Turkish Canadians

Turkish Canadians (Turkish: Türk asıllı Kanadalılar; literally "Turkish-originating Canadians"), also called Canadian Turks (Turkish: Kanadalı Türkler), are Canadian citizens of Turkish descent. The majority of Canadian Turks descend from the Republic of Turkey; however there has also been significant Turkish migration from other post-Ottoman countries including ethnic Turkish communities which have come to Canada from the Balkans (especially from Bulgaria, Greece, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Romania), the island of Cyprus, and more recently Iraq and Syria.[3][4]

Turkish Canadians
Kanada'daki Türkler
Turkish Canadians at the Victoria Day Parade in 2005
Total population
63,955 (by ancestry, 2016 Census)[1]
Over 100,000 Turkish Canadians (2019 estimate)[2]
Regions with significant populations
Languages
Religion
Predominantly Sunni Islam (including practising and non-practising)
Minority Alevism, other religions, or irreligious

According to the Canadian government's 2016 Census, there were 63,955 Canadians who claimed full or partial Turkish descent or ancestry.[1]

History

Turks first began to immigrate to Canada in small numbers from the Ottoman Empire. However, significant migration initially began in the late 1950s and early 1960s when the Turkish government encouraged student education abroad.[5] There have also been Turks fleeing from unrest and oppression in Bulgaria and Cyprus who arrived in Canada as both political and economic refugees.[5]

Ottoman migration

In 1901, Canada had between 300–400 Muslim residents, equally divided between Turks and Syrian Arabs.[6] By 1911, the size of the Muslim community had increased to about 1,500, of whom 1,000 were of Turkish origin and the remainder were Arabs.[6] During the pre-World War I period, Turks were to be found in mining and logging camps across Canada.[7] However, due to bad relations between the Ottoman Empire and Allied Powers of WWI, further migration was made difficult for the Turks and the Canadian government discouraged "Asian" immigration.[7] Thus, by the onset of World War I, Canada witnessed the return of many Turkish immigrants who were then classified as "enemy aliens".[6] Another reason for the return-migration of Ottoman Turks was because for the majority of Turks, the founding of the new republic of Turkey in 1923 was a greater incentive to stay at home.[7]

Mainland Turkish migration

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the government of Turkey encouraged and financially supported Turkish students to study in Canada.[5] Thus, the early 1960s consisted primarily of students and professionals, especially doctors and engineers.[8] Significant Turkish immigration began during the 1960s and 1970s; most Turks went to Canada for educational and economic opportunities.[8] According to the 1972 Canada census there were 9,342 Turkish-born persons living in Canada.

Bulgarian Turks' migration

In 1989, Turks in Bulgaria were fleeing from the unrest and oppression of the Bulgarian government; many have arrived in Canada as political and economic refugees.[7]

Turkish Cypriot migration

During the 1950s, Turkish Cypriots started to leave Cyprus for political reasons when the Greek Cypriots held a referendum in which 95.7% of Greek Cypriots supported enosis, the union of Cyprus with Greece. By 1963, inter-ethnic fighting broke out in Cyprus, with Turkish Cypriots bearing the heavier cost in terms of casualties and some 25,000 Turkish Cypriots became internally displaced accounting to about a fifth of their population.[9] Tension continued to grow by the late 1960s and approximately 60,000 Turkish Cypriots left their homes and moved into enclaves.[10] This resulted in an exodus of more Turkish Cypriots from the island, many migrating to Canada. In 1983, Turkish Cypriots unilaterally proclaimed the establishment of their own state, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), which has since remained internationally unrecognized except by Turkey. Since the division of the island, the Turkish Cypriot economy has remained stagnant and undeveloped because of the economic embargoes which have been imposed on the north.[11] Turkish Cypriots are still forced to emigrate, as a result of unemployment, and economic, social and moral degradation. Furthermore, due to the 'Turkification' policies administered in the north, Turkish Cypriots responses to such policies of nationalization have been to leave the island and moved to Britain, Australia, and Canada.[12]

