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Turkish Canadians
Kanada'daki Türkler
Turkish Canadians 2005.jpg
Turkish Canadians at the Victoria Day Parade in 2005
Total population
63,955 (by ancestry, 2016 Census)[1]
Over 100,000 Turkish Canadians, excluding thousands of foreign Turkish students (2018 estimate by Canadian Ambassador Chris Cooter)[2]
Regions with significant populations
Languages
Religion
Predominantly Sunni Islam (including practising and non-practising)
Minority Alevism, other religions, or irreligious

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 modern nation-states 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, as well as other parts of the Levant (Iraq, Lebanon and Syria), and North Africa (especially from Egypt).[3][4]

History[edit]

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]

Turkish migration from the Ottoman Empire[edit]

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]

Turkish migration from the Republic of Turkey[edit]

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.

Turkish migration from the Balkans[edit]

Bulgaria[edit]

See also: Bulgarian Turks and Bulgarian Canadians

In the 1980s Turkish Bulgarians were fleeing from the Bulgarisation policies, known as the so-called "Revival Process", which targeted the Turkish minority group; consequently, many arrived in Canada as refugees.[7] In addition, Turkish Bulgarian refugees who had originally settled in Sweden and then returned to Bulgaria in the 1990s were forced to flee again and sought life in Western countries such as Canada, England, the United States, Turkey and Germany.[9]

Greece[edit]

See also: Turks of Western Thrace and Greek Canadians

There have been several waves of migration from the Turkish minority of Western Thrace to Canada.[10] The first wave of Turkish Western Thracian migration occurred between 1970-2010 due to political and economic reasons; this was followed by a signifcantly larger wave beween 2010-18 due to the Greek government-debt crisis.[11]

Romania[edit]

See also: Turks of Romania and Romanian Canadians

According to Dr Eleanor Bujea, the early history of Turkish Romanians in Canada (which began in the 1910s) is similar to that of Jewish Romanians. Many initially homesteaded and raised their families on farms whilst some went into the grocery businesses or opened street carts. However, after the First World War, many of these people moved to large cities where some intermarried and assimilated.[12]

Turkish migration from the Levant[edit]

Cyprus[edit]

See also: Turkish Cypriots and Turkish Cypriot diaspora

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.[13] Tension continued to grow by the late 1960s and approximately 60,000 Turkish Cypriots left their homes and moved into enclaves.[14] 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.[15]

Iraq[edit]

See also: Iraqi Turkmen and Iraqi Canadians

In 2010 there was approximately 1,000 Iraqi Turks living in Canada.[16]

Syria[edit]

See also: Syrian Turkmen and Syrian Canadians

Since Justin Trudeau was elected as Prime Minister of Canada in 2015, over 25,000 Syrian refugees have settled in Canada; these have included Arabs, Syrian Kurds and Syrian Turks as well as other minority groups.[17][18]

Demographics[edit]

Official data[edit]

The following is the number of people who have voluntarily declared their ethnicity as "Turkish" in official censuses. The actual number of Turkish Canadians is believed to be considerably higher.[4]

RankProvinces/territoriesPopulation (2001 census)[19]Population (2006 census)[20]Population (2016 census)[1]
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')

Estimated population[edit]

In 2018 the Canadian Ambassador, Chris Cooter, said that there was approximately 100,000 Turkish Canadians living in the country, as well as several thousand Turkish students:

We have a growing Turkish diaspora and they’re doing very well in Canada. We think it’s 100,000, largely in Toronto. We have several thousand Turkish students in Canada as well. We are trying to make sure that two-way relationship is growing. – Canadian Ambassador Chris Cooter (2018)[2]

In 2019 the "Federation of Chinese Canadians in Markham" also reported that there was over 100,000 Turkish Canadians in the country.[21]

Culture[edit]

Religion[edit]

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.[22] Religion remained an affair of the private conscience.[22] 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.[22]

Festivals[edit]

