Quick Facts
Place of Origin: Türkiye is located between Western Asia and Southeastern Europe.
Religion: 99.8% of persons living in Türkiye are Muslims and 0.2% are Christians.
Population: 82 million
(Primary) Language: Turkish – 90% of the population
(Secondary) Languages: Kurdish, Zazaki, and Arabic
Other Information:
- Turkish Flag Symbolism: The red colour commemorates the blood of soldiers who risked their lives to save the government. The crescent and the star are Islamic symbols.
- Turkish immigrants to Vancouver come from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. Because Türkiye exists at the centre of major trade routes, families have origins in Europe, the Middle East or Asia. While their ethnic diversity enables them to adapt to Canadian culture, it also makes maintaining their Turkish identity more challenging.
- Most immigrants speak Turkish; however, there are also a significant number of Kurdish speaking Turks in the greater Vancouver area, with a dialect distinct from other Kurdish speaking peoples.
When did Turkish Muslims first come to Canada?
- Early Turkish migration to Canada focused on Ontario, Quebec, and BC, with many immigrants attending Canadian universities.
- The first census data recording a Turkish individual in Vancouver is from 1901.
- The Turkish Canadian Society was established in Vancouver in 1963.
- Turkish migration has increased in the last 10-20 years.
- While official numbers state there are about 4500 Turkish immigrants, estimates in their community place the numbers between 7000 and 8000. More recently (last 1-3 years), Turks have been arriving as refugees. The majority of these belong to a group called Gülen, or Hizmet, which is considered a cult in Türkiye.
Where do Turkish Muslims live in the Lower Mainland?
- Turkish Canadians are scattered throughout the Lower Mainland. They live in Vancouver, North Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Port Moody, Port Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, Surrey and Abbotsford.
- While some have sought out affordable housing options, others, especially more established families, have stable housing.
What are Turkish Muslims' lives like?
- Many Gülen Turks have ties to other countries (Kenya, Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, China) through work connections prior to becoming refugees. They often speak several languages.
- Many Gülen Turks are educated, and some held high profile positions before becoming refugees. Most have not been able to return to their previous professions.
- Many have been rejected by their families back home.
- Many become Uber drivers!
What do Turkish Muslims believe?
- More recent refugees tend to be conservative Sunni, maintaining conservative faith practices (wearing hijabs, honouring prayer times, and upholding strict foods laws (e.g. halal).
- Many refugees may also identify as Gülen/Hizmet, a movement originating in Türkiye that teaches Muslims to reject “politicized doctrine and an “us vs. them” approach to Islamic teaching, and instead stresses the importance of living Islam through sincerity, honesty, personal piety, and through selfless service to others through modern civil society.”
