Canning Congress cruise

The 18^th North American Zoroastrian Congress (NAZC) that was planned on a cruise from Vancouver to Alaska in the first week of July 2017 stands cancelled. Although the logo and theme were publicized well in advance by the hosts, The Zoroastrian Society of British Columbia (ZSBC), a subsequent rethink by the executive committee led them to request the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA) to permit them to host the Congress at a hotel in Vancouver in 2018 to coincide with their golden jubilee.

Although their website does not carry the latest news, a clarification issued jointly by FEZANA president Katayun Kapadia and Bomi Patel who chairs the FEZANA NAZC Committee referred to the explanation issued by ZSBC: "The NAZC2017 executive committee had made a decision (based on a couple of surveys) to have the 2017 Congress on a cruise ship. Much work went into this, especially by our young adults. However subsequently it has been felt that with the large number of seniors and children we have in our community, it would perhaps be better if we had a congress in Vancouver in a hotel. Since 2017 marks the 150^th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation, and July 1 is Canada Day, getting suitable hotel space in downtown Vancouver will not be possible at a reasonable price… In order to have sufficient time to plan a land congress at a reasonably priced venue and particularly because ZSBC will be celebrating its 50^th anniversary in 2018, we are requesting FEZANA to let us postpone the Congress to 2018." The ZSBC board thanked Kapadia and Patel for their support and valuable advice during this whole period of their decision making whilst appreciating "the hard work and dedication of the executive committee and volunteers of NAZC2017 who spared no effort to try and meet the requirements of the larger community interests."

With FEZANA’s bid to host the 11^th World Zoroastrian Congress in 2018 to be decided at the next Global Working Group meet this December, for the present FEZANA has informed ZSBC that allocation can be confirmed only after January 2016. If FEZANA wins the bid, then to avoid duplication Vancouver could combine hosting the World Congress and the North American Congress, "if at all possible." In the meanwhile all member associations of FEZANA have been invited to bid for the next North American Congress.