Turkish Canadian Cultural Association

Ottawa`s very own Turkish theatre group Tiyatro Kunduz is ready to present their new play “The Monster of Toros” written by Aziz Nesin and directed by Bülent Günay. The premiere is going to take place on Friday May 25<sup>th</sup>, 18:00 at Ottawa`s oldest theatre “Academic Hall” located at 135 Séraphin Marion, in the University of Ottawa Campus.

Performances will also take place on Sunday May 27^th, at 14:00 (with English surtitles) and at 18:00.

Together since 2001, and having performed various plays as well as “Kanun Namına” by Oktay Arayıcı, “Oc/El Kapısı” by Orhan Asena, “Dilekçe” by Çetin Altan and “Dokuz Canlı” by Tayfun Türkili, Tiyatro Kunduz is now ready to present the well-known Turkish play “Toros Canavarı/ The Monster of Toros” to theatre lovers in Ottawa.

The group is also planning a tour of other cities in North America following the premiere in Ottawa.  

We invite you to see this tragicomic play performed by 16 local actors and musicians. We hope that you come and share the joy of live theatre and enjoy the universal theme of the play! 

Storyline

Mr Nuri Sayaner, a retired civil servant, enjoys his monotonous life at home with his family. However, on top of their financial problems, the family struggles with the greedy landlord who wants to push them out of their apartment. Even though the family has won the lawsuit against him, the landlord will not give up.

Soon enough, the living conditions in the apartment turn out to be hellish for the family as the landlord places noisy and annoying neighbors upstairs and a thug downstairs. Nuri has no choice but to go to the police to make a complaint. An unfortunate coincidence results in him being arrested as a famous serial killer known as the Monster of Toros. The night he steps into the police station, his and his family's lives change forever...

Show Place and Dates

Academic Hall, University of Ottawa, 135 Séraphin Marion Street (Map)

Friday, May 25 at 19:00 (in Turkish)

Sunday, May 27 at 14:00 (in Turkish with English surtitles) 

Sunday, May 27 at 18:00 (in Turkish)       

Tickets are $20. Please contact Hürol Şahin (613-878-4847), Şebnem Gavin (613-715-4749), Nilay Ertemur (613-656-5630) or Burcu Uğur (613-854-6466) to buy tickets, or stop at OXXO Silk&Gift Store (613-562-1990) at Byward Market to pick up your tickets.

 Tiyatro Kunduz`s Facebook Group

This film, co-produced by the City of Istanbul and Radio Netherlands Television, tells the dramatic saga of the tulip as it traveled throughout history from its origin as a wild flower in Asia to Europe. This impressive documentary includes interviews with tulip experts like Mike Dash, author of "Tulipomania" and Deborah Moggach, author of "Tulip Fever", and emphasizes the diversity and the power of the exquisite tulip.

Date: Friday, May 11 2012

Time: 18:00

Location: Library and Archives Canada

Address: 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A ON4

Free Admission

We are inviting you all to “A day with friends on the Rideau Canal” to get together and skate on Sunday February the 12^th between 1 and 3 PM.

As the University of Ottawa's Turkish Student Association and Carleton University's Turkish Student Association will both participate in this event, it will be a great chance to meet the members of each association.

We are offering skating lessons and a cup of hot chocolate to all Turkish Student Association members, Turkish Canadian Cultural Association members and their kids at no cost.

We will be meeting at 12:30 PM at the Canal entrance in front of the National Arts Center.  For those who prefer to rent skates, there is a skate rental booth.  The meeting point can be checked out here.

Hope to see you all there.