Turkish Canadians march in the 2007 Victoria Day parade in Victoria, British Columbia
  • The Toronto Turkish Festival
  • The Calgary Turkish Festival
  • The Edmonton Turkish Festival
  • The Ottawa Turkish Festival[23]

Language[edit]

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").[24][25][26][27]

Media[edit]

Social media[edit]

  • Turkish Association of Canada[28]
  • Anatolian Heritage Foundation[29]
  • Intercultural Dialogue Institute[30]
  • Kanada Geyikleri[31]
  • Toronto Bilgi[32]

Turkish newspapers[edit]

  • Canadaturk[33]
  • Referans
  • Idinews[34]
  • Bizim Anadolu[35]
  • Canatolian[36]

Turkish Television Channels[edit]

  • Turkuaz TV[37]

Turkish Radio Channels[edit]

  • Radio Perfect[38]

Sports[edit]

  • Atak Sports - Zafer Biryol Soccer Academy[39]

Education[edit]

Since 2005, Nile Academy, a private, secular school[40] run by Turkish administration linked to a nonprofit organization called Canadian Turkish Friendship Community,[41] has grown exponentially over the years. Within eleven years, they managed to open their 3rd[42] 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.[43]

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.[44]

Nile Academy is also linked with the Islamic cleric, author, and scholar, Fethullah Gülen as well as the Gülen Movement.[45] They have had many notable alumni[46] since they opened in 2005.

Associations[edit]

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.[47] 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.[47]

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[48]
  • Ankara Library[49]
  • Association of Balkan Canadians[50]
  • Association of Canadian Turkish Cypriots
  • Canadian Alevi Culture Centre[51]
  • 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.[52]
  • Council of Turkish Canadians[53]
  • The Federation of Canadian Turkish Associations[54]
  • Intercultural Dialogue Institute[55]
  • K-W Turkish cultural association
  • Turkish Association of Canada (TAC)[56]
  • The Turkish Canadian Association of London
  • Turkish Canadian Cultural Association[57]
  • Turkish Canadian Cultural Association of Calgary[58]
  • Turkish Canadian Society[59]
  • Turkish Canadian Society of Edmonton[60]
  • Turkish Canadian Society of Vancouver[59]
  • The Turkish Community Heritage Centre of Canada[61]
  • Turkish Federation Community Foundation[62]
  • Turkish Culture and Folklore Society[63]
  • The Turkish Quebec Cultural and Friendship Association[64]
  • Turkish Society of Canada[65]
  • Turkish Society of Nova Scotia[66]
  • The United Canadian Muslim Association
  • United Canadian Turkish Cultural Association

Notable people[edit]

See also: List of Turkish Canadians

See also[edit]

  • Canada–Turkey relations
  • Canadians in Turkey
  • Embassy of Turkey in Ottawa
  • Middle Eastern Canadians
  • West Asian Canadians
  • Turkish diaspora
    • British Turks
    • Turkish Americans
    • Turkish Australians
    • Turkish New Zealanders

