Community mourns the loss of young school principal in Mississauga

The community is mourning the loss of a Mississauga school principal.

Omar Zia, a principal at The Woodlands Secondary School, has died after a brief battle with cancer, the Muslims of Mississauga posted this week.

Zia leaves behind his wife and two daughters. He reportedly died on Dec. 2.

“Omar was a precious asset to our community who touched thousands of lives with his activism and leadership,” Muslims of Mississauga said.

In a statement, the Peel District School Board told INsauga.com that Zia, a deeply respected and trusted administrator, served with honour and integrity since September 1999.

“Principal Zia embodied the true essence of servant leadership, demonstrating unwavering commitment and upholding the highest standards, even in the face of adversity,” the PDSB said in a statement to INsauga.com.

The board said he was “a beacon of empathy, kindness, gentleness and care” who guided his school community “with compassion and resilience.”

He started his career at John Fraser Secondary School and served in a variety of positions and locations in Peel including T. L Kennedy Secondary School, the Field Office and the Central Board Office. He was vice principal at Streetsville Secondary School and then moved into his current role as the principal of The Woodlands School.

In addition to his work as a high school principal in the Peel District School Board, he taught English, science, special education, and English as a second language, all while also serving as a guidance counsellor, said charity organization Sakeenah Canada.

“As a passionate advocate for equity and inclusion, Omar worked tirelessly to remove barriers to students’ success,” Sakeenah Canada wrote.

He also chaired the Muslim Employees Association of Peel, served on the Muslim Educators Network of Ontario, and inspired many as a khatib and speaker, including at Sakeenah’s Anti-Human Trafficking webinar in October, the organization wrote.

“His dedication and desire to set our community and our children up for success was always evident, he will be missed by many,” Sakeenah said.

Imam Ehsaan Ansari said Zia was a remarkable leader in the Muslim community in Canada.

“In every interaction I had with him, he displayed the utmost kindness and consistently encouraged the spreading of goodness within the community,” the Imam wrote.

MuslimFest also noted Zia was a cherished mentor leader who transformed the lives of youth through his motivational talks and dedicated mentorship.

“His passion for voluntarism and leadership training left an indelible mark on our community,” MuslimFest said.

The Peel District School Board said Zia was a founding member of the Muslim Educators Network of Ontario and co-founded the board’s Muslim Employees Association of Peel and served as president of the association for many years.

His advocacy and vision for Muslim students led to the creation of the Affirming Muslim Student Identity and Dismantling Islamophobia Strategy for the Peel District School Board, the first of its kind not only in Ontario but in North America.

“He was steadfast in his commitment to anti-oppression and anti-racism, dedicating himself to dismantling structures of inequity and advocating for justice,” the board said. “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.”

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,” the board said. “He truly is irreplaceable.”

The funeral is scheduled for Dec. 7 at ISNA Canada in Mississauga.

Photo: MuslimFest