It’s time to let loose and celebrate: Tartu College 50+2 is here!

Tartu College has become a favourite meeting spot for the Toronto Estonian community and other cultural groups in the neighbourhood alike, it’s a true cultural hub teeming with energy.

Preparations began back in 2019 in order to celebrate its 50th anniversary in a fittingly grand and worthy way in September 2020. Then the pandemic caught us all off guard and brought it all to a halt. Celebrations had to move to a digital platform where we could still get together, reminisce about the old days and dream of the future, albeit from a distance. A group of Tartu College workers got together and even held a small party in the parking lot just so they could celebrate the milestone together.

But the general consensus and feeling amongst everyone was that this wonderful landmark that grew out of architect Elmar Tampõld’s vision deserved more, a spectacular celebration. Finally, two years after the initial anniversary date, we’ve got a massive party in store for you all, a 5-day celebration with something for everyone, the event of the year!

The multi-day bash is kicked off with a proper bang, with Estonia’s premiere funk band Lexsoul Dancemachine (headed by Ivo Linna’s son Robert) taking over downtown Toronto atop a specially set-up bus on Wednesday, September 21st. The group will perform a series of unique pop-up concerts around the downtown core, starting out from Tartu College at 7 p.m. and making its way towards Kensington Market, then Queen Street West. When the event organizer, Estonian Music Week’s executive and artistic director Sebastian Buccioni, is asked about where the exact locations for the pop-ups would be, he grins slyly and tells us to keep an eye out for upcoming ads. But we can tell you this much: each of the three performances will be 30 minutes long and there will be space on the bus for 10 lucky winners that will be determined by a draw, more info on that coming soon!

Hamilton gets a taste of the funky celebrations with dance party “Funk at the Factory” taking place at the Cotton Factory on Thursday, September 22nd, starting at 8 p.m. Opening for Lexsoul Dancemachine is the energetic and groovy Nezquik; a four piece powerhouse from Hamilton. In between sets, we’ll have DJs Henrik Ehte (Estonia) and B Bad (Hamilton) spinning some tunes to keep you moving. But that’s not all! Show off some of those moves and cheer on local b-boys and girls as they fight it out in a fast-paced dance competition and watch muralist Curtia Wright create a master­piece live. Tickets are $25/$20 and will be up for grabs soon through Eventbrite.

To get your true funk injection, join us on Friday, September 23rd at the Axis Club (722 College Street) in Toronto, starting at 8 p.m. Toronto funk legends The Shuffle Demons, known for their hit “Spadina Bus,” will take the stage along with Lexsoul Dancemachine for a night of absolute groovy chaos. Famed Estonian singer-songwriter Vaiko Eplik will be acting as DJ and host for the night, introducing nostalgic tunes from diaspora Estonian communities and keeping the vibe flowing. Tickets are $25/$20 and selling fast, get yours now at: www.estonianmusicweek.ca

A formal ceremony and memorial lecture for Dr. Vello Soots will take place at Tartu College on Saturday, September 24th at 3 p.m. The lecturer will be renowned scholar and textile artist Anu Raud, who has gained a lot of notoriety not only in Estonia but around the world with her visually striking rugs. She is an active advocate for the preservation of Estonian ethnography and agriculture, as well as an educator. Her home farm in Heimtali has become not only a museum, but an educational centre and mecca for anyone that holds Estonian folk culture near and dear to their hearts. The lecture will be in Estonian. The long-awaited exhibit “Our Tartu,” dedicated to the history of Tartu College, will also be opened. The event will be free, with donations warmly welcomed.

The scintillating slew of events will finish off with the premiere of the TC50 documentary film about the landmark building and its history on Sunday, September 24th, beginning at 3 p.m. English subtitles are included, coffee and kringel will follow. Free, donations warmly welcomed.

This spectacular celebration would not have been possible without our sponsors and partners: Estonian Foundation of Canada, Northern Birch Credit Union, the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research (International Estonian Action Plan 2022–2025), Cotton Factory, and Koger Valuations.

Bring your friends and relatives, your sorority sisters and fraternity brothers, all are warmly awaited and welcomed! If you’ve worked at Tartu College in the past, come here for events throughout the years or taken part in any of the various groups that meet here regularly, come and join the party and help us celebrate the important contribution of this landmark to the longevity of our Estonian culture here in Toronto!

Info: vemu.ca, estonianmusicweek.ca, phone: 416-925- 9405, email: info@vemu.ca

A photo from the past. Attendees at Tartu College’s first photo exhibition.

Photo: Archives