Demographics

According to the Canada 2006 Census, there were 43,700 Turks living in Canada; the majority were concentrated in Toronto (14,970), Montreal (10,345), Vancouver (3,380), Ottawa (2,455), Hamilton (1,590), Calgary (1,305), and Edmonton (1,250).[13] However, the actual number of Turkish Canadians is believed to be considerably higher,[4] as ethnic Turks have also immigrated to Canada via Bulgaria, Cyprus, and the Republic of Macedonia.[4] Statistics on Bulgarian Turks, Turkish Cypriots, and Macedonian Turks present particular problems because it is unclear how many have immigrated to Canada; they are recorded by their citizenship (i.e. "Bulgarian", "Cypriot", and "Macedonian") rather than their ethnicity.

Turkish settlement
RankProvinces/territoriesPopulation (2001 census)[14]Population (2006 census)[13]Population (2016 census)
1 Ontario14,58023,42534,165
2 Quebec5,68011,39015,060
3 British Columbia2,3954,2506,355
4 Alberta1,5152,9705,745
5 Nova Scotia190425690
6 Saskatchewan105400860
7 Manitoba275345655
8 New Brunswick125275235
9 Newfoundland and Labrador35135100
10 Northwest Territories106515
11 Yukon01030
12 Nunavut0 (10 Multiple responses)015
13 Prince Edward Island0035
Total Canada24,91043,70063,955
(Source: 2001, 2006 and 2016 Canadian Census')

Culture

Religion

The majority of Turkish Canadians are Sunnis and Alevis, whilst the remaining people generally do not have any religious affiliation. Prior to 1980, Turkish Canadian immigrants were from both urban and secular backgrounds.[15] Religion remained an affair of the private conscience.[15] In May 1983, the Canadian Turkish Islamic Heritage Association (Kanada Türk İslam Kültür Derneği) was established, followed by the Canadian Turkish Islamic Trust (Kanada Türk İslam Vakfı) in April 1987.[15]

Festivals
Turkish Canadians march in the 2007 Victoria Day parade in Victoria, British Columbia

Language

Turkish Canadians are generally fluent in Turkish, but may speak an Anglicized dialect, slang, or version, informally called "Türkilizce". This unofficial, informal dialect is common among younger Canadian Turks, and is characterized by the addition of English loanwords to otherwise completely Turkish conversations (for example, the Turkish translation of "to schedule" would be "tarih belirlemek", but a Türkilizce speaker would say "schedule etmek").[17][18][19][20]

Media

Social media
  • Turkish Association of Canada[21]
  • Anatolian Heritage Foundation[22]
  • Intercultural Dialogue Institute[23]
  • Kanada Geyikleri[24]
  • Toronto Bilgi[25]

Turkish newspapers

Turkish Television Channels

Turkish Radio Channels

Sports
  • Atak Sports - Zafer Biryol Soccer Academy[32]

Education

Since 2005, Nile Academy, a private, secular school[33] run by Turkish administration linked to a nonprofit organization called Canadian Turkish Friendship Community,[34] has grown exponentially over the years. Within eleven years, they managed to open their 3rd[35] school within Ontario. They have also opened a dormitory located near Jane Street and Eglinton Avenue West, Toronto. Throughout the years, Nile Academy has competed in Turkish Language Olympiads and many wrestling tournaments in Ontario.[36]

In the mid 2010s, Nile Academy closed its main dormitory, and merged its three campuses into a single one, located in the Humber Summit neighbourhood of Toronto.[37]

Nile Academy is also linked with the Islamic cleric, author, and scholar, Fethullah Gülen as well as the Gülen Movement.[38] They have had many notable alumni[39] since they opened in 2005.

Associations

Since the 1960s, many community organizations have appeared representing various groups of Turkish immigrants. The various associations across Canada are currently represented by the "Federation of Canadian Turkish Associations", an umbrella organization founded in the mid-1980s.[40] The federation serves as a referral and communications centre for news of Turkey, local events, business and governmental inquiries, and intergroup relations. More recently, a similar Turkish Cypriot umbrella group, the "Federation of Turkish Cypriot Associations of Canada", was established; the "Canadian Association for Solidarity of Turks from Bulgaria" also forms part of the federation.[40]

The Federation of Canadian Turkish Associations is an umbrella organization representing 17 member associations from Victoria to Quebec, which include approximately 50,000 Canadians of Turkish origin. The federation was established in 1985 and is a non-profit organization with no political affiliations. It supports and encourages activities that deal with important cultural, economic, educational, historical, social and religious issues that relate to the Turkish community in Canada.

