Official Date and Time Set: TS2023 Families to Gather at Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square for Historic Walk Send-Off!

TORONTO — The official launch date, time, and departure point for the highly anticipated 450-kilometer awareness walk from Toronto to Ottawa have been officially announced. Under the banner "We wrote. We asked. Now we walk," the TS2023 Civil Initiative has revealed details for the grand send-off ceremony, which will mark the beginning of a historic journey to advocate for work permit extensions for Turkish and Syrian temporary residents.

Official Send-Off Details Announced

Supporters, community members, and allies are invited to gather in the heart of Toronto to show solidarity and send off Sefika Ozlem Yaman Sahin as she begins her long trek to the nation's capital. The schedule for the launch event is as follows:

• Date: Sunday, July 19, 2026

• Gathering Time: 12:00 PM (Noon)

• Walk Begins: 1:00 PM

• Location: Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto (In front of City Hall)

Organizers are calling on the public to join the rally in large numbers to amplify their collective voice. "Bring your family, bring a sign, bring your voice. Join us for the send-off!" the initiative urged in its official announcement.

A Peaceful Step for Belonging and Contribution

During the event, Sahin will carry a symbolic sealed envelope containing the community's official policy proposals to be delivered directly to Ottawa's decision-makers. The walk represents the determination of thousands of engineers, healthcare workers, educators, and business owners who arrived in Canada following the devastating February 6, 2023 earthquake and have since built deep roots in the country.

Demonstrators at the send-off will carry messages highlighting their three-year journey of integration, with slogans such as "We are here. We belong. We contribute," "Families belong together," and "Three years of building a life. Thank you, Canada." The peaceful march aims to foster a humanitarian dialogue with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to secure a stable path forward for these vulnerable families.

Support the Journey: GoFundMe Campaign Active

To sustain a demanding 450-kilometer trek, the organizers require continuous community support for logistics, accommodation, safety, and medical emergency resources.

The official GoFundMe campaign remains active to cover these critical costs and fund the grand rally at Parliament Hill. Supporters can scan the official QR code on the campaign flyers or visit ts2023.ca to make a financial contribution or help spread the campaign's message.