Past Events

The Canadian Association of Crimean Tatars, together with Crimean Tatar Heritage Canada, was honoured to participate in the BWV Toronto Ukrainian Festival 2026!

We shared Crimean Tatar culture through traditional coffee and qurabiye, a Basma workshop, and a selection of books, ceramics, jewellery, and cultural merchandise.

We were also proud to welcome two speakers: Alina Dochu, representing the Canadian Association of Crimean Tatars, who spoke about the impact of Russian colonial policy on Crimean Tatars, and Elmira Kataki representing Crimean Tatar Heritage Canada, who introduced the history and traditions of Crimean Tatar national costume.

A heartfelt thank you to the BWV Toronto Ukrainian Festival for welcoming us, and to all our wonderful volunteers who helped make our participation possible.

Thank you to everyone who visited, learned, listened, enjoyed our traditional coffee and qurabiye, and supported Crimean Tatar culture!

On September 13, in the heart of High Park, Toronto, we gathered around a book that opened a door to Crimea.

Together with Book&Talk and The Native Book, we explored Anastasiia Levkova’s There Is Land Beyond Perekop (“За Перекопом є земля”) and what made the afternoon truly special was everything that happened beyond the pages.

We heard personal stories from people who have their own memories and connections to Crimea, and from those who have never been there but discovered it through the book, its people, culture, traditions, and the living heritage of the Crimean Tatars.

There were conversations over traditional Crimean Tatar coffee and sweets, the sounds of Jamala’s Qirim in the background, and a warm atmosphere surrounded by the trees of High Park ☕️📖🌿

Thank you to everyone who joined us and shared their stories, thoughts and curiosity. And thank you to our wonderful partners for bringing people together around such an important story.

We left with even more questions, more books to read, and so much more we want to share about Crimea.

This was just one conversation. There are many more ahead.

Until the next one 💙

On August 22, we were honoured to represent Crimean Tatar culture and share our heritage with the community at the Ukraine’s Independence Day Festival. Our booth became a space for meaningful conversations, new connections, and discovering the history and traditions of the Crimean Tatar people — an integral part of Ukraine’s past and present.

A sincere thank you to the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Toronto Branch, for bringing everyone together and creating a space where Ukrainian culture, diversity, and community could be celebrated.

Crimea was, is, and will always be Ukraine.

This year, we celebrated Crimean Tatar Flag Day both on the water and on land.

We ran, cycled, paddled, gathered with our families for a picnic, met new friends, shared conversations, and celebrated our heritage together.

The Crimean Tatar flag flew proudly over the shoreline, across the water, and in the hearts of everyone who joined us.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who attended, volunteered, contributed, and helped make this event possible. A special thank you to our speakers for sharing their words and reminding us of the meaning behind our flag and the values it represents.

When we stand together, we are unstoppable. Together, we preserve our culture, support one another, and keep hope alive for the day when the Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian flags will once again fly side by side over a free Crimea.

Happy Crimean Tatar Flag Day!

On May 18, we gathered for “Remembering the Crimean Tatar Genocide of 1944” to honour the memory of the victims of the Soviet deportation and reflect on the past and present realities faced by the Crimean Tatar people.

The event brought together community members, supporters, and friends in a shared moment of remembrance, solidarity, and reflection. Through a documentary screening, live Crimean Tatar music, guest speakers, and a photo exhibition, we remembered the tragedy of 1944 while also raising awareness about the ongoing persecution and occupation of Crimea today.

Thank you to everyone who joined us. We remember those who were lost. We honour those who survived. We continue to stand for truth, justice, and a free Crimea.

On March 28, we gathered for the first-ever Crimean Tatar Poetry Night in Canada.

The room was absolutely packed, filled with an energy that felt like a warm embrace. For 90 minutes, we were transported across the ocean to the heart of Crimea. Through the power of spoken word, the soul-stirring melodies of our music, and the raw, beautiful memories shared by those who have lived there, our guests felt the spirit of the peninsula in every breath.

With Sincere Gratitude

To our Host: KUMF Gallery, Ukrainian Canadian Art Foundation in Toronto, for welcoming us into such a meaningful space.

To our Media Partners: Kontakt TV and UCC Toronto for helping us share this journey with a wider audience.

To our Donors: The Tryzub Gala Foundation for your generous support of our community.

To our artists and volunteers: who poured their souls into every performance, and who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make the evening seamless.

Our poetry night wasn’t just about words — it was about feelings, memories, and true hospitality. We welcomed our guests with traditional Crimean Tatar coffee brewed in a dzhezve, warm tea, and homemade sweets. Among them were djevizli boynuzchyklar — delicate pastries filled with walnuts, buttery kurabye, and şeker qıyıq — traditional “sugar scarves” that carry both sweetness and history.

The rich aroma of coffee drifted through the room, softly blending with music and poetry, wrapping everyone in a warm, intimate atmosphere.

That evening proved that culture is a “Living Code” that no distance can break. Thank you to everyone who came, listened, and remembered with us.