Turkish Canadian Cultural Association

 

JOURNEY OF FAITH

On the Trail of Christianity in Turkey  

         Journey of Faith, a documentary film investigates the roots and growth of early Christianity. Hosted by Victoria Barrett, the film visits fourteen biblical locations throughout Turkey following in the footsteps of Apostles from Antioch to the basilicas of Byzantium. The journey begins with shepherds still tending their flocks in the shadow of magnificent Mt. Ararat. It moves to Antioch where Christians were first called “Christians”, walks ancient Roman roads in the footsteps of St. Paul at his birthplace of Tarsus, and sails, as he did, from the Mediterranean to the turquoise shores of the Aegean. From there the journey follows St. Paul to Ephesus, exploring its streets, temples and amphitheatre before moving up into the mountains to the final resting place of St. John and the Virgin Mary.

          The film continues on through the centuries... the seven churches of Revelation, the conversion of Emperor Constantine -when Christianity becomes the religion of an empire... hot-air ballooning amid the fairy-tale hills of Cappadocia …the building of Emperor Justinian's magnificent St. Sophia in Byzantium….the Crusades……to present day Istanbul.

Shot in Super 16mm film, Journey of Faith’s “look” is gorgeous and old-fashioned made modern with Google and animated maps to place events and places in context, while using over fifty related works of fine art from the world’s finest museums. For the audience on this “journey”, history truly comes alive!

Victoria Barrett, host and producer of the film, will be on hand for Q&A with the audience after the presentation and screening.

Library and Archives Canada

395 Wellington Street, Ottawa, ONTARIO, K1A ON4

For additional information you may contact embassy.ottawa@mfa.gov.tr or (613) 244-2479

Turkish Canadian Cultural Association
www.turk.ca 

This event is FREE and open to the public. Reception to follow. 

 

2011 CANADIAN FOLK MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEE WORLD GROUP OF THE YEAR MINOR EMPIRE with special guest Jane Bunnett "Turkish Roots meet Electronica-Psychedelia" Friday, December 2nd, Doors at 7pm National Arts Centre Fourth Stage 53 Elgin Street, At Confederation Square, Ottawa $20 Advance For tickets and info visit: National Arts Centre : www.nac-cna.ca The Turkish Canadian Cultural Association : www.turk.ca Tickets also available at: Il Mercato, 55 Byward Market Square Since releasing its debut recording, "Second Nature" in January, Toronto ensemble Minor Empire has been drawing raves for a scintillating soundscape of psychedelic rock, electronica, jazz & traditional Turkish music. Not only has "Second Nature" reached number one on several world music radio charts, but CBC Radio and Toronto Sun music columnist Errol Nazareth noted that "the CD marks an important way forward for Turkish and world music, in general." Minor empire is the brainchild of guitarist/composer/producer Ozan Boz and vocalist Ozgu Ozman. Inspired by the traditional music of their homeland of Turkey, they have forged a sound that is simultaneously contemporary and traditional, adventurous yet accessible. Fleshing out their unique sonic vision is a stellar cast of musicians including Michael Occhipinti (guitar), Chris Gartner (bass), Debashis Sinha (percussion), Ismail Hakki Fencioglu (oud), and Didem Basar (kanun). “[Second Nature] marks an important way forward for Turkish and world music, in general." (Errol Nazareth, CBC Radio One, Toronto Sun) "Minor Empire is a smart band creating intriguing sounds and melodies set to a backdrop of funky beats." (Tiina Kiik, Whole Note) "A slinky, dub-y Turkish soup of knotty rhythms, largely unsweetened. The atmosphere is successfully dreamy without being wan and its sunny moods aren't cloying. Best of all, this disc makes you want to check them out live." (David Dacks, Exclaim!) "Il s'agit bien de cela: le disque [Second Nature] propose un équilibre quasi parfait entre les climats d'intimité et les claques percussives, entre la nuit des temps et l'urbanité qui s'y fond." (Yves Bernard, Le Devoir) ___________________________________ This concert is generously supported by Ontario Arts Council. _________________________________________

Dear members of our community,

Hikmet Cetinkaya, a well-known Turkish artist, is visiting Canada to attend activities during the Veterans' Week. We are holding an event with the artist's live performance on November 17 between 7:00-9:00 p.m. in the City Hall. Participants will have a chance to win Cetinkaya's paintings he will make that night, his book, his notebooks and other small gifts through a raffle. Admission is free and everybody is welcome to join us.

