A Canadian killed in Jakarta on Thursday has been identified as Laval resident Tahar Amer-Ouali.

According to the Associated Press, Amer-Ouali was one of two civilians who died in a bomb attack in the centre of Indonesia's capital.

Amer-Ouali's online LinkedIn profile says the Laval man worked as the director of the International Hearing Center, and had previous experience working at the Jakarta Hearing Centre.

Tahar Amer-Ouali, aged 70, was a pioneer in the field of hearing aids. He ran a clinic in the Indonesian capital in recent years.
  
Amer-Ouali, of Algerian origin, was the father of five children and grandfather of two. He divided his time between Jakarta and Laval.

“I was at work and my family actually got the news,” said oldest child Farid Amer-Ouali. “People were over there in Jakarta when the whole thing went down and my dad was in the middle of the terror attack and he was rushed to hospital and that’s all the news we had. So from our end we tried to reach out to the Canadian embassy to see if they had any news, and they’re the ones who told us that unfortunately he had passed due to his injuries.”

Amer-Ouali said the government is arranging to have his father’s remains returned to Canada.

The LinkedIn profile lists Amer-Ouali's interests as "Proud father of two dedicated hearing aid specialists."

“He was a caring man, he lived life to the fullest,” said Amer-Ouali, who said his father was in Jakarta partly for business, but also because he loved to travel. “He was a hearing aid technician and he tried to expand those horizons to places around the world and to people to maybe have less means than we have here.”

Born in Alergeria, the victim moved to Canada to provide a better life for his family.

“He came here so we could have a better future, for all the opportunities, so we could study and after all these years, we now call Canada home, and it’s thanks to him and all the sacrifices he made,” said  Amer-Ouali a dental surgeon who graduated with honours from University of Montreal in 2008.  Amer-Ouali said his family is trying to cope with the loss together.

“These things happen and you can’t expect them, but when it happens to you it leaves a wound. And now it’s just prayer and being strong with the family.”

Tahar Amer-Ouali was with his brother, Mourad, at the time of the attacks. Mourad was injured and had surgery on his upper body and leg in Jakarta. Family members say he is now in stable condition.

On Saturday, Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard tweeted his condolences to the Amer-Ouali family and condemned the violent attack.

In an emailed statement, a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada confirmed a Canadian citizen was among the victims, but said it could not release the person's identity or personal issue because of privacy laws.

In total, seven people died in the attack, and more than 20 people were injured. Five of the dead were attackers, and one was a Jakarta resident.

Indonesian police said Saturday that they have arrested 12 people in connection with the bombing. ISIS has claimed responsibility.

With files from CTVNews.ca Staff and La Presse Canadienne