  • Anatolian Heritage Federation[41]
  • Ankara Library[42]
  • Association of Balkan Canadians[43]
  • Association of Canadian Turkish Cypriots
  • Canadian Alevi Culture Centre[44]
  • Canadian Association for Solidarity of Turks from Bulgaria
  • Canadian Iraqi Turkmen Culture Association of London
  • Canadian Turkish Cultural Association of Hamilton
  • Canadian Turkish Film Society
  • Canadian Turkish Islamic Heritage Association INC.[45]
  • Council of Turkish Canadians[46]
  • The Federation of Canadian Turkish Associations[47]
  • Intercultural Dialogue Institute[48]
  • K-W Turkish cultural association
  • Turkish Association of Canada (TAC)[49]
  • The Turkish Canadian Association of London
  • Turkish Canadian Cultural Association[50]
  • Turkish Canadian Cultural Association of Calgary[51]
  • Turkish Canadian Society[52]
  • Turkish Canadian Society of Edmonton[53]
  • Turkish Canadian Society of Vancouver[52]
  • The Turkish Community Heritage Centre of Canada[54]
  • Turkish Federation Community Foundation[55]
  • Turkish Culture and Folklore Society[56]
  • The Turkish Quebec Cultural and Friendship Association[57]
  • Turkish Society of Canada[58]
  • Turkish Society of Nova Scotia[59]
  • The United Canadian Muslim Association
  • United Canadian Turkish Cultural Association

