10
EESTI ELU reedel, 4. septembril 2020 — Friday, September 4, 2020
Closing of Estonian House sale enables community move to IEC! The International Estonian Centre Project (IEC) has entered its next phase: Estonian House in Toronto Ltd. (EH) and Estonian Foundation of Canada (EFC) are pleased to update the Estonian community that their Broadview group of properties has been sold to DK Broadview Inc. of Toronto for a base price of $15.6 million with a possible upward adjust ment depending on the final density achieved by the purchaser on its pro posed rezoning of the properties. With this sale, our community marks a major milestone in the creation of a new and dynamic International Estonian Centre in Toronto. DK Broadview Inc. is a partnership of DiamondCorp and Kilmer Brownfield Development Fund, two experienced and prominent developers who have previously partnered on a number of high profile and successful develop ments. For the Estonian community, DK Broadview Inc became the right buyer at the right time. The process began when EH and EFC, as vendors, conclud ed an Agreement of Purchase in April, 2020. The Agreement was approved by the EH and EFC Boards of Directors and supported by the project Steering Committee of all four founding organi zations; Estonian House in Toronto Ltd., Estonian Foundation of Canada, Northern Birch Credit Union Limited and Tartu College. A Waiver and Amending Agreement was signed July 15 and the transaction closed on September 1, 2020. By agreeing to sell all four properties together, EH and EFC expanded the development footprint of the properties and increased the net value realized by both organizations and for the community. The International Estonian Centre has been designed by acclaimed archi tect Alar Kongats to capture an Estonian Nordic aesthetic. It will be built on Madison Avenue next to Tartu College, an established and vibrant in stitution creating a new cultural land mark showcasing Estonian ingenuity and heritage. The new Centre will be governed by the IEC Board of Directors,
which will oversee operations of the Centre. Estonian Arts Centre (EAC) is the beneficial owner of the proceeds of the Estonian House sale. As a regis tered charity governed by its own Board, EAC is also responsible for the Capital Campaign and general fundrais ing for the new Centre. The completion of this sale delivers on the promise made – not only to EH shareholders but to the Estonian com munity. Only three years have passed since April 25th, 2017 when EH share holders voted with a 2/3 supermajority in support of a shareholder Resolution. That Resolution authorized the selling of Estonian House with the proceeds going toward the building of a new Centre on Madison Ave. With decades of discussion and de bate about what to do with an ageing Estonian House now behind us, it is time for renewal and rebuilding. It is time to regroup and focus on this next phase of construction and transition. As of September 1, EH and EFC contin ue to occupy their respective former properties for a period as tenants un der separate leases from the purchas er. For most existing Estonian House tenants and licensees it will be busi ness as usual. All tenants will be con tacted to understand the upcoming planning for an orderly transition peri od and move to the new centre antici pated in 2022. Estonian House has been a beloved home to the community since the 1960s. With the sale of Estonian House complete, the next phase of the IEC development for a new home be gins. Veiko Parming, President of EH says it is time for the community to come together, build this Centre and bring architect Alar Kongats’ spectacu lar design to life. “We are in a time of renewal. Our Estonian community is small and not always of one mind, but I’ve always believed that the way we move for ward is by setting a course and stick ing to it. Like our forbearers in the 1950’s and 60’s, we have a once-in-alifetime opportunity now to build a
Nr. 35
Estonian Central Council letter published in Ottawa’s The Hill Times
place that will inspire new generations of Estonians here and across the conti nent to be proud of our heritage, our community and our shared love of eestlus.” For more than 45 years, Estonian Foundation of Canada has formed the financial backbone of our community. As a registered charity, EFC’s mission is to solicit donations and bequests in order to fund Estonian cultural and heritage initiatives across Canada. Support is provided for Estonian lan guage programs, heritage schools, summer camps and other existing and new initiatives. The Foundation has been integral to informing and connect ing with Estonians across the country. In Toronto, EFC also provides financial support to most of the groups currently using Estonian House. EFC President Eva Varangu explains why the Foundation has for decades supported consolidating, at times competing com munity interests, to one location. “We have a responsibility here in Canada to ensure the survival of our heritage, language and our culture. By consolidating our energies, finances and activities to one location we take a great step forward in ensuring our community’s future. With fewer than 2 million Estonians worldwide it is important more than ever to work together.“ The International Estonian Centre will be the meeting place for all generations of Estonians to connect with each other and to showcase our culture to our neighbours and friends from around the world. Despite the pandemic, construction planning for this exciting next phase has continued. Project Manager David Kalm has already submitted the appli cation for a building permit to the City
