Consul General Anil Bora Inan (centre) and guests at the opening ceremony of the Turkish Consulate in Vancouver. | Photo courtesy of Anil Bora Inan
On Oct. 29, 2015, Turkish Republic Day, Vancouver celebrated the opening of the first Turkish Consulate to exist on the West Coast of Canada. During the ceremony, the newly appointed Consul General of the Republic of Turkey in Vancouver, Anil Bora Inan, also commemorated the 92nd Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic.
The Turkish Consulate opening in Vancouver is part of a larger initiative of Turkey expanding its diplomatic and consular presence around the world to reach its community members living abroad. Members at the opening ceremony said they will not only enjoy proper Turkish representation on the West Coast of Canada, but also no longer having to travel to get their visas renewed.
Expanding Turkish culture for communities abroad
One of Vancouver’s greatest appeals to Turkish citizens are the educational opportunities offered here.
“There are several hundred Turkish students that are receiving the best possible education,” says Consul General Inan, adding that he is confident the students will greatly contribute to good relations between Canada and Turkey.
Developing mutually beneficial relationships for both countries in regards to tourism, aviation and education is high on the Consul General’s list of things to do. Initiating the arrangement of direct flights between Vancouver and Istanbul is one of many steps he hopes to take in order to build a strong bridge between the two countries.
Consul General Inan also has plans to promote various cultural projects in the Turkish community of Vancouver, and would like to see the launch of several Turkish cultural activities to do with music, art and handicraft exhibitions, and a well-established Turkish Culture Festival.
“This is a long expected project in the minds of many Turkish Canadians, and I will do my best to help them achieve this goal,” he says.
The Consul General is a strong supporter of the upcoming Vancouver Turkish Film Festival, and believes that it is a very important publicity event for Turkey, as it provides a venue for Turkish Canadians to reconnect with their contemporary culture. The Vancouver Turkish Film Festival is part of a series of other film festivals held in Montreal and Toronto under the banner of Golden Horn, and supported by the Minisitry of Culture of The Republic of Turkey.
“Turkey is proud to boast about its rich cultural heritage,” says Consul General Inan, who found that the level of Turkish community integration in Vancouver is strong, but members remain loyal to their cultural backgrounds.
Parallels between Turkey and Canada
At the Consulate’s opening ceremony | Photo by Evelyn Young.
According to Consul General Inan, both Canada and Turkey have a legacy of providing a safe haven for immigrants. Turkey has been home to many communities seeking protection from persecution and, right now, there is now a large influx of Syrians crossing the border into Turkey.
According to the Consul General the differences in social and cultural traditions in Canada and Turkey help to contribute to the enrichment of their social fabric, with both countries sharing the commonality of multicultural harmony. Consul General Inan believes that Canada and Turkey compliment one another and he will be exploring how both countries can benefit from this relationship.
The Consul General sees the opening of the Vancouver Turkish Consulate as an opportunity to build on the economic relations between Turkey and British Columbia, in particular. Both places have a lot to offer and receive in regards to the economy and energy, and compliment each other well in this regard.
“Representation is vital in the West Coast for exploring the commercial, financial and economic opportunities,” says the Consul General, along with continuing to develop the cultural avenues for Turkish Canadians.