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Ethnic Origin, both sexes, age (total), Canada, 2019 Census – 25% Sample data". Canada 2016 Census. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  2. ^ a b Aytaç, Seyit Ahmet (2018), Shared issues, stronger ties: Canada's envoy to Turkey, Anadolu Agency, retrieved 7 February 2021, Turkish diaspora of some 100,000 Turks largely in Toronto is growing, says Canadian Ambassador Chris Cooter ... We have a growing Turkish diaspora and they’re doing very well in Canada. We think it’s 100,000, largely in Toronto. We have several thousand Turkish students in Canada as well.
  3. ^ Karpat 2004, 632
  4. ^ a b Powell 2005, 297
  5. ^ a b c Aksan 1999, 1277.
  6. ^ a b c Abu-Laban 1983, 76.
  7. ^ a b c d Aksan 1999, 1276.
  8. ^ a b Powell 2005, 298
  9. ^ Hillgren, Johanna (2009), 20 år sedan bulgarienturkarna kom, Hallands Nyheter, retrieved 8 May 2021, De flesta av flyktingarna tvingades återvända men få av dem finns i dag kvar i Bulgarien. De har istället flytt på nytt och sökt ett liv i västländer som Kanada, England, USA, Turkiet eller Tyskland. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  10. ^ Avrupa'da Batı Trakya Batı Trakya Türkleri Gerçeği ve Avrupa Batı Trakya Türk Federasyonu, Avrupa Batı Trakya Türk Federasyonu, retrieved 8 May 2021, Avustralya ve Amerika Birleşik Devletleri, Kanada gibi uzak ülkelerin dışında aralarında Hollanda, İngiltere, İsveç, Fransa, Belçika ve Avusturya gibi ülkelerde de sayısı yadsınamayacak bir Batı Trakyalı Türk kitlesi yaşamaktadır. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  11. ^ Arif, Nazmi (2018), Yunanistan'da, Batı Trakya Türklerinin dış ülkelere göçü endişe ve kaygı verici boyutlara ulaştı., TRT, archived from the original on 14 February 2021, retrieved 12 November 2020
  12. ^ Bujea, Eleanor (2009), Romanians in Canada, The Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America, p. 43, ISBN 9781929200146
  13. ^ Cassia 2007, 19.
  14. ^ Tocci 2004, 53.
  15. ^ Tocci 2004, 61.
  16. ^ Duman, Bilgay (2010), Türkiye'ye Yönelik Türkmen Göçü ve Türkiye'deki Türkmen Varlığı, Center for Middle Eastern Strategic Studies, p. 11, ISBN 978-605-5330-64-4, Kerkük Vakfı Genel Sekreteri Prof. Dr. Suphi Saatçi’nin verdiği rakamlara göre, yaklaşık olarak Kanada’da 1000, Danimarka’da 2000, Hollanda’da ise 4000’e yakın Türkmen’in yaşadığı ve Türkiye üzerinden bu ülkelere göç ettiği bilinmektedir..
  17. ^ "Canada welcomes Syrian refugees". Cic.gc.ca. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  18. ^ "Liberals' revised goal met as 25,000th Syrian refugee arrives in Canada" – via The Globe and Mail.
  19. ^ Statistics Canada. "Selected Ethnic Origins, for Canada, Provinces and Territories - 20% Sample Data". Retrieved 23 February 2009.
  20. ^ Statistics Canada. "2006 Census". Retrieved 25 February 2009.
  21. ^ "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,...
  22. ^ a b c Aksan 1999, 1279
  23. ^ The Ottawa Turkish Festival
  24. ^ "Müzmin Saksı: Türkilizce sözlük". Müzmin Saksı. 18 December 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  25. ^ Şafak, Yeni (6 December 2004). "'Türkilizce' konuşacağız". Yeni Şafak (in Turkish). Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  26. ^ "Türkilizce". www.bizimanadolu.com. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  27. ^ Kandemir, Murat (15 March 2010). "Kanada Göçmenlik: Kanada'da Türk Olmak ve Kanada Türk Toplumu". Kanada Göçmenlik. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  28. ^ "Security Check Required". Facebook.com. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  29. ^ "Turk Kanada - Kanada hakkında bilmeniz gereken herşey". Turk Kanada. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  30. ^ "Turk Kanada - Kanada hakkında bilmeniz gereken herşey". Turk Kanada. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  31. ^ "Security Check Required". www.youtube.com/. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  32. ^ "Security Check Required". www.instagram.com/. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  33. ^ "Main Page". Canadaturk.ca. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  34. ^ "Edmonton Intercultural Dialogue Institute - IDI Edmonton". Edmonton.interculturaldialog.com.
  35. ^ "Bizim Anadolu". Bizimanasdolu.com. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  36. ^ "Canatolian". canatolian.com. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  37. ^ "TurkuazTV". turkuaz.ca. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  38. ^ "RadioPerfect". radioperfect.net. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  39. ^ "ataksports.com". Ataksports.com. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  40. ^ "Nile Academy". nileacademy.ca. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  41. ^ "Job Offers - Nile Academy BlueHaven". nileacademy.ca. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  42. ^ "Nile Academy 2013 Awards (PDF)" (PDF).
  43. ^ "Nile Academy, Plunkett's Wrestling Team - Nile Academy-Plunkett Campus". nileacademy.ca. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  44. ^ "Nile Academy Blue Haven Campus · 5 Blue Haven Crescent, Toronto, Ontario M9M 1W6". opengovca.com. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  45. ^ "Fethullah Gülen Web Sitesi - Kanada'daki Türk Okulundan Büyük Başarı". tr.fgulen.com. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  46. ^ "Alumni - Nile Academy-Plunkett Campus". nileacademy.ca. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  47. ^ a b Aksan 1999, 1278
  48. ^ "Anatolian Heritage Federation Canada". Anatolianheritage.ca. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  49. ^ "ANKARA KITAPLIGI". Ankarakitapligi.ca. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  50. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 January 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  51. ^ "Kanada Alevi Kültür Merkezi". Kanadaalevi.com. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  52. ^ "Kanada Türk İslam Kültür Derneği & Pape Cami - Ana sayfa". Papecami.com. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  53. ^ "Council of Turkish Canadians". Turkishcanadians.com. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  54. ^ YILDIRIM, Inanc. "The Federation of Canadian Turkish Associations - Kanada Turk Dernekleri Federasyonu". Turkishfederation.ca. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  55. ^ "Intercultural Dialogue Institute, Canada". Interculturaldialog.com. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  56. ^ "Home". Turkishcanada.com. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  57. ^ "Turkish Canadian Cultural Association - Turkish Canadian Cultural Association". Turk.ca. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  58. ^ "Turkish Canadian Cultural Association of Calgary". calgaryturkishcanadian.org. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  59. ^ a b "new homepage". Trukishcanadiansociety.org. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  60. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 9 May 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  61. ^ "TCHCC Home". Turkishcommunitycentre.org. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  62. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 23 May 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  63. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  64. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  65. ^ "Turkish Society of Canada - Turkish Society of Canada". Turkishcanada.org. 15 March 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  66. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 July 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

