Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un
“Surely we belong to God, and to Him we return” — Holy Qur’an, 2:156

“Life is a great and noble calling, not a mean and grovelling thing to be shuffled through as best as we can, but a lofty and exalted destiny.” — Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, His Highness the Aga Khan III (1877-1957), 48th Ismaili Imam.

By MALIK MERCHANT

It is with deep sadness that we record the death of Nadir Mohamed on September 18, 2025, at the age of 69. We convey our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Shabin, and Nadir’s entire family and wish them strength and courage at this difficult time of bereavement.

Upon his passing, his family issued the following statement in the Globe and Mail’s Legacy page:

“The family of Nadir mourn his passing. He was an extraordinary man whose grace, wisdom, and openness deeply enriched our lives. May his spirit endure as a guiding light and his kindness live on in our hearts. Nadir passed away peacefully on September 18, 2025. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Princess Margaret Hospital or Mt. Sinai Hospital.”

An invitation has been extended to those who wish to plant trees in his memory at the Sympathy Store.

The exceptional tributes paid to Nadir Mohamed in the media bear witness to his remarkable contributions and achievements as a visionary in business and high technology. In recognition of Nadir’s contributions to Canada, he was named a Member of the Order of Canada (C.M.) by the Governor General on November 22, 2019, and invested with C.M. on May 6, 2022. The Order reads as follows:

“Esteemed leader Nadir Mohamed has advanced Canada’s high-tech sector. Using his expertise from a successful 30-year career in the telecommunications and media industry, the former president and CEO of Rogers Communications co-founded ScaleUP Ventures to fund and foster promising start-up technology companies across Canada. The accomplished business executive has also shared his time and sought-after acumen with Ryerson University’s innovation initiatives, including Digital Media Zone, as well as with a range of community organizations in the business, arts and health sectors.”

Rogers Communications, Canada’s leading communications and entertainment company, released the following statement in their tribute to Nadir:

QUOTE

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Nadir. Nadir was an exceptional leader, a deeply respected executive and a generous person who led Rogers during an extraordinary time of change for our company and industry. He contributed immensely to our long-term success and made meaningful contributions to our community and our country,” said Edward Rogers, Executive Chair, Rogers.”

“Nadir joined Rogers in August 2000 and served as President and CEO of Rogers Wireless from 2001 to 2005. He was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of Rogers in 2005, and in 2009 succeeded Ted Rogers as President and CEO. He retired from Rogers in January 2014. During his tenure, he strengthened Rogers balance sheet, solidified its financial position and set Rogers up for long-term success.

“Nadir was co-founder and chair of ScaleUP Ventures and chair of DMZ Ventures. Nadir also gave back to his community as a board member of Tennis Canada, Toronto Metropolitan University, UHN Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation and a founding board member of NEXT 36/NEXT Canada. 

“Nadir was a remarkable leader who played a pivotal role at Rogers and the broader Canadian business community,” said Tony Staffieri, President and Chief Executive Officer, Rogers. “He meaningfully contributed to Rogers legacy of innovative firsts, and he passionately contributed to Canada’s innovation agenda. He was a gracious leader, and a true class act. Our thoughts are with Shabin and the entire Mohamed family during this difficult time.”

UNQUOTE

Although I did not know C.M. Nadir Mohamed personally, I had met him on a few occasions. My first memory of meeting him was at the Rogers Centre during the Golden Jubilee of His Late Highness Aga Khan IV in 2008. I was deeply affected when I was informed about his passing. I was further moved on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, as I watched the Toronto Blue Jays play the Boston Red Sox on Sportsnet Plus. The Blue Jays commentator, Dan Shulman, alongside Buck Martinez, paid tribute to Nadir between the 3rd and 4th innings of the baseball game, which was played at Rogers Centre. A moment of silence was also observed during the game, with Nadir’s portrait projected onto the stadium’s jumbotron. A friend who was at the game has shared the following clip:

Video clip: A moment of silence for Nadir Mohamed at the Rogers Centre

It is worth noting that during his tenure at Rogers, the communications company also made significant inroads in sports, including negotiating what was then a record-breaking $ 5.2 billion, 12-year exclusive broadcast deal for NHL hockey rights.

C.M. Nadir Mohamed’s funeral will take place at the Burnaby Lake Ismaili Jamatkhana on Thursday, September 25, 2025.

We pray that his soul may rest in eternal peace. Ameen.

Date posted: September 24, 2025.

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Condolence messages: We invite readers to submit their condolences, memories and tributes to Nadir Mohamed, Member of the Order of Canada, by clicking LEAVE A COMMENT. If you encounter technical difficulties submitting your feedback, please email your message to mmerchant@simerg.com, subject line: Nadir Mohamed.