of Toronto, is finalizing the Site Plan Agreement and continuing with sub missions to the TTC. Design drawings by architect Alar Kongats are almost complete. The team is ready to hire a Construction Manager within weeks in order to get the job done expertly and on time. A Request For Proposals (RFP) for a Construction Management firm has been completed and will be issued shortly. David Kalm anticipates that construction will start before the end of 2020. “We have been anticipating this moment. It’s taken a lot of work to fo cus on being prepared to move quickly to construction once the Estonian properties on Broadview were sold. Now the focus is on getting shovels in the ground on Madison Ave. I am excited for the community – let’s get together and get going!” As construction gets underway and transition planning begins in earnest it will be time to engage more members of our community. The Estonian com munity has a wealth of talent and ex pertise which the project team will be seeking to engage. All four founding organizations, Estonian House in Toronto Ltd., Estonian Foundation of Canada, Northern Birch Credit Union Limited and Tartu College remain champions of the new Centre. The key to a successful transition is planning, preparation and stamina. It is time to move forward. As a community. Keep in touch with project news • Visit our website www.estonian centre.ca for regular updates • Sign up for our monthly email news letter at www.estoniancentre.ca • Follow us on Facebook: @ EestiKeskus
On August 26, 2020, the Hill Times published an op-ed by Scott Taylor, titled “Putin should take assassination les sons from U.S.” Mr. Taylor’s opening line admits that until last week, Taylor “had never heard of Alexei Navalny.” Mr. Taylor should be thanked for the honesty of his disclaimer. But that ought also to dis qualify him from writing anything credible about Mr. Navalny. Mr. Navalny has, since at least 2011, been a leading figure in Russia’s strangled and persecuted opposition. Navalny is the leader of the “Russia for the Future” party and has been a strong anti-corruption advocate who has worked tirelessly – while under constant threat – for the cause of freedom of speech and democracy in Russia. Navalny’s is one of just a few remaining voices that counter the Putin regime’s authoritarian narrative and repressive actions. The woeful fate of Russian dissidents and opponents of the Putin regime is no secret. The author’s disparaging tone and ignorant claims make a tasteless mockery of a poisoned man who is, to millions of Russian citizens, a symbol of hope and reform. Mr. Taylor’s comparison of Mr. Navalny to the murderous Qassem Solei mani is nonsensical and ugly; this conspiratorial column discredits your newspaper. Estonian Central Council in Canada KAIRI HEMINGWAY, President
Hard to translate emotions During these trying times, support from others is always greatly appreciated. Following is a selection from what Psychology Today’s Septem ber/October issue called “gifts of insight into what it means to be human”. (Found as a sidebar to the article “A World of Emotions” by Dr. Marianna Pogosyan, lecturer in cultural psychology at the University of Amsterdam’s Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics college in The Netherlands, “The Untransla tables”.) These expressions are paraphrased, modified somewhat by the undersigned, not the translation but in meaning, with thanks for their publication, respecting copyright, acknowledging where they first appeared. Quotation marks denote direct translation, as provided in the original. • From Armenian: Tsavd tanem “Let me take away your pain”. Said to show that one cares about the other. • From Dutch: Gezellig adj. A shared intimate experience,
somewhat like mõnus in Estonian, which is an enjoyable, pleasurable feeling in common. • From Zulu: Ubuntu noun. Kindness due to a common humanity. • From Norwegian: Hygge noun; also hyggelig adjective. Deep friendship, contentment and warmth. • From Danish: Arbejsglæde noun. “Work gladness”, a deep satisfaction from something well done. • From Thai: Kreng-jai noun. “Deferential heart”. The desire to not trouble others, considering their feelings and not wishing to burden them with one’s own. • From German Waldeinsamkeit adj. The feeling endgendered by a solitary walk in the woods. From personal experience, being able to utter such words to others in their native language is of great use in forming bonds and indicating that necessary quality of understanding our shared predicament. Espe cially so when words in a shared language (English) sometimes are insufficient. TÕNU NAELAPEA
Supporters of democracy in Belarus protest in Toronto.
Photos: A. Seim
