Posted by Lale on 3/5/2009, 10:57:48
72.138.111.169
17 April 2009
Contact:
Lale Eskicioglu
613-590-9100
Lale@TurkishCanadians.com
For immediate release
Turkish Canadians Are Celebrating Children’s Day
Turkish Community of Canada is proud to announce that it has been 30 years since they started celebrating April 23, Turkish National Sovereignty and Children's Day in Canada. This year the celebrations include a gala dinner to raise funds for the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO).
On April 23, 1920, the founder of the Turkish Republic, great statesman and visionary, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, convened the Turkish Grand National Assembly in Ankara. This was the first step towards a democratic, independent, secular and modern Republic of Turkey. Atatürk dedicated April 23 to the children of the country to emphasize that they were the future of the new nation.
Following the defeat of the Allied invasion forces on September 9, 1922 and the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne on July 24, 1923, the formation of the Turkish Republic became possible on October 29, 1923. Atatürk and the nation, then started the task of establishing the institutions of the new state. Over the following ten years, Turkish Republic performed sweeping reforms to create the modern Turkey we have today.
Turkey’s April 23 Children’s Day is a first in the world. 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.
Every year, the children in Turkey celebrate this National Sovereignty and Children's Day with guest children from all around the world. Schools participate in week-long ceremonies marked by performances in large stadiums. Also on this day, the children send their representatives to 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's representatives for the day. These children, in turn, sign executive orders relating to educational and environmental policies. On this day, the children also replace the parliamentarians in the Grand National Assembly and hold a special session to discuss matters concerning children's issues.
Guest children from around the world are housed in Turkish homes and have the opportunity to interact with kids from other nations and learn about each other's cultures. When all nations’ children participate in the special session of the parliament, a truly international Assembly is formed, where children pledge their commitment to international peace and friendship.
This year in Canada, Turkish community is celebrating with a gala dinner on behalf of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). The event will take place on April 23, 2009, at St. Elias Centre in Ottawa. All profits from the evening will go to CHEO.
Turkish Canadians are also working on a greater Children’s Day event that would mirror the festivities in Turkey. Next year, with the help of the members of the parliament, we hope to establish a children’s parliament for a day in which each MP would be represented by a child from that MP’s riding.
Canadians of Turkish origin are proud of being owners of world’s first national children’s holiday which is recognized all over the world. With charity events like this year’s CHEO fundraiser and next year’s children’s parliament, Turkish community hopes to make Ottawa, the children’s capital of the world.
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Bad Time to Be a Lamb
By Caroline Phillips, The Ottawa Citizen, April 27, 2009
There's a Turkish saying that one good laugh is worth a thousand lamb chops. If so, the laughter heard at the Turkish Canadian Fundraising Gala Dinner for CHEO on Thursday made for a lot of nervous lambs.
Some 275 guests met at the St. Elias Centre for a Middle Eastern meal, cultural entertainment, a fashion show and auctions. The evening surpassed organizers' goal of $10,000 for the children's hospital.
Dinner guests participated in yoga laughter led by Sophie Terrasse. It involved rhythmic clapping, chanting and even speaking gibberish to one's neighbours.
The gala was held in honour of Children's Day, which is celebrated in Turkey. On hand were Kevser Taymaz, president of the Council of Turkish Canadians, and its executive director, Lale Eskicioglu. Dave Smith helped as auctioneer while Semiha Cantas, owner of Cantas and Ilkiz boutiques, ran the fashion show.
In attendance was Zeynep Akgunay, wife of Turkish Ambassador Rafet Akgunay. The embassy sponsored the wine and Turkish dessert. Guests also included Scott Taylor of Esprit de Corps military magazine, and his wife, Katherine. Taylor has a special spot in his heart for Turkey: its government helped him and his Turkish colleague after they were kidnapped by a radical Islamist group in Iraq in 2004.
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