Vancouver’s claim to fame, according to Turkish Ambassador to Canada, Selcuk Unal, is that it was first – the first city to establish a Turkish Canadian Society, back in 1963.
In town for Turkish Republic Day celebrations, Ambassador Unal discusses how a coincidental family fact along with tourism, a diverse palate and strong educational opportunities bring his home country and Vancouver closer together.
Family ties
Turkish people started to come to Vancouver in large numbers during the 1960s, including Ambassador Unal’s parents. From 1967 to 1969, his mother worked at the Shaughnessy Hospital and his father was an engineer at UBC.
“It’s a nice coincidence,” says Ambassador Unal, 43, about this connection to Vancouver, which happened before he was born.
“I was born and raised with their warm memories of the people in Vancouver and [Turkish people] share the same values of family, democracy and multiculturalism,” he adds.
Ambassador Unal sees numerous parallels between Canada and Turkey. He notes that like Canadians, the Turkish people are also a melting pot of different cultures. The centuries-old nation draws from many influences: Persian, Mediterranean and European.
“Modern Turkey is based on a secular, democratic and pluralistic society,” Ambassador
Unal says.
Selcuk Unal, Turkish Ambassador to Canada, is welcomed by Governor General David Johnston. | Photo courtesy of Turkish Embassy to Canada
Destination: Turkey
He also notes that Turkey has been rising in popularity as a tourist destination in the last decade. More than 200,000 Canadian tourists visit his home country every year.
“Canadians are outward looking. They like to travel and prefer a different place to see,” says Ambassador Unal.
Turkey can be a place for cultural, religious or historical tourism.
“There’s a lot for people to see depending on what they want –Istanbul is a case in point as it’s going back to Byzantine times and even before then. We have to mention the food of course,” says Ambassador Unal.
Many people think of Turkish food as putting kebabs on the table but Ambassador Unal notes that this is not the case. Turkish food is a reflection of its history and influence from other cultures. For example, Turkish meatballs came from the Balkans and a lot of fish-based dishes are also found in nations such as Ukraine and Bulgaria.
Turkish cuisine is more vegetable-based, with tomatoes being one of the most commonly used ingredients.
“We don’t have sauce in the Turkish kitchen, [so tomatoes are used],” says Ambassador Unal, who also adds that cucumbers, eggplant and herbs such as thyme are commonly found in Turkish cuisine.
Destination: Vancouver
As increasing numbers of Canadians head to Turkey to enjoy its sights and foods, many Turkish people are drawn to Vancouver as well.
Ambassador Unal says that education in Vancouver, especially at the University of British Columbia, is a big draw for Turkish people. Some students who choose to study in Canada, particularly Vancouver, decide to stay permanently. It is also an attractive destination for visiting professors, including UBC Engineering professor Yusuf Altintas, who was awarded Turkey’s top science and engineering award for his research in 2013.
Turkish-Canadian families living in Vancouver also want their children to learn French, says Ambassador Unal. Enrollment in immersion programs have grown in popularity. The lingua franca in Turkey about two centuries ago was French and the Turkish language has retained a few French words including: école (school), rendez-vous (meeting) and lycée (high-school).
Having studied and learnt English back in Istanbul, Ambassador Unal says education and promoting public diplomacy and public policy are keys in strengthening ties between nations. He hopes to arrange more cultural, historical and folklore events, such as public talks, roundtable conferences and university initiatives such as teaching Turkish language classes.
“I’d like to come here to Vancouver again and show Canadian society our culture,” says Ambassador Unal.
