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Sima Sharifi: Early Life in Abadan, Iran & Journey to Canada

A short biography tracing Sima’s upbringing in Saddeh, Jamshid-Abad—one of Abadan’s poorest neighbourhoods—and her immigration to Canada in the mid-1980s.

Sima Sharifi with family in Abadan, Iran after high school graduation
Sima and her family after graduating from high school (Abadan, Iran).

Born in Abadan, Iran, Sima Sharifi grew up in Saddeh, Jamshid-Abad—a largely Arab-populated district known for high unemployment and low literacy. Despite limited resources and frequent gang-related incidents in the neighbourhood, she learned early the practical value of education, perseverance, and community support.

Grade 12 portrait of Sima Sharifi in Abadan, Iran
Sima — Grade 12, Abadan.

The eldest of nine children, Sima often balanced schoolwork with family responsibilities. Those experiences shaped her belief that education is a pathway to opportunity. In the mid-1980s, she immigrated to Canada, bringing that same drive to build a life focused on learning, work ethic, and contribution.

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