As Canadians marked the 39th anniversary of the Air India bombing last month, a troubling disconnect has emerged between the significance of this tragedy and public awareness. A recent poll reveals that nearly 70 percent of Canadians believe our education system fails to adequately teach students about what remains the deadliest terrorist attack in Canadian history.
The bombing of Air India Flight 182 on June 23, 1985, claimed 329 lives, including 280 Canadian citizens. Yet despite its profound impact, the catastrophe has largely faded from our collective memory and curriculum.
“There’s a generation of Canadians who have no knowledge of this pivotal moment in our history,” says Dr. Susheel Gupta, who lost his mother in the bombing when he was just 12 years old. “This wasn’t just an Indian tragedy—it was fundamentally a Canadian one.”
The survey, conducted by Leger for the Angus Reid Institute, found cross-partisan support for enhanced education about the bombing, with over 75 percent of respondents across political affiliations agreeing that schools should incorporate this history into classroom discussions.
Particularly striking is the disparity in knowledge between older and younger Canadians. While 62 percent of those over 55 reported familiarity with the attack, only 28 percent of Canadians under 35 recognized its significance.
“The Air India bombing represents one of the most significant security and intelligence failures in Canadian history,” notes terrorism expert Jessica Davis. “Understanding what happened and why is crucial for comprehending contemporary security challenges.”
Family members of victims have long advocated for the inclusion of this history in provincial curricula. Their efforts appear to be gaining traction, with several provinces now considering formal integration of the Air India bombing into social studies programs.
The push for education comes amid broader concerns about Canada’s approach to remembering its most difficult histories. Critics argue that the relative absence of the Air India bombing from our national consciousness reflects deeper patterns of which tragedies become centered in Canadian news cycles and collective memory.
“When we don’t teach this history, we risk suggesting some Canadian lives matter more than others,” observes Dr. Chandrima Chakraborty, who studies the cultural memory of the Air India bombing. “The overwhelming majority of victims were Canadian citizens of Indian descent, and this fact shapes how the tragedy has been remembered—or forgotten.”
Education ministers across provinces have indicated openness to reviewing curriculum guidelines, though implementation timelines remain unclear. Meanwhile, advocacy groups continue developing educational resources to help teachers address this complex history in classrooms.
As Canada approaches the 40th anniversary of the bombing next year, a fundamental question remains: Will we finally give this Canadian tragedy the educational attention it deserves, or will it continue to exist primarily in the memories of those directly affected? The answer may reveal much about how we construct our national identity and which stories we deem worthy of remembrance.
