on Sunday alone, surpassing initial police estimates. Approximately 130 officers were mobilized to manage the 11 planned protests.
Political scientist Stewart Prest from the University of British Columbia highlighted Vancouver’s diverse population as a key factor in the resonance of global events at the local level. He emphasized that ongoing global issues, such as unrest in Iran and anti-ICE protests in the U.S., fuel the rise in protest activities.
Despite the growing frequency of protests, concerns have been raised about the escalating costs of policing such events. In 2024, Vancouver spent $2.9 million on policing protests, and the Police Board has requested a budget increase to $497 million in 2026, with additional funds allocated for managing protests.
Former B.C. solicitor general and Richmond city councillor, Kash Heed, expressed concerns about the financial burden on local taxpayers and suggested that federal assistance should be considered since many protests are linked to international issues. Despite the financial implications, no major incidents were reported during the weekend protests.