TEHRAN - Canadians of Iranian heritage were celebrating on Monday night and in the early hours of Tuesday as two Iranian Canadians were elected in the Toronto area following the federal elections.

Liberal candidate Ali Ehsassi beat the Conservative incumbent in the north Toronto riding of Willowdale, Shafaqna reported Wednesday.

Ehsassi, surrounded by supporters, said in Persian when asked how he felt, “Very, very good.”

Mr. Ehsassi has law degrees from York University’s Osgoode Hall and Georgetown University Law Center in the United States. He has held positions in the Ontario and federal civil service and practiced law in Toronto and Washington, D.C., with a focus on international trade.

“My focus when we came here was to never to look to the past. It was always to look to the future,” he added.

His victory – and the election of another Iranian Canadian – was widely celebrated by the Iranian diaspora, including the community in Canada.

SP/P