On Sunday, a family walking in London, Ontario was hit by driver in a premeditated act of hate. City of London police said that they believe the victims were targeted for their Islamic faith. According to a family statement they are Salman Afzaal, Madiha Salman, Yumna Salman and Afzaal’s mother. Fayez Afzaal, suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
We condemn this and other acts of violence. We are angered and saddened by this news. We extend our sincerest condolences to the family and stand in solidarity and grief with all of our Muslim staff, students and community members affected by this tragic incident.
As we have said before, we are committed to fostering an environment where all members of the community feel welcome, safe and supported and recently shared this update about our ongoing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives. Diversity is one of our greatest strengths and we must continue to work to eliminate hate in all of its forms.
We understand the need and value of support during this challenging time. Below is a list of services available to staff and students.
- Students can contact the Student Wellness and Accessibility Centre for support
- GoodToTalk (1-866-925-5454) is a 24-hour mental health support for post-secondary students in Ontario
- Therapy Assist Online
- Staff may also access Employee Assistance Plan services