Turkish Canadian Cultural Association

Address: City Hall, The Jean Pigott Hall
Date: November 17, 2011 Time: 7:00-9:00 pm

We invite everybody to celebrate the establishment of the Republic of Turkey’s 88th anniversary by attending to the flag raising ceremony, which will take place on October 29th, 2011 (Saturday morning) at 9:30 at Ottawa City Hall. As the new Board members of the Turkish Canadian Cultural Association, we would be very happy to see you in this special event.
 
Address and other information:
Date: October 29th, 2011, Saturday
Time: 9:30
Address: In front of Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa, ON K1P 1J1

The Turkish Canadian Cultural Association is very proud of welcoming our world famous artist Hande Dalkılıç in Ottawa. Dalkılıç will give a Piano Recital at the Dominion Chalmers United Church at 7 PM. 

The Turkish Canadian Cultural Association, in collaboration with the Turkish Embassy, opened a booth at the Ottawa's famous Tulip Festival. Standing among the booths of many countries from all around the world, our booth has a photo gallery where  you can see Istanbul photos in 3D and a traditional corner where you can enjoy Turkish Coffee with a delicious piece of baklava imported from Turkey. Our booth also features a marbling artist, Selat Metin, who performs exquisite drawings using the marbling technique.
 ;

We are very pleased to invite you to the screening of the second movie of Yusuf's trilogy, called Milk, whose premiere was presented at the 65. Venice Film Festival. The screening will be at the Arts Court at 7:30 PM.

Synopsis

Recent high school graduate Yusuf is uncertain about his future in the provincial countryside. Writing poetry is his greatest passion and some of his poems are starting to be published in obscure literary journals. But for the time being, he continues working in his single mother's village milk business, also with an uncertain future.

Up until now, Yusuf's widowed mother Zehra has focused all her attention on her only child. Still a young and beautiful woman, Zehra is having a discreet relationship with the town station master. His mother's affair, and his being named unfit for military service due to a childhood illness, make Yusuf even more anxious about making the sudden jump toward manhood.

Will young Yusuf be able to handle the changes in his peaceful existence? Can he survive on poetry and working alongside his mother in her small-time milk business? Or will he be forced to move to the big city or seek a job in one of the many factories threatening the unspoiled landscape?

The Turkish Canadian Association is excited to present Yusuf's trilogy during the March/April timeframe. The first film of the trilogy, Egg, will be screened at the National Library and Archives Canada at 7:30PM. The two other movies of the trilogy will soon be presented in other venues.

Synopsis
Poet Yusuf returns to his childhood hometown, which he hadn't visited for years, upon his mother's death. A young girl, Ayla awaits him in a crumbling house. Yusuf has been unaware of the existence of this distant relation who had been living with his mother for five years.

Ayla has something to ask of Yusuf . Yusuf is obliged to perform the sacrifice his mother Zehra had been prevented by death from fulfilling. Yusuf agrees as he finds himself unable to withstand the passive rhythm of rural life, the spaces imbued with the ghosts and personages of old lovers and friends, nor against the overriding feeling of guilt.

Yusuf and Ayla set off for the saint's tomb, some three or four hours away, for the traditional sacrifice ceremony. Unable to locate the herd amongst which the sacrificial animal was to be selected, they have to spend the night in a hotel by the crater lake. Yusuf and Ayla are drawn closer together by the atmosphere of the wedding party at the hotel.

While the falling snow blankets guilt, the place to which they are returning will no longer be that old town.

The Turkish Canadian Cultural Association is very proud and privileged of welcoming thw worldy known piano virtuoso Gülsin Onay in Ottawa, who will give an exquisite recital at the Dominion Chalmers United Church at 7:30 PM. 

