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April
23, Turkish National Sovereignty and Children's Day is Celebrated
All Across Canada
LALE
ESKICIOGLU
Turkish
Canadians have been proudly celebrating their homeland's National
Sovereignty and Children's Day, within their local communities
throughout Canada for over thirty years. But this year the
celebrations surpassed everyone's wish in scope, in magnificence,
in publicity and in charitable acts.
When the National Grand Assembly first convened in Ankara
on April 23, 1920, the foundation for modern, secular, democratic
Turkey was laid down. This made it possible for the proclamation
of the republic of Turkey three years later, on October 29,
1923.
Turks have always been rightfully proud of their April
23 - National Sovereignty and Children's Bayram because
it is the first national holiday in the world that is dedicated
to children. In a typical visionary move, the great statesman
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk dedicated the opening of the first
Turkish Parliament to the children, or as he called them,
the future. By dedicating this important national day to children,
Atatürk, not only entrusted the future of this young nation
to her children, but also showed the world the importance
he placed on the health and education of young people.
This uniquely
delightful national holiday is the pride and joy of Turks
all around the world. Every year, the children in Turkey celebrate
the April 23rd National Sovereignty and Children's Day with
guest children from all around the world. Some 50 countries
send their children each year to Turkey for these celebrations.
Schools participate in week-long ceremonies marked by performances
in large stadiums. Children's representatives replace state
officials and high ranking bureaucrats in their offices. The
President, the Prime Minister, the Cabinet Ministers, and
provincial governors all turn their offices over to the children
for the day. These children, in turn, sign executive orders
relating to educational and environmental policies. Children
also replace the parliamentarians in the Grand National Assembly
and hold a special session to discuss matters concerning children's
issues.
This year in Canada, Turkish community celebrated April 23
Children's Bayram in the magnificence it deserves. While each
town was celebrating within their own communities, bigger
cities such as Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto organized larger
events.
Ottawa:
 Turkish
community in Ottawa, in collaboration with the Council of
Turkish Canadians (CTC) and the Turkish Cultural Association
of Ottawa, held a fundraising gala dinner for the Children's
Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). The event that attracted
275 guests and raised $15,000 for CHEO was regarded by both
the organizers and the guests as a huge success. Many MPs,
MPPs and diplomats were present at the dinner. Federal MPs
Mr. Rick Dykstra and Mr. Maurice Vellacott from
the Conservative Party, and Ontario MPPs Mr. Phil McNeely
and Mr. Yasir Naqvi from the Liberal Party made brief
speeches commending the Turkish Canadians for their efforts
to give back to the community and to raise funds for CHEO,
one of the most essential institutes on Ontario. Mr. Vellacott
praised the Turkish community of Canada for being highly
professional, responsible citizens who promote peace and harmony
in Canada. "Turkish Canadians do not put a strain
on Canada's social services, never abuse the system, never
make outrageous demands on the politicians, they are law-abiding,
peace-loving citizens." Mr. Vellacott said.
 Entertainment
for the evening was provided by Cantas and Ilkiz Boutiques'
Fashion Show. The owner of these two high-end Ottawa boutiques,
Mrs. Semiha Cantas put on a fabulous fashion show which
was the highlight of the evening. Young talent Ayda Khan
performed three songs, truly impressing the listeners with
her powerful voice. The surprise of the evening was Sophie
Terrasse's Laughter Yoga session which made the guests
stand up, laugh, clap and chant. The evening was made even
more colourful with the presence of CBC's morning news reporter
Nil Köksal who once again secured her special place in
the hearts of Turkish Canadians.
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| CCTC
V-P Mr. H. Vardaryildiz, Mr. Emin Battika, General Consullar
of Turkey For Quebec Province are with their family. |
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| Mme
Zahide Sezerman and The beauties of April 23 Evening are
together. |
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Mr. Emin Battika, General Consullar of Turkey For Quebec
Province is with Mme Kevser Korhan, the President of CTC
during celebration. |
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| CBC's
morning news reporter Nil Köksal and her friends during
April 23 celebration. |
Ottawa's
gala dinner for CHEO ended with a live auction conducted by
Ottawa's very own Dave Smith, the witty philanthropist
who is famous with his auctioneering skills. Mr. Smith,
the founder of "Dave Smith Youth Treatment
Centre" was the natural choice for the live auction
to increase the evening's contributions to CHEO. Turkish artists
Sevim Önen, Halide Akyürekli and Zeynep Nazan Ergincan
donated their paintings to the auction. Embassy of the
Republic of Turkey made generous contributions as well as
offering the delicious fruit desserts made by the resident
chef of the embassy.