Bibliography[edit]

  • 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.

External links[edit]

  • Turkish Schools in Canada Nile Academy
  • Turkish Schools in Canada Nebula Academy
  • Anatolian Heritage Federation Anatolian Heritage Federation
  • Anatolian Cultural Centre Anatolian Cultural Centres
  • Dicle Islamic Society Dicle Islamic Society
  • Turkish Canadian Chamber of Commerce TCCC
  • Association of Balkan Canadians Association of Balkan Canadians
  • The Federation of Canadian Turkish Associations
  • Turkish Culture and Folklore Society
  • ANKARA Library
  • Turkish Federation Community Foundation
  • Turkish Canadian Cultural Association of Calgary
  • Turkish Society of Nova Scotia
  • Turkish Canadian Society (Vancouver)
  • The Turkish Quebec Cultural and Friendship Association
  • Turkish Canadian Society of Edmonton
  • CANADIAN TURKISH ISLAMIC HERITAGE ASSOCIATION INC.
  • CANADIAN IRAQI TURKMEN CULTURE ASSOCIATION OF LONDON
  • Turkish Canadian Cultural Association
  • Türk Kanada
  • Canadian Turkish Business Council
  • Turkish Society of Canada
  • Canada Turk
  • Turkish Board Game Seller
  • Canatolian Turkish language business newspaper
  • Toronto Information
  • Turkuaz TV (Canadian Turkish Media Association)
  • Radio Perfect
  • Turk News
  • Bizim Anadolu
  • Perfect Gazete
  • Kanada'da Bir Türk
  • Turkish Canadian