Ilyas Halil
Ilyas Halil | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 May 1930 Adana, Turkey |
| Died | 23 April 2025 (aged 94) Westmount, Montreal, Canada |
| Occupation(s) | Financial executive, writer, poet |
| Years active | 1950–2000 (financial career until 2000; writing active beyond) |
| Known for | Senior management role at Abu Dhabi Investment Authority; Turkish and Canadian poetry and literature |
Ilyas Halil (1 May 1930 – 23 April 2025) was a Canadian financial executive, writer, and poet who held a senior management role at the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority from 1979 until 2000.
Early life
Born in Adana, Turkey, İlyas Halil came from a humble Greek Catholic background with Lebanese and Syrian roots. He grew up within the Christian minority community of Mersin and attended Tarsus American College, where he acquired proficiency in English. Following the passing of his mother when he was 17, Halil took on various jobs—including road construction—to support his younger siblings.
Poetry and art
Halil actively participated in Turkey’s literary scene and worked alongside prominent artists such as painter Nuri Abaç, whose artwork adorned some of his book covers. He earned acclaim for his unique storytelling approach and satirical voice through contributions to newspapers and literary magazines.
His early poetry collections comprise:
- Hal ve Hayal (Fact and Fantasy, 1950)
- Mürdüm Dalı (Damson Branch, 1953)
- Yalandır Herhalde (It’s a Lie, Probably, 1959)
After relocating to Canada in 1964, he resumed publishing from 1983 onwards with titles including:
- Doyumsuz Göz (Discontented Eye, 1983)
- Çıplak Yula (Naked Yula, 1985)
- İt Avı (Dog Hunt, 1987)
- Boyansın Ramazan (Shoeshine Ramadan, 1989)
- İskambil Evler (House of Cards, 1991)
- Kiralık Mabet (Temple for Rent, 1993)
- Sarhoş Çimenler (The Drunken Grass, 1995)
- Gâvur Memur Aranıyor (Wanted: Infidel Employees, 1999)
- Körler Bahçesi (Garden for the Blind, 2004)
- Agap Çiçeği (The Agape Flower, 2006)
- Gâvur Aşevi (Infidel’s Restaurant, 2007)
- Chagall Yıllarım (My Chagall Years, 2008)
- Plaza Dona Elvira (Plaza Dona Elvira, 2009)
- Ebel’in Duası (Ebel’s Prayer, 2011)
- Salkımlar Ülkesi Salkımya (Two Grapes on a Cluster, 2013)
Translations of Halil’s work have broadened his global audience, appearing in English, French, Arabic, Greek, and Chinese. His piece It Takes Sixty-Five Years of Waiting was rendered into Greek by former ambassador Dimitris Iliopoulos and published by the European Art Center in Athens. Subsequently, this and other volumes were issued in English by Veniard Press in Montreal. Arabic and French editions were released in 2002.
His short stories found translations into Arabic and Chinese; additionally, one poem was musically adapted in Ukraine. Multiple story compilations were published in English by Southmoor Studios and the University of Utah Press.
Art remained a significant aspect of Halil’s life; he maintained an extensive collection that required dedicated storage space at home.
Banking career
In 1964, İlyas Halil emigrated to Winnipeg, Canada with his wife and eldest daughter to begin working at the Bank of Montreal as a junior employee earning a monthly salary of 200 Canadian dollars. Following the arrival of his second daughter in 1967, the family moved to Montreal after Halil received a promotion within the bank.
Three years after its establishment in 1979, Halil joined the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), a sovereign wealth fund managed by the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Rising to the position of senior manager, he was responsible for managing investments derived from the emirate’s excess oil revenues on behalf of its government. Halil became noted for adopting aggressive investment approaches that drew international financial interest. He retired at age 70 in the year 2000.
Personal life
Following his retirement, Halil resettled in Montreal.
He was united in marriage with Irene Kosker, who hailed from a distinguished Armenian lineage and received her education at a French Catholic boarding institution in Lebanon. Although her social circle initially viewed Halil’s modest background with some doubt, the couple went on to have four daughters.
The family surname was originally “Khalil,” reflecting their Lebanese origins. In response to Atatürk’s reforms encouraging the adoption of Turkish language and culture, the name was changed to “Halil” to facilitate assimilation and diminish prejudice, aligning with efforts to foster national cohesion.
Numerous family members established themselves in professions such as medicine, law, business, literature, international diplomacy with the UN, academia, and engineering.
Halil passed away on 23 April 2025 in Westmount, Montreal, surrounded by his loved ones.
Honors & awards
Halil’s contributions are documented within the official records of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, confirming his esteemed position in Turkey’s contemporary literary scene.
In June 2012, the Akdeniz Municipal Council unanimously decided to rename Street 4302 in Mersin’s Kiremithane district as İlyas Halil Street, commemorating his impact as a poet and writer closely connected to the city. Although there were earlier proposals to assign his name to a major avenue, this street renaming garnered support from four political parties and widespread community endorsement. In October 2013, Halil visited Mersin accompanied by his eldest daughter and his childhood friend Dr. Gabriel Muruve to view the street named after him. During this visit, then-mayor Fazıl Türk hosted him and presented a plaque along with the official municipal decree. The plaque features verses from Halil’s poetry, symbolizing the intertwining of his literary heritage with Mersin’s cultural identity.
The İlyas Halil Öykü Ödülü (Ilyas Halil Short Story Award) is an annual literary accolade initiated by the Mersin Art & Literature Association to celebrate Halil’s legacy and encourage emerging creative talent within Turkish literature.