On April 4, the commemorative event in remembrance of the fallen soldiers of Canada & Turkey in World War I was held at Gonzaga High School with the participation of Honourable Perry Trimper. The event started with a two-minute silence for paying tribute to the fallen soldiers of Turkey and Canada in World War I. Afterwards, Honourable Perry Trimper and the history teacher of Gonzaga High School Dave Welshman addressed the participants respectively.
Following the speeches, “In the flower of their youth” movie about the fallen students & teachers of the Turkish schools during the wars was screened with English subtitles. The cast of the movie is comprised of the students and teachers of Kabatas High School.Then the music teacher of our school Ali Salih Köse and the students Selin Ünal and Deniz Chousein performed the songs as follows;
1. “Çanakkale içinde vurdular beni” (they shot me inside Çanakkale) song was sung in remembrance of the fallen students, teachers and soldiers of Turkey at the Battle of Gallipoli, and the other battles of World War I.
2. “You are not alone” & “Heal the world” songs of Michael Jackson were be sung in memory of the fallen soldiers & people of both countries during the Battle of Gallipoli & the other battles of World War I.
3. “Ah bir ataş ver” song will be sung in memory of the fallen crew of Ocean Ranger oil drilling rig and the Dumlupınar submarine.
4. “Bir Başkadır Benim Memleketim” song was sung for a better and more peaceful world.
5. “The fields of Athenry” song was sung in memory of the victims of the Great Famine in Ireland & the Irish people who emigrated to Canada due to Great Hunger.
6.“In Flanders field” & “Soldiers cry” songs were sung in memory of the fallen soldiers of Canada in World War I.
On the occasion of the event, tree donations made in memory of the Canadian & Turkish soldiers who lost their lives in World War I were presented to Ms Debbie Howse, the principal of Gonzaga High School and Honourable Perry Trimper, Speaker of the House of Assembly of Newfoundland & Labrador.
After the programme at Gonzaga High School, the students and teachers of both schools had the opportunity to attend the distinguished event “Speech from the Throne” delivered by Her Honour Judy Foote, Lieutenant Governor, upon the invitation of Honourable Perry Trimper.
The Rooms building which is Newfoundland and Labrador’s largest public cultural space and home to its most extensive collection of artifacts, art and archival records was visited by the group on the same day. The First World War had a profound impact on Newfoundland and Labrador. It involved thousands of NFL people in world-changing events overseas and dramatically altered life at home. The exhibition in the Rooms building shares the thoughts, hopes, fears, and sacrifices of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who experienced those tumultuous years – through their treasured mementoes, their writings and their memories.
The students and teachers of both schools received a very warm welcome by Her Honour Judy Foote, Lieutenant Governor, at Government House. Furthermore, the group took a tour of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment Museum serving to preserve and interpret the history of The Royal Newfoundland Regiment from 1795 to present day of all units and watch the Regiment band in rehearsal. The group arrived Ottawa in the evening of April 5.
On April 6, the students and teachers of Kabatas High School paid tribute to the martryed Colonel Atilla Altıkat, Military Attaché of the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Ottawa, by visiting the Fallen Diplomats Monument in Ottawa . Afterwards the group visited the Canadian Parliament with the support of the Honourable Geoff Regan, the Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada. The group attended the breakfast hosted by the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey in Ottawa H.E. Kerim Uras at the residential complex of the embassy on April 7.
On April 8, the group took a day trip to Niagara Falls, which is one of the world's most beautiful natural landmarks. The Consul-General of the Republic of Turkey in Toronto H.E Erdeniz Şen and Education Attache Mr Bülent Çiftçi received the group at the Consulate building on April 9. The high schools and universities in Canada were visited by the group in order to learn more about the education system in the course of the visit to Canada between April 2 - 10.
Newfoundland Regiment at the Battle of Gallipoli
The Newfoundlanders were the only North American troops at Gallipoli, fighting alongside British and ANZAC - Australian and New Zealand Army Corps - forces.
Newfoundland wasn't a part of Canada in 1914. When the call for troops came it was its own dominion, and hundreds of young men rushed to enlist. By September 1915, more than 1,000 Newfoundlanders had landed in Gallipoli and 40 soldiers from Newfoundland lost their lives during the Battle of Gallipoli.
NOTE: The commemorative concert in Canada was performed by the music band of Kabatas High School with the sponsorship of WCEP Turkey Educational Consultant Company on April 4, 2019. All of the expenses of our visit to Canada between April 2 - 10, 2019 were covered by the aforementioned company. As the students & teachers of Kabatas High School, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to WCEP Turkey Educational Consultant Company in supporting us for the visit to Canada in memory of the fallen soldiers & people of Canada & Turkey in World War I.
April 2 - 10, 2019
