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EESTI ELU reedel, 17. juunil 2022 — Friday, June 17, 2022
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Thomas Pajur, President of Vancouveri Eesti Selts, Linda Jansons, representing the Latvian community, and Algis Jaugelis, President of Lithuanians of B.C.
Vancouver Estonians support Ukrainian cause On May 28, 2022, members of the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian communities of the lower mainland gathered at Meie Kodu in Vancouver for a fundraising dinner in support for Ukraine. Jointly organized by the three Baltic communities, the event helped to raise just under $5k for the Maple Hope Foundation – a Canadian non-profit organi zation founded in 2014, help ing Ukraine and Ukrainians suffering from war. Guests were treated to a traditional Ukrainian dinner and live music of Pavel Rhyzlovsky & members of the Vancouver Folk Orchestra. They also heard patriotic songs sung by mem bers of the local Ukrainian community, and had the oppor tunity to buy Ukrainian crafts and souvenirs for sale. Guests were moved by the words of Svitlana Kominko, director of Maple Hope Foundation, who expressed her sincere gratitude to the Baltic states for their strong support of Ukraine, and how important it is for Ukrainians not to feel alone in their struggle for free dom. In attendance was also Natalie Jatskevich, President of Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) British Columbia Pro vincial Chapter, who added important words and expressed gratitude to the local Baltic communities for their continued support for Ukraine. Aarne Tork, Vice President of St. Peter’s Estonian Lutheran
Church in Vancouver, reminded the attendees of the importance of continuing to support the Ukrainian community at local rallies and events. The evening also included greetings from Central and Eastern European Council in Canada (CEEC) President Marcus Kolga, Estonian Am bassador to Canada Toomas Lukk, Latvian Ambassador to Canada Kaspars Ozolinš & Lithuanian Ambassador to Canada Darius Skusevičius. Each of the leaders of the respective Baltic communities were presented and gifted with wooden plaques embossed with the Ukrainian Trident (tryzub) by Svitlana on behalf of Maple Hope. The gesture of gratitude was incredibly symbolic and moving and added to the feeling of unity, solidarity and friendship with the Ukrainian community. The event was sold out in advance, reflecting the Baltic communities’ deep desire to show solidarity with Ukraine and support for the Ukrainian community in Canada, with whom they share a history of defiance in the face of Russian aggression, and outrage for the unprovoked war taking place on the sovereign territory of Ukraine. The organizers thank all that attended and donated to the event, and to all the volunteers, performers, and speakers for their involvement.
At Hamilton City Hall, the June 14, 1941 deportations were com memorated with the opening of photos of the Russian destruc tion of Ukaraine. Amongst the speakers were Marcus Kolga, President of the Central and Eastern European Coalition. In the photo are City Councilor John-Paul Danko, Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger and Cotton Factory owner Rob Zeidler. Photo: Merike Koger
On June 4 Estonians celebrated the 138th anniversary of the inauguration of the Estonian tri-colour as a national flag. For Estonians the flag is more than just a state symbol. It’s a symbol of Estonian defiance against foreign repression. It represents freedom and independence. For 50 years its display was forbidden by the occupying Soviet regime. Participating in the ceremony at the Estonian Parliament were members of the Riigikogu and Speaker Jüri Ratas, the president of the the Estonian Flag Society, Jüri Trei, Lutheran Arrchbishop, Urmas Viilma and other prominent Estonians. Photo: Peeter Hütt
Have fun and advance your Estonian language skills at Kotkajärve Metsaülikool 2022 Vincent Teetsov It’s frequently said that immersion is the best way to learn a language. To be exposed to new words and phrases on all fronts in a stimulating setting without having to dedicate specific blocks of time to their acqui sition is certainly the most natural way to learn. It’s more enjoyable, too. This is how children absorb languages. Not everyone has the oppor tunity to spend extended periods of time in Estonia or to speak the language at home. For tunately, there is a program out there to give you the experience of authentic Estonian language immersion – Kotkajärve Metsa ülikool (Kotkajärv Forest Uni versity). If you can find a week of your summer to take time off, or even just a few days, head on up to Muskoka. After a two hour drive, you’ll be in a wood land paradise, where you can pitch a tent and very deliberately disconnect from the pressures of city living and reconnect to your Estonian roots, or to those of your significant other or a friend. After all, Metsaülikool is open to people of all back grounds! Metsaülikool was founded in 1967 with the intent to fill a gap in Estonian-language edu cation and intellectual stimula tion at a post-secondary level during the time of the occupa tion of Estonia. 55 years since its first gathering, the program has vastly expanded its offer ings, providing something for all interests. If you’re enthusias tic about exercising in nature, you can go canoeing or hiking around the lake, Kotkajärv. If you want to party, you’ll find that many new friends, proper eesti toit (Estonian food), and a lakeside sauna are waiting for you. Above all, though, Metsa
ülikool is “a place where you can exchange ideas, learn some thing new, [and] be open to new acquaintances and experiences.” Throughout the week, there will be a combination of specialist lectures akin to TED Talks, Q+A sessions, and work shops in subject areas such as music, poetry, folk dance, volleyball, and outdoor skills. Attendees can truly choose how much they wish to expand their horizons and how far they stray from what’s familiar to them. Among the speakers deliver ing specialist lectures on cam pus is Kristiina Mark from the Estonian University of Life Sciences. Mark will explain how the lichen and moss that are extremely abundant at Kotkajärv indicate a healthy ecosystem. Multi-instrumentalist Kristjan Kannukene will expound his radically experimental composi tions that blend pounding tradi tional drums with angular elec tric guitar soundscapes. Acclaimed historian, political scientist, and University of Toronto professor Dr. Andres Kasekamp will also be speaking there. Dr. Kasekamp is an expert and frequent commentator on foreign policy, including the war in Ukraine. When the talks are over, you can continue to converse with these speakers over a morning coffee or in the saun. The curriculum this summer runs the gamut. And it’s all within your reach here in Canada. You won’t find any thing quite like it in North America. Tying everything together in 2022 is the theme of “The forest in us all” (“Mets meis kõigis”). As Maimu Mölder, the Coordinator of Metsaülikool explains, the term “is attributed to author and semiotician Valdur Mikita, who was a guest lecturer at MÜ in 2015.” Mölder adds “Considering we
have all been cooped up for two years with the pandemic, our theme this year is the beneficial effects of being in the forest, how it ‘recharges us’... Though we may not know how to ex plain why it soothes us, grounds us, most of us get immense benefit and pleasure from experiencing the forest.” Don’t let the fact that many of these activities will happen in Estonian discourage you if you aren’t an experienced Estonian speaker. Everyone who attends is there to cheer you on, to create an encourag ing environment where trying to speak Estonian is the number one goal. Things you say might not always come out in the way you wanted them to, but with kind linguistic helpers there, you may find yourself coming home finally conquering your long-term Estonian language goals. In fact, if you’d be interested in having a volunteer language “buddy” help you throughout the week, send an email to kj. metsaulikool@gmail.com and the team will be able to arrange this for you. That being said, to get the most out of the program and its conversational practice, it is a good idea to learn some basic grammar and words beforehand. You’ll feel much more fulfilled at the end of the week if you have a basic grasp of how to construct Estonian phrases. The price of the program, which will go from Sunday August 21st until Saturday August 27th, is $360 (or $240 for students), for all costs, in cluding food. It’s also possible to register for individual days at a smaller cost. Proof of vacci nation is required to attend. Visit eesti.ca/mu/registreerimine to register and for details such as what to bring along when you attend.
