A Toronto business owner and philanthropist has launched a national campaign to raise $1.5 million for grief-stricken relatives of Canada-bound victims of the Tehran air crash.

“It’s the Canadian thing to all come together,” Mohamad Fakih, the Lebanese-Canadian head of Paramount Fine Food and Fakih Foundation told reporters Monday at Fakih’s eatery on Yonge St.

People dealing with the sudden and shocking loss of relatives in the jetliner accidentally shot down by the Iranian government shouldn’t have to worry about burial costs that could tally $10,000 or other unexpected expenses, said Fakih, launching the “Canada Strong Campaign” with Toronto Mayor John Tory.

Fifty-seven Canadians died last week when Iran accidentally shot down a jetliner amid heightened political tensions with the United States. A total of 138 passengers were en route to Canada, including students and professors returning after the winter break.

Fakih said he kick-started the fund with $65,000 donated by him and other businesspeople.

A Toronto restaurateur is spearheading a national fundraising campaign to help people who lost loved ones in the Iran plane crash. Mohamad Fakih, founder of the Paramount Fine Foods restaurant chain, says he'd like to raise $1.5 million dollars to help cover funeral costs for the victims. Dubbed "Canada Strong," the campaign will be overseen by a charitable fund that also raised money for the families of victims of the Toronto van attack. (The Canadian Press)

He pledged to cover all expenses related to the campaign. Every dollar from the fund will go to victims, Fakih added, noting he’s getting donated help from Dentons law firm and the Toronto Foundation, which raised and distributed donations to victims of Toronto’s van attack and Danforth shooting rampage.

A fund for the website, torontofoundation.ca/canadastrongcampaign, launched Monday.

Tory said Fakih called him over the weekend to say he wanted to lead an effort to help victims.

The mayor said he advised the philanthropist to get the Toronto Foundation involved and to encourage notable Canadians to urge others to step up and help people in a desperate time of need.

Tory called on regular Canadians and corporations to open their hearts, and wallets, to fellow residents hit with terrible tragedy.

“This is the Canadian thing to do for the victims,” Tory said.

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