Ontario to Fund Flight PS752 Memorial in Richmond Hill with $350,000 Investment
Ontario announces $350,000 investment toward a permanent Flight PS752 memorial in Richmond Hill’s Unity Park
RICHMOND HILL — The Ontario government is committing $350,000 to support the construction of a permanent memorial honouring the victims of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752, which was shot down on January 8, 2020, killing all 176 people on board.
The funding, announced on the sixth anniversary of the tragedy, will be provided to the Richmond Hill to help build the Flight PS752 Memorial at Unity Park. Construction is expected to begin in mid-2026, with completion targeted for 2027.
According to the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, the memorial is intended to serve as a lasting public space for remembrance, reflection and community healing, particularly for families who continue to seek justice and accountability.
“Ontario is proud to support this important initiative that honours the victims of Flight PS752 while providing a space for reflection and healing,” said Graham McGregor, Ontario’s Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism. “This memorial is a place to remember the lives lost and to recognize the enduring strength of the families who continue to seek justice and accountability.”
A Community Deeply Affected
The Flight PS752 tragedy had a profound impact on Richmond Hill. Of the 176 victims, 44 lived, worked or studied in the city, marking the largest single-day loss of life in Richmond Hill’s history. Across Canada, the victims included 55 Canadian citizens and 30 permanent residents.
January 8th marked the 6th anniversary of the downing of Flight PS752, and I was honoured to join the families of the victims and the community to pay tribute to their memory.
To mark this solemn occasion, our government announced $350,000 in funding to the City of Richmond Hill… pic.twitter.com/ydZPQPPLXx
— Graham McGregor (@BramptonGraham) January 9, 2026
Designed by the City of Richmond Hill in partnership with families of the victims, the memorial will feature steel panels, an engraved granite base listing the names of all victims, accessible pathways and integrated lighting. City officials say the design reflects both dignity and permanence, ensuring the site remains accessible to the public year-round.
Collaboration Across Governments
The project represents a joint effort involving municipal, provincial and federal partners, alongside advocacy from families of the victims.
“This will give our community a dedicated space to collectively mourn our families and friends, and ensure that we will never forget,” said David West, Mayor of Richmond Hill.
MPP Daisy Wai described the memorial as a lasting promise to preserve the stories of those lost, while representatives of the Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims welcomed the funding as a critical step toward creating a dignified and permanent place of remembrance.
Remembering the Tragedy
Flight PS752 was shot down shortly after takeoff from Tehran on January 8, 2020. In 2024, the Government of Canada formally listed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code.
Once completed, the Flight PS752 Memorial in Richmond Hill will be the first of its kind in Ontario, joining other national efforts to commemorate the victims, including Canada’s first permanent public memorial unveiled in Winnipeg in 2025.
Source: Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism
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