In a powerful display of solidarity, approximately 200 people gathered at Vancouver's Burrard Bridge on the morning of April 6, 2025, for a pro-Israel march organized by Masha Kleiner, perhaps the most notable pro-Israel advocate in Canada's third-largest Jewish hub (home to some 30,000 Jews). Despite relentless rain, participants assembled to mark nearly 18 months since the October 7, 2023 attacks. Kleiner, an Israeli who has lived in Vancouver for 16 years, has become a prominent figure in the local community for her unwavering stance against anti-Israel sentiment on campus following the attacks. As a mother and community leader, her organizing efforts have rallied support across diverse segments of Vancouver's population.
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Irandokht, a member of the local Iranian exile community, holds the Israeli and the Shah-era flag (Photo: Erez Linn)
The demonstration drew a notably diverse crowd, including at least 100 pro-Shah Iranian exiles who displayed both the old Iranian flag (the one before the ayatollahs took over in 1979) and Israeli flags. Among them were Soudabeh Cassandane and Irandokht (literally in Farsi "daughter of Iran") whose passionate Zionist sentiments were matched only by their evident admiration for Reza Shah, the Shah in exile.
Danko, an Argentinian man of Croatian descent who is not Jewish himself but is married to a Jewish woman, also attended the march. While his wife remained at home with their 8-month-old daughter, Danko's presence exemplified the broad-based support extending beyond the Jewish community. His perspective was particularly pointed regarding Canadian politics, as he drew parallels between his experiences in Argentina and current trends in Canada. "I know what is going to happen," he remarked regarding the Liberal Party's lead in polls ahead of the April 28 election, adding with concern, "It's just not going to work." He said that he has felt that there are many "Oct. 8" Jews, Jews who have embraced their identity and raised their head up high after the atrocities of Oct. 7. "I see it with my wife's friends and my daughter's school," Danko said, noting that Israel is such a great county ("The food is amazing").
The march itself saw participants traversing the Burrard Bridge, a key artery connecting Downtown Vancouver to its western part and the University of British Columbia. They were met with mixed reactions from passing motorists. Many drivers honked in solidarity, though it was difficult to determine if this was from Jews or just local residents.
Not all responses were supportive, however. Some passing drivers shouted "Free Palestine" and "Free Hamas" – the latter phrase causing confusion about its intended meaning among marchers who shouted back "Have a good day." In one particularly disturbing incident, a driver directed a Nazi salute toward the demonstrators, a stark reminder of the antisemitism that continues to surface even in progressive urban centers like Vancouver. The security volunteers wearing windbreakers labeled "Bitachon" ("Security" in Hebrew) maintained order throughout these encounters, with local police ensuring the crowds was safe and that the joggers who crossed the bridge for their morning run were not inconvenienced by the participants. .
Despite these concerns, the atmosphere remained predominantly one of peaceful solidarity rather than confrontation.
Video: Man shouts 'Free Palestine' and 'Free Hamas' at marchers / Erez Linn
As the march concluded, participants gathered in a nearby park where, undeterred by the persistent rain, they joined together in singing both "O Canada" and "Hatikvah," Israel's national anthem, a powerful closing symbol of resilience exactly 18 months after the October 7 attacks that have reshaped Jewish community consciousness worldwide.
Video: Marchers sing the national anthems after the rally / Erez Linn
"Our war is not over, antisemitism is not over, the hostages are not back, " Kleiner told the crowd after thanking them for getting out of the house on a rainy Sunday to support Israel for a full hour. "Next time [we march] let's hope this will be the end of Hamas," she said, to the cheers of the crowd. She said that now that 18 months have passed, it's important to show this solidarity. "It's crucial that we stand together, after almost exactly a year a half."