Being honored with the title of "state artist",  Gülsin Onay is an official soloist of the Presidential Symphony Orchestra in Ankara. Her international career spanning over 64 countries and the international awards that she received such as the State Medal by the Polish Nation, are testimony to her outstanding achievements as a pianist. Mrs. Onay performed as a guest soloist with such leading orchestras as English Chamber Orchestra, Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, Vienna Symphony Orchestra and many others.

Programme

Joseph HaydnAndante con variazioni, F minor, Hob.XVII no.6
Franz Schubert Sonata in C minor op. posth. D958
- Allegro
- Adagio
- Menuetto: Allegro
- Allegro

INTERVAL

Ahmed Adnan Saygun       Sonatine op.15 (1937)
- Allegro
- Adagio, con moto
- Horon (Prestissimo)

Franz LisztConcert study no.2 "La Leggierezza"

The Turkish-Canadian Cultural Association invites you to a documentary-film screening at the National Library and Archives (Ottawa, ON) on the 3rd of February 2011 at 7:00p.m.

This documentary, the Lost Songs of Anatolia, will be the first of a series of film screening events that we are going to organize during the March/April time frame. We are sure that you will enjoy this exquisite documentary, not only because of breathtaking scenes from Anatolia, but also due to the amazing collection of music.

Synopsis
A musical voyage between exotic places and people of Anatolia, home of the world’s unique land of ancient civilizations, imperial governments as well as myths and glory spanning more than 10 millenniums. As a documentary-musical film, Lost Songs of Anatolia is maybe the first example of its kind. Authentic performances by Anatolian people, recorded live on location without any rehearsal, are re-arranged as 20 incomparable songs, whereas certain performances have remained intact. While this journey shows how music and culture is derived from life, geography and work, an exploration of Anatolia’s versatile cultures takes place on a basis of music, dance and rituals. The staggering environment surrounding these people and influencing their lifestyles contribute to the lyrical flow of the film.

Hikmet Çetinkaya, whose paintings have been exhibited at the Canadian War Museum since April 19, 2010, was with us for a live performance and a philosophy of art workshop on the 14th of November 2010.

He exemplified his art style using three different modeling techniques with three sets of colours. Beside his wonderful performance, Mr. Çetinkaya also accepted questions from the enthusiastic audience during his performance and interacted with all of us. For the English speaking audience attending the event, a member of the Turkish-Canadian Cultural Association, Mrs. Emel Yongacioglu, translated simultaneously as Mr. Cetinkaya told his journey
of art. In the 3-hour-long session with a coffee break, 28 interested participants attended. At the end of the event, Mr. Çetinkaya has kindly donated his artwork to a lucky participant who has been selected by lottery. We would like to thank him, not only for his endless generosity in his donations, but also for this beautiful volunteer-based event.

Who is Hikmet Cetinkaya?

The artist graduated from Ankara Gazi University, Faculty of Education, Department of Painting in 1982. He received his primary and secondary education in Denizli. After undertaking some research on painting methods, he established his own workshop. Afterwards, he founded an art house called Arc-en-Ciel in Paris. He established 51 solo exhibitions. (9 of them were abroad.) He participated in over 400 group exhibitions. Currently, he continues his work in Paris and in Ankara.

The Turkish Canadian Cultural Association organized a comprehensive remembrance event for the founder of the Republic of Turkey, an unforgettable and brave leader who passed away in Istanbul on November 10, 1938.

The event attracted many people from both Ottawa and neighboring areas, and began with a speech by the President, Mr. Erdem Özcan. After a short video screening, courtesy of Kayseri Erciyes University, on the urban developments and life of M. Kemal Ataturk, Prof. Dr. Murat Saatçioğlu (Ottawa University, Engineering Faculty) gave a very interesting speech about “Ataturk’s Planned Country”. There was full participation and keen interest. We would like to thank all of our members and guests for your attendance and support.