Notable people
See also: List of Turkish Canadians

See also

References
  1. "Ethnic Origin, both sexes, age (total), Canada, 2019 Census – 25% Sample data". Canada 2016 Census. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  2. "Journey to the East: 16th Taste of Asia and Asian Heritage Month Reception May 1st, 2018". Federation of Chinese Canadians in Markham. 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2021. With over 100,000 Turkish Canadians in Canada,...
  3. Karpat 2004, 632
  4. Powell 2005, 297
  5. Aksan 1999, 1277.
  6. Abu-Laban 1983, 76.
  7. Aksan 1999, 1276.
  8. Powell 2005, 298
  9. Cassia 2007, 19.
  10. Tocci 2004, 53.
  11. Tocci 2004, 61.
  12. Papadakis, Peristianis & Welz 2006, 94.
  13. Statistics Canada. "2006 Census". Retrieved 25 February 2009.
  14. Statistics Canada. "Selected Ethnic Origins, for Canada, Provinces and Territories - 20% Sample Data". Retrieved 23 February 2009.
  15. Aksan 1999, 1279
  16. The Ottawa Turkish Festival
  17. "Müzmin Saksı: Türkilizce sözlük". Müzmin Saksı. 18 December 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  18. Şafak, Yeni (6 December 2004). "'Türkilizce' konuşacağız". Yeni Şafak (in Turkish). Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  19. "Türkilizce". www.bizimanadolu.com. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  20. Kandemir, Murat (15 March 2010). "Kanada Göçmenlik: Kanada'da Türk Olmak ve Kanada Türk Toplumu". Kanada Göçmenlik. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  21. "Security Check Required". Facebook.com. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  22. "Turk Kanada - Kanada hakkında bilmeniz gereken herşey". Turk Kanada. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  23. "Turk Kanada - Kanada hakkında bilmeniz gereken herşey". Turk Kanada. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  24. "Security Check Required". https://www.youtube.com/. Retrieved 30 December 2019. External link in |website= (help)
  25. "Security Check Required". https://www.instagram.com/. Retrieved 30 December 2019. External link in |website= (help)
  26. "Main Page". Canadaturk.ca. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  27. "Edmonton Intercultural Dialogue Institute - IDI Edmonton". Edmonton.interculturaldialog.com.
  28. "Bizim Anadolu". Bizimanasdolu.com. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  29. "Canatolian". canatolian.com. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  30. "TurkuazTV". turkuaz.ca. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  31. "RadioPerfect". radioperfect.net. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  32. "ataksports.com". Ataksports.com. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  33. "Nile Academy". nileacademy.ca. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  34. "Job Offers - Nile Academy BlueHaven". nileacademy.ca. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  35. "Nile Academy 2013 Awards (PDF)" (PDF).
  36. "Nile Academy, Plunkett's Wrestling Team - Nile Academy-Plunkett Campus". nileacademy.ca. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  37. "Nile Academy Blue Haven Campus · 5 Blue Haven Crescent, Toronto, Ontario M9M 1W6". opengovca.com. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  38. "Fethullah Gülen Web Sitesi - Kanada'daki Türk Okulundan Büyük Başarı". tr.fgulen.com. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  39. "Alumni - Nile Academy-Plunkett Campus". nileacademy.ca. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  40. Aksan 1999, 1278
  41. "Anatolian Heritage Federation Canada". Anatolianheritage.ca. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  42. "ANKARA KITAPLIGI". Ankarakitapligi.ca. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  43. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 January 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  44. "Kanada Alevi Kültür Merkezi". Kanadaalevi.com. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  45. "Kanada Türk İslam Kültür Derneği & Pape Cami - Ana sayfa". Papecami.com. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  46. "Council of Turkish Canadians". Turkishcanadians.com. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  47. YILDIRIM, Inanc. "The Federation of Canadian Turkish Associations - Kanada Turk Dernekleri Federasyonu". Turkishfederation.ca. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  48. "Intercultural Dialogue Institute, Canada". Interculturaldialog.com. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  49. "Home". Turkishcanada.com. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  50. "Turkish Canadian Cultural Association - Turkish Canadian Cultural Association". Turk.ca. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  51. "Turkish Canadian Cultural Association of Calgary". calgaryturkishcanadian.org. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  52. "new homepage". Trukishcanadiansociety.org. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  53. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 9 May 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  54. "TCHCC Home". Turkishcommunitycentre.org. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  55. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 23 May 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  56. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  57. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  58. "Turkish Society of Canada - Turkish Society of Canada". Turkishcanada.org. 15 March 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  59. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 July 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

Bibliography
  • Abu-Laban, Baha (1983), "The Canadian Muslim Community: The Need for a New Survival Strategy", in Waugh, Earle H.; Abu-Laban, Baha; Abu-Qureshi, Regula (eds.), The Muslim Community in North America, University of Alberta, ISBN 0-88864-034-X.
  • Aksan, Virginia H. (1999), "Turks", in Magocsi, Paul R. (ed.), Encyclopedia of Canada's Peoples, University of Toronto Press, ISBN 0-8020-2938-8.
  • Cassia, Paul Sant (2007), Bodies of Evidence: Burial, Memory, and the Recovery of Missing Persons in Cyprus, Berghahn Books, ISBN 978-1-84545-228-5.
  • Karpat, Kemal H. (2004), "Turkish Immigration to Canada", Studies on Turkish Politics and Society: Selected Articles and Essays, BRILL, ISBN 90-04-13322-4
  • Ozcurumez, Saime (2009), "Immigrant Associations in Canada:Included, Accommodated, or Excluded?", Turkish Studies, Routledge, 10 (2): 195–215, doi:10.1080/14683840902864002, hdl:11693/22731
  • Papadakis, Yiannis; Peristianis, Nicos; Welz, Gisela (2006), Divided Cyprus: Modernity, History, and an Island in Conflict, Bloomington: Indiana University Press, ISBN 0-253-21851-9.
  • Powell, John (2005), "Turkish Immigration", Encyclopedia of North American Immigration, Infobase Publishing, ISBN 0-8160-4658-1
  • Tocci, Nathalie (2004), EU accession dynamics and conflict resolution: catalysing peace or consolidating partition in Cyprus?, Ashgate Publishing, ISBN 0-7546-4310-7.
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