Aylin Peser – Dot Painting
January 17, 2026

Since the dot painting workshop held last February was well-received, our mandala artist, Aylin Peser, has prepared a new workshop on the theme of the Evil Eye, to bring us together with the fresh energy of the new year.

In this two-hour workshop, we will combine the protective symbol of the evil eye with the calming and meditative effect of the dot mandala technique, and experience a pleasant activity that relaxes our minds by gradually flowing with the rhythm of the dots.

You don’t need any painting experience or materials to participate in these workshops; just come and have a wonderful experience that will soothe your soul.

Date and Time: ​Saturday, January17
First session: 11.00 am – 1.00 pm (limited to 10 people)
Second session: 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm (limited to 10 people)

Location: ​​​Ankara Library
​​​1608 O’Connor Dr, Toronto, ON M4B 3N5

Participation Fee: $60 (materials included)

Note: The number of participants is limited to 10 people per session. To participate in our event, you can send your application by email to info@ankarakitapligi.org, specifying your name, the session you wish to attend, and the number of people in your group. Since the number of participants is limited, registrations will be taken in order of application. If you register but are unable to attend, please inform us as soon as possible so that we can make room for other participants.

Necati Onat – Book Presentation
December 21, 2025

A Turk Adorning Toronto Streets

We launched the book Art From Istanbul to Toronto, which brings together the unique works of the great master Necati Onat, who left deep traces in both countries during his artistic journey from Turkey to Canada, and who, despite his magnificent talent, always maintained a humble demeanor.

Professor Dr. Aysan Sev’er, who edited and narrated the book, describes this master artist with the words, “If we were to compare Necati’s works in different art fields with classical music, we could say sonatas for Istanbul ferries, arias for Turkish epics, concertos for his posters, symphonies for his horses and ballerinas, and short waltzes for his logos.”

At this book launch event, we witnessed together Necati Onat’s vast artistic universe, ranging from Bosphorus ferries to Turkish epics, from masks to logos, from ballerinas to horses.

Esin Akalın – New Book Launch and Interview
December 13, 2025

Dr. Esin Akalın, who published her new novel, Shakespeare Sevdası (Shakespeare Love), in August, was with us for a talk about her book and to meet with her readers.

In this masterful combination of fantasy and history, Ms. Akalın establishes a dialogue between eras and generations through Shakespeare, allowing her readers to journey through time and memory. The timeless passions of six generations of Shakespeare-loving women stretch from Istanbul to Mesopotamia, and from there to London and America.

Fidan Film Screening
November 19, 2025

Fidan, which won the “Best Editing” and “Best Supporting Actress” awards at the 61st International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival and three other awards at the 11th Cinema D’iDEA Women’s Film Festival, was presented by our library, with the participation of its director, Mr. Ayçıl Yeltan.

All proceeds from this special film screening, with contributions from the Bridge To Turkey Fund, were channeled towards the education of girls in the Payda Association’s scholarship program, which currently provides educational support to nearly 500 students in 11 provinces across Turkey.

Event with Sedef Kabaş
October 30, 2025

On the 102nd anniversary of the Turkish Republic Day, October 29, we were honored to host one of the most acclaimed journalists on screen—Dr. Sedef Kabaş, recipient of numerous prestigious awards including “Brave Heart,” “Leading Woman,” “Language Association Honor Award,” “Journalist of the Year,” and “Woman Leader.”

Drawing from her latest book Yandığın Ateş Yoluna Işık Olur (The Fire That Burns You Lights Your Path), Dr. Kabaş shared powerful examples and personal stories that illuminate the invincibility of every struggle guided by courage, resilience, and grace.

Meeting Dilek Livaneli
May 4, 2025

Dilek Livaneli, the first Turkish teacher to be recognized among the world’s top 50 educators for the Global Teacher Prize—often called the “Nobel Prize of Education”—was the speaker at our event in Toronto. She shared her remarkable journey from a village school to the global stage, offering a powerful testament to the transformative power of hope and perseverance.

As part of the event, Dilek Livaneli also signed copies of her book, Bir Dilek Yetmez (One Wish Is Not Enough), which she wrote to uplift and inspire thousands around the world.

We celebrated International Women’s Day by hosting the esteemed writer Professor Gönül Bakay
March 09, 2025

In her book “Delirtilen Kadınlar” – “Women Driven to Madness”, Bakay addresses how women were silenced by being ‘driven mad’ in English and American literature, sharing with us the overlooked face of women’s history with the depth of an academic study.

At Ankara Library, we believe in making women more visible in the world of literature and thought, rather than ignoring them. We take pride in celebrating this journey with you in our 25th year and hope to meet again in our future events.

Nermin Bezmen Conversation and Book Launch Event: – January 18, 2025

We hosted our first event of the year on January 18, 2025. At our opening celebration, we welcomed miniature artist, printmaker, decorative artist, restorer, and author Nermin Bezmen as our guest. She introduced her two books, “TEO” and “TOLGAMA HASRET MEKTUPLARI”.