Omar Zia, a principal at The Woodlands Secondary School, has died. According to Muslims of Mississauga, he died after a brief battle with cancer.
Zia, who died at the age of 32 recently, is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Muslims of Mississauga said- “Omar was a precious asset to our community who touched thousands of lives with his activism and leadership.”
In a statement to INsauga.com, the Peel District School Board revealed that since 1999, Zia served with honour and integrity since September 1999.
The statement read: “Principal Zia embodied the true essence of servant leadership, demonstrating unwavering commitment and upholding the highest standards, even in the face of adversity.The board stated further that Zia was “a beacon of empathy, kindness, gentleness and care” who guided his school community “with compassion and resilience.”
Zia commenced his career at John Fraser Secondary School and served in a various positions and locations in Peel including T. L Kennedy Secondary School, the Central Board Office and the Field Office.
He became the vice principal at Streetsville Secondary School before assuming his current role as the principal of The Woodlands School.
Charity organization, Sakeenah Canada said besides his work as a high school principal in the Peel District School Board, he taught English, special education, science and English as a second language while also serving as a guidance counsellor.
Sakeenah Canada wrote: “As a passionate advocate for equity and inclusion, Omar worked tirelessly to remove barriers to students’ success.”
The organization added that Zia also chaired the Muslim Employees Association of Peel, served on the Muslim Educators Network of Ontario, and was a source of inspiration for many as a khatib and speaker, including at Sakeenah’s Anti-Human Trafficking webinar in October.
Sakeenah Canada added: “His dedication and desire to set our community and our children up for success was always evident, he will be missed by many.”
Ehsaan Ansari, an Imam, stated that Zia was a remarkable leader in the Muslim community in Canada.
He wrote: “In every interaction I had with him, he displayed the utmost kindness and consistently encouraged the spreading of goodness within the community.”
The Peel District School Board said Zia was a founding member of the Muslim Educators Network of Ontario who co-founded the board’s Muslim Employees Association of Peel and served as president of the association for many years.
The advocacy and vision of Zia for Muslim students led to the establishment of the Affirming Muslim Student Identity and Dismantling Islamophobia Strategy for the Peel District School Board, the first of its kind in North America.
The board said: “He was steadfast in his commitment to anti-oppression and anti-racism, dedicating himself to dismantling structures of inequity and advocating for justice.
“His groundbreaking work focused on disrupting and dismantling Islamophobia, racism, and colonial practices that hinder student success, leaving an enduring legacy in equity and inclusion.”
The board added that Zia was “much more than an educator, a principal, a mentor, and a community leader—he was a guiding light for all who knew him.
The board said. “His students remember him as a fair and kind mentor who upheld high standards, always recognizing their successes and offering unwavering support when redirection was needed.
“Principal Zia will be deeply missed by many in so many ways,. He truly is irreplaceable.”
