History of The Turkish Canadian Friendship Society of Vancouver Island
On May 18, 1995 a group of Turkish Canadians from the Victoria area arranged a picnic at the Elk Lake (Eagle Beach) covered picnic area.Turkish people from Vancouver and Nanaimo joined the Victoria group to enjoy a picnic on a hot summer day. It was the largest outdoor gathering before the Society was officially formed. At that picnic they talked about forming a society. Salih Cinar agreed to work on this idea as a project.He set about researching how to form a society to include the entire Vancouver Island.
On September 18, 1995, the Turkish Ambassador to Canada, the Honorable Omer Ersun visited Victoria and met for the first time with members of the Turkish Community.The Ambassador suggested that we form the planned Society as soon as possible and become a member of the Federation of the Canadian Turkish Associations (Toronto).Salih prepared a constitution and applied for a society. To avoid confusion with the Vancouver Society, it was agreed that the Society’s name would be registered as The Vancouver Island Turkish Canadian Friendship Society.The Society became officially registered on September 28, 1995.
The Society continued to hold social functions and worked diligently to arrange events including public art exhibitions featuring Turkish artists.Salih Cinar held the position of president for the first five years.Mr. Kemal Cancar was elected the next president. Following Mr. Cancar, Erdem Yazganoglu was president for two successive years. Salih Cinar was elected president again at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in late 2004.Due to health reasons, he resigned in the Summer of 2005. In October of 2005, Ozan Peksoy was elected president with a new board of directors during an extra ordinary meeting of the members.Mr. Peksoy resigned as president in February 2006, and the president’s role was assumed by the elected vice-president, Caner Budakoglu. Tolga Habali was elected president at the AGM December 2006.The AGM in December 2007 saw the election of Engin Turan.
Also the AGM in December 2007 aggred on cahnge of the society name as "Turkish Canadian Friendship Society of Vancouver Island" and the name change is registered and confirmed as of February'2008.