Embassies
of many other countries including Afghanistan, Albania, Argentina,
Azerbaijan, Kenya, Kuwait, Mexico, Pakistan and South Africa
lent their support by purchasing tickets and donating gifts.
Toronto:
 While
Ottawa was planning their April 23rd celebration for
that very day, Toronto was organizing a large scale children's
festival for the weekend. On 25th of April, Saturday, the
efforts of many of Toronto's Turkish organizations came together.
Turkish Community Heritage Centre of Canada, Ankara Library,
Canadian Turkish Film Society, Turkish Culture and Folklore
Society of Canada, Turkuaz TV, Turkish Society of Canada,
ITU Alumni Association of Canada and Bizim Anadolu all
contributed to a fabulous celebration of Turkish National
Sovereignty and Children's Day.
Fifty Toronto volunteers worked together to put on a show
for over 800 guests, making this the largest ever April
23 celebration outside of Turkey. Many performers entertained
the audience with music and dance in a true April 23
spirit of friendship and harmony. From Martial Arts to Persian
music, from Karagöz and Hacivat to Anatolian folk dance, the
diversity of the cultural entertainment was a mirror to ever
increasing international children's festival in Turkey.
Hamilton
was present with their Happiness Of Children Turkish Folk
Dance Group and Polish community took part with their
folk dance group Stella Polonia. Shawrak Music Centre
delighted the guests with Iranian folk music performances
while two young Turkish Canadians, Melda Esendal and
Bora Dirilgen gave flute and guitar recitals. Summit
Karate Group's martial arts show was followed by a lively
performance of the famous Anatolian Folk Dancers. Guests
also heard songs from the Lester B. Pearson Elementary
School Kids Choir. Toronto Turkish Children's Choir was
also present to give a sample of many Turkish National
Sovereignty and Children's Day songs.
The successful
event was attended by MP Dr. Ruby Dhalla, Markham Mayor
Frank Scarpitti, Richmond Hill Councillor David
Cohen and Toronto District School Board Trustee Mari
Rutka. Speakers all expressed their pleasant surprise
at the positive energy generated by the Turkish Community
of Canada.
Toronto's
April 23 - Turkish National Sovereignty and Children's
Day events are sure to get bigger and better every year.
One of the organizers, Turkuaz TV, recorded the special
day and will air portions of it on its weekly program on Saturday
mornings. More information and photos can be accessed through
the organizing committee's web site www.april23internationalchildrenday.com.
In addition
to the big event mentioned above, Turkish Society of Canada
and Canadian Turkish Film Society, as non-profit community
organizations, partnered this year to bring some fun and joy
to the kids at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids)
on occasion of the April 23rd National Sovereignty
and Children's Day. The organizations showcased at SickKids,
the traditional "Karagöz and Hacivat"
Shadow Puppet Show, followed by "Make Your Own Puppet"
event. While introducing Turkish Traditional Art to Canadian
kids, volunteers brought them the fun and entertainment much
needed at this difficult time in their lives.
Montreal:
 Turkish
community of Montreal extended the April 23 Children's
Day festivities to the entire weekend with activities
planned for both 25th and 26th of April. Montreal Turkish
Community Centre and Turkish Quebec Cultural and Friendship
Association organized the celebrations with the participation
of many folk dance groups. With colourful costumes and ethnic
music, the folk dancers took the audience from one end of
Anatolia to another. Many other communities participated in
the celebrations and the weekend became a symbolic bridge,
like that of the Bosphorus, between West and East, between
Europe and Asia, between Canada and Turkey.
Lively
folk dances performed by children and young adults during
Montreal's April 23 celebrations can be found on the
video clip web site, www.youtube.com. Those of us who missed
the Montreal shows can see them by simply searching for
"Turquebec" and for "Montreal Türk Kültür
Merkezi."
Bizim Anadolu wishes to congratulate Turkish Canadians
for a wonderful April 23 that took place throughout Canada,
a show of true commitment to our heritage, culture and history
which we have every right to be proud of.
Pictures by Sinem Vardaryildiz, Ömer Özen, Celal Uçar,
Rami Battika, Uluç Özgüven...
May 2009
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