An event called "Mehmet Akif, Poetry, Memory and Identity" was organized by Toronto Yunus Emre Institute within the scope of Mehmet Akif Ersoy Commemoration Week.

An exhibition, conference and poetry reading event were held in the program hosted by Toronto Yunus Emre Institute under the auspices of the Consulate General of the Republic of Türkiye in Toronto.

The event, started with the opening speeches of the Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in Toronto Can Yoldaş and Toronto Yunus Emre Institute Coordinator Bülent Üçpunar.

In the continuation of the program, the opening of the photography exhibition consisting of different periods of Mehmet Akif Ersoy's life, prepared by Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University  Lecturer Ozan Güvendi, was held.

In the exhibition, the illustration portrait work prepared by Assoc. Prof. from Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Murat Kara and Hasan Aycın's "Mehmet Akif Drawing" were featured.

A conference titled "Memory and Identity in Mehmet Akif" was given by the Cultural Attaché Consulate General of the Republic of Türkiye in Toronto, Ankara University Faculty Member Assoc. Dr. Selçuk Erincik.

Within the framework of the theme "Mehmet Akif, Poetry, Memory and Identity", Assoc. Dr. Selçuk Erincik emphasized the reminding function of art and discussed the role of Akif's poetry and life in the construction of memory and national identity.

Selçuk Erincik emphasized that Mehmet Akif wrote all his poems for his homeland and flag and that the duty of art in this way consists of reminding the "essence, values and independence".

Stating that the Independence March is one of the most beautiful poems of Turkish literature, far beyond being a national anthem Assoc. Professor  Selçuk Erincik underlined that Akif was a well-equipped intellectual who was knowledgeable about the issues of his age. Erincik emphasized that Akif devoted both his life and his art not to self-realization, but to the self-realization of his nation.

After the conference, the program continued with the poems read by the students of the "Native Turkish Class" of Toronto Yunus Emre Institute.

After the Consul General Can Yoldaş of the Republic of Türkiye in Toronto and North Macedonia’s Consul General to Toronto Sead Sadıkovsky presented gifts to the students, artist Samet Tekin sang "Çanakkale Folk Song".

The event titled "Mehmet Akif, Poetry, Memory and Identity" ended with serving delicacies from Turkish cuisine.