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EESTI ELU reedel, 12. novembril 2021 — Friday, November 12, 2021
Donor profile: Margus Aruja The sky’s the limit for shaping the future of the Estonian community As a naval aviator and aerospace expert, Margus Aruja has spent much of his life on pursuits that involve flying, but there is one thing that is not up in the air as far as he’s concerned, and that is the need for KESKUS Inter national Estonian Centre. A Viru Vanem campaign donor, Margus, who lives in Ottawa, explained his decision to support the development of the new centre in Toronto. “Having KESKUS establishes a framework – there are Estonians in every corner of the world and it will help keep our global diaspora together,” he said. “If the pandemic has taught us one thing, it’s that physical space is very important in our lives and so is the need to get together.” He has strong confidence in the project’s leadership. “What compelled me to give is knowing some of the people – and reading about the others – who are working on it,” he said. “My instinct was to help, and this is how I can put my oar in the water. I have a lot of respect for the people who are working their way through this great ambition.” “The project leadership has done great work and have listened and responded to what the community needs. They have my full confidence. It’s not only the right decision, but a very good decision.” Margus has a unique per spective on “eestlus” – what it means to be Estonian. He spent much of the Cold War period chasing Soviet submarines in his role as a naval aviator with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) specializing in the acoustic technology used by aircraft to pinpoint the locations of the submarines. “Our goal was to track nuclear missile-firing sub marines,” he explained. “It was fascinating work that used very advanced technology.”
Then, in 1994, came the op portunity of a lifetime. Margus, who rose to the rank of Colonel during his career with the CAF, was sent to Estonia by Canadian Chief of Defence General John de Chastelain to help forge a path to help the country set up its Air Force and join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). He acted as advisor to General Alek sander Einseln, and was the first Chief of Staff of Estonia’s fledgling air force. “They were incredibly heady days, and a fascinating time in Estonia’s history” he recalls. “There was never a question of if we could do this, only how. We hammered out things in a week that would take a year anywhere else!” One of the most meaningful aspects of the time he spent in Estonia was the chance to spend time with extended family members, who he had never had the chance to meet as the Second World War tore many families apart. “I really got to understand the history and culture, and it’s been a wonderful opening of our world.” Family members from both his mother’s and father’s sides have come to visit Margus and his family, who made their home in Ottawa. Margus’ son Peter, who was 10 years old at the time, joined his father in Estonia and went to school there for a year – a wonderful developmental ex perience. Peter, now 37, is a human resources executive for an engineering firm. Margus and his wife Susan Chapman, a former high school teacher, also have two daugh ters: Erika, 33, is an economist with an engineering company and Kristi, 35, works in the medical IT field. All their children live in Ottawa. “Susan and my family are very supportive of everything we are doing for the Estonian community.” Margus grew up in Toronto and has lived in Ottawa for over 20 years. His parents Endel and
Remembering Aino Hely Rooneem 1928–2020 on the first Anniversary of her passing on Nov. 9, 2020. Although she had no children herself, she was the beloved “Granny” to two step-sons, six grandchildren, and nine greatgrandchildren. A family reunion and celebration of her 90th Birthday was held some years back at the Rooneem home in Colling wood, Ontario. Family and friends came from all over the globe for that special occasion. Aino was born in Tallinn, Estonia to Elfriede and Eduard Vallaste. Because of WW II, Aino, with her mother, fled their home and found safety in a refugee camp in Bamberg, Germany. To earn some money there, they cre-
ated embossed leather designs and national costumed dolls to sell to the occupying forces. Aino’s life has taken many different paths and difficult routes. To get to Canada, she had to work on a tobacco farm in S/W Ontario. Later, while employed in the garment industry on Spadina Rd. Toronto, she was able to attend night school classes in accounting, and continue improving her proficiency in English. Those skills, and her natural talent in design, enabled her to become the bookkeeper for a high-end interior design firm located in trendy Yorkville. Then, when she met Hugo Rooneem, a widower, her life changed yet again. They married
Viru Vanem supporters of KESKUS: Margus Aruja & Susan Chapman.
Henny & Endel Aruja.
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the military, he spent a dozen years working in the aerospace industry in business develop ment and program management. Now, he has again set his sights skyward. He has turned his attention to the sophisticated technology of drones through Unmanned Systems Canada, a national association he chaired for several years. He continues to work with regulators in this rapidly developing field. He reiterates the need for a global Estonian community hub. “We are indigenous people, native to the land, and knowing where we come from is very important,” he said. “If you don’t know where your roots are, there may be some discom fort in your life. For those of us who were displaced, we need a place to connect.” “Estonia is a nation of just 1.3 million people. The only thing that can keep us together is that connection.” It’s obvious that for Margus, the sky is really the limit. And he has witnessed firsthand how once Estonians put their minds and energy to something that really matters, it happens. Get involved and help support KESKUS
Henny Aruja were community leaders who made their mark on Toronto’s vibrant Estonian community. Dr. Endel Aruja, a mainstay at Tartu College for decades and where he worked until the age of 95, was a physicist specializing in X-ray crystallo graphy. He received his PhD from the University of Cambridge in 1943 and taught physics at Ryerson University in Toronto. Endel participated in found ing and running a number of Estonian organizations in England: the London Estonian Society, which he chaired for six years, the Estonian Asso ciation of England and the London Estonian House. Endel and Henny met and married in England. Margus and his sister Epp, who lives in Toronto, were born in England. The family emigrated to Canada in 1962. The community-building work continued full steam in their newly adopted country. Endel
was the first secretary of Tartu Institute in Toronto from its founding in 1972 until 2004. Henny was active in Estonian guides and took on the task of “juhataja” (director) of the summer camp Jõekääru for many years. Endel was also a passionate supporter of historical knowl edge and organized shipments of Estonian books to libraries in Estonia, materials that were not allowed during the Soviet occu pation. All told, he spearheaded the delivery of over 7,000 boxes of books to Estonian libraries. His archival contribution is just as legendary. Endel collected eight roomfuls, totalling about 236 square metres, worth of archival material at the Tartu Institute Archives and Library. It has resulted in one of the most extensive cultural compen diums on the Estonian diaspora, and today is the backbone of the Estonian Studies Centre VEMU archives. After Margus retired from
Please join the growing list of capital campaign donors! KESKUS International Estonian Centre’s donor categories are Kalevipoja Laud for gifts of $100,000 and above (including naming rights for specific areas), Viru Vanemad for gifts of $10,000 and above, and Kungla Rahvas for gifts under $10,000. KESKUS generous donors are listed here: www.estoniancentre. ca/capital-campaign To make a donation, please call +1.647.250.7136 or email donations@estoniancentre.ca. Donations may be made as a family gift, or in honour of an individual or family. Donations from Canada, U.S. and Estonia will be issued a tax receipt.
in 1964 and she gave up her accounting career in order to help him run the H. Roo neem’s Bakery, a well-known enterprise in their own ethnic circles and also across many continents for their sweet/sour bread. It was a bakery-delicatessen retail outlet as well as a wholesaler supplying stores and restaurants in Toronto and surrounding areas. Their specialty wedding cakes were like works of art.
ings at their home on Georgian Bay. Hugo passed on in 2002, and after many years, Aino has now joined him.
A Celebration of Life remembering Aino for the woman she was, will be held in the spring, if possible.
Hugo had been a supporter of many Estonian organizations from their inception, and Aino had played volleyball with the Kalev sports club. He and Aino were also long time members of the Estonian Business Club in Canada and the Estonian Yacht Club in Canada. They hosted many of these organizations’ summer out-
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