Preserving and celebrating Estonian culture with the help of the Estonian Foundation of Canada

Community is about sharing. Estonians in Canada share a history, a common heritage and the feeling of being part of something bigger – along with a goal to preserve it. Even though Estonia is a free nation, the fact that there are fewer than 2 million Estonians worldwide contributes to a sense of individual responsibility for the survival of our heritage, language and culture.

It’s easy to count the number of students in Estonian schools and kindergartens, or choir members, or folk dancers in Canada. But it’s much more difficult to measure the IMPORTANCE of these cultural institutions to our community as a whole. A kindergarten of 15 children in Montreal may be a lot smaller than the 80+ who attend in Toronto, but it’s equally a demonstration of the persistence, tenacity and the spirit of our community. Just the very existence of Estonian cultural societies, organizations and events in Alberta, Vancouver, Victoria, Hamilton, Kitchener, Ottawa and beyond makes Estonians throughout Canada proud and feel a sense of communion across the country. Each celebration of our culture is vital to all of us.

The Estonian Foundation of Canada (EFC) exists to support and preserve Estonian heritage in Canada, granting funds twice annually to support the organizations and events that bring us together and help ensure our future. These organizations and events not only serve our community, they help to create and renew it.

In November, the EFC Board of Directors approved support for 23 project applications from 20 unique organizations. Through donations and bequests received from the community, EFC helps to fund these real projects and important initiatives.

• Alberta Estonian Heritage Society – EFC is providing financial assistance to AEHS to start Estonian language classes in Alberta. Online classes began in January 2020 with impressive numbers – there are 16 registered students!

• Eesti Lauljate Liit Pohja Amerikas (ELLPA) received funding to hold an intensive joint choral workshop for all 4 GTA Choirs with Triin Koch, Estonian conductor – as well as individual coaching sessions with each choir.

• Toronto Estonian Supplementary Schools, TES Kindergarten, Hamilton Estonian School and Montreal Estonian School – EFC grants provide about 45% of the budget for Estonian schools and kindergarten during the 2019–2020 school year in Toronto and Hamilton, reaching over 180 students.

• Jõekääru and Seedrioru received EFC funding to help keep camp fees affordable – this past summer youth from our community were immersed in Estonian language and culture for a total of 350 camper weeks.

• Vancouver and Montreal Estonian Societies will receive community support for special events and Independence Day celebrations through EFC.

• Choirs and Folk Dancing in Toronto and Vancouver – EFC is again subsidizing expenses for staples of our community such as TEM Male Choir, Estonia Choir, Hamilton Choir, Läänetuul and Kungla, having also supported Kilplased as they headed to Tantsupidu.

• QuEST – EFC provided start-up funding for an Estonian cultural organization for Estonian-heritage students at Queen’s University.

• FunniEST – EFC is supporting the new Estonian comedy festival taking place at Tartu College, featuring an Improv workshop and numerous performances by community members.

• Esto ski events – EFC is sponsoring ski events in Ontario & Quebec that help bring Estonians together in a different setting, many of whom may not otherwise attend community events.

• Scholarships and Student Support – EFC granted student awards to 6 deserving TES school pupils, as well as post-secondary scholarships to 7 exceptional Canadian-Estonian students: Mihkel Jaenes (ON), Liis Jakobson (ON), Erik Kõvamees (BC), Ivi Lindau (ON), Peggy (Margaret) Jupe (ON), Colden Palo (AB), Krista Poolsaar (ON).

Through community donations, the Foundation supports each and every one of us by making sure we continue to have opportunities to connect with each other, our culture, and to keep our language and heritage alive. Together, we can all ensure our future here in Canada.

Funded solely by donations and bequests from the community, the Estonian Foundation of Canada is a registered charity that supports Estonian cultural and heritage initiatives across Canada. Donations are accepted at any time. To learn more about the Foundation or to donate, call 416-465-5600 or visit estonianfoundation.ca

EFC accepts applications for funding grants twice a year: March 1 and October 1. All applications are reviewed by the Board of Directors according to rigorous review criteria and CRA Guidelines for charitable foundations. The 2020 EFC Scholarship application deadline is October 1.

Subscribe to the EFC Community Connections Newsletter newsletter@estonianfoundation.ca to stay up-to-date!

Photo: Silvia Soide