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EESTI ELU reedel, 13. detsembril 2019 — Friday, December 13, 2019
Seasonal musical musing There is much good to be said about the upcoming Noël. Belief not required, just spiri tual acceptance that maybe the world will improve. And from a crass, flip-side per spective there exists lots that should not be voiced. Why does the capitalist system need to start artificially the Yuletide already in Novem ber? Ca-ching, of course. Our community, bless all the volunteers, has choral Christmas concerts, packed the Estonian House last weekend with a seasonal party for all, well before the actual time of reflection and thanks, which is what the whole celebration is intended to be. Understood, that this is not yet the most wonderful time of the year but perhaps the busiest month of the year. What with office parties and all that nonsense. But, as they say, it is the thought that counts. Correct? Which is why, as a curmudgeon, I react strongly to the marketing of this time of the year. From elsewhere. I would
like to walk anywhere without piped in musical tripe. The repetitive kind, and for what seems like months. Let us consider what John Keats wrote in perhaps his most famous poem. ,,Ode to a Grecian Urn“. (The joke with that is he nets about two drachmas an hour, which he has to pay to his bank…) The line is telling at this time of the year. ,,Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard // Are sweeter.“ This reflection has nothing to do with our community – those at the E House last Saturday enjoyed everything, the smell of the pirukad and hapukapsad on top of everything. Real songs and music. Who needs Xmas muzak? However, that infernal ear pollution is everywhere at this time of the year. Sure, early snow, but we are barely into December. Our local rink pipes out such saccharine stuff that one is willing to wait until January until lacing up the skates again. Try and shop.
Study: Newly-arrived migrants in Estonia struggling with insufficient info
in Estonia, and it is important that the state at this point supports both employers and local governments, which are the first to face the needs of newly- arrived migrants,” said Minister of Population Riina Solman (Isamaa). The midterm evaluation of the Welcoming Programme confirmed the results of previous studies and indicated that program participants highly valued the content of the modules offered and their usefulness in the adaptation process. The most popular modules for newly- arrived migrants remain language learning as well as the base module, which provides an overview of daily activities for getting started in Estonia. Solman said that the satisfaction of newly-arrived migrants with the Welcoming Programme is an example of the importance of the state in providing these opportunities. “In order for newly-arrived migrants to contribute to Esto nian society, we as a state must create the necessary conditions to do so,” she added.
BNS, December 2019 Adaptation has progressed rapidly in Estonia, but the primary area of concern for newly-arrived migrants in the country is the availability of information in foreign lan guages, it appears from a midterm evaluation of applied research into the adaptation of newly-arrived migrants and the Welcoming Programme during the 2015-2018 period commissioned by the Ministry of the Interior. The first part of the study focused on fields facilitating adaptation, such as general paperwork, language learning, education, the labor market, healthcare, accommodation and leisure. The second part the study assessed the performance of the ministry-coordinated Welcoming Programme. The study highlights that across various sectors, there are a lot of service providers in the field, and an area of concern is the fragmentation of information in foreign languages. Given the novelty of adaptation policy in Estonia, many services are in the development phase and constantly changing, and many of the recommendations outlined in the study are already in the works. The coordination and de velopment of services in Estonia is constantly being addressed, and a successful example thereof is the migration adviser service offered by the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA), or the recently launched Tartu Welcome Centre. “The need for services supporting adaptation is on the rise
Room for improvement Bottlenecks of the program include its lack of flexibility when it comes to content issues and the opportunity to join the modules before or immediately upon arriving in Estonia. The target group’s low level of awareness of the program was also highlighted separately, as it indicates that information regarding the existence of the program does not always reach all potential participants. The study was commissioned by the Ministry of the Interior, conducted by the Institute of Baltic Studies in collaboration with the design agency Velvet, and funded by the European Social Fund.
Anywhere. Same aural assault. Even outdoors – the further, ironically, one goes south in Toronto, towards downtown, the more of it is there. Save the music, merchants, for Christmas Eve, for church, should you go. Save me from the imploding ears and brain cells that this musical bombardment brings. If it were good, OK. If it were varied, perhaps. But way too soon, and way too much. Our dollar-driven system should not have to torture people for over a month. Especially considering, that our multicultural nation, this metropolitan city here, where we have either been raised or have moved to is statistically neither religious nor even Christian. So why the overkill? The one month to avoid, if one can. Just because of the money. Focus on music and timing and the slender one would gladly grow a white beard and a paunch and Ho-HoHo with the rest. Only at the appropriate time. Which is not yet now. OTEPÄÄ SLIM
Hando Runnel wins Contribution to Estonian National Identity award ERR, December 2019 Poet, publisher, essayist and national thinker Hando Runnel was presented with the Contribution to Estonian National Identity award on Sunday at a ceremony dedi cated to the 100th anniversary of Estonia’s national univer sity. Hando Runnel has passionate ly and effectively promoted the Estonian ethnic and national identity, a press release from the University of Tartu said. Rector of the University of Tartu Toomas Asser said the decision of the award committee was unanimous. “Granting the Contribution to Estonian Na tional Identity award to Hando Runnel is a telling summary of the first century of Estonia’s national university,” he said. “By giving this award, the national university confirms that Esto nian people and the Estonian language, culture and thought are free. Hando Runnel by his example and with his special contribution helps us remember that the measure of a nation is its people’s internal dignity and values.” Runnel’s creative work centres on the poet’s relationship with his homeland and people, and with the great problems of life and society. At the decisive moments of restoration of independence in Estonia, he was one of the ideo logists of freedom, the univer sity said. He put Estonia and Estonians and the idea of our existence into words, determining the future of Estonia by these words. During difficult times of oppression, his well-
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Donor Profile: Viru Vanemad Anne Remmel’s passion is helping Estonian culture grow and thrive Anne Remmel is an ardent supporter of helping people thrive in both her business and personal pursuits, so it’s only natural for her to help bring the new International Estonian Centre (IEC) to life. “I firmly believe that we need to adequately fund the IEC so it can be top notch,” Anne said. “Our centre needs to be a permanent home where our culture can be showcased, along with other cultural institutions. That’s why its location as part of the Bloor Street Culture Corridor in this prime downtown location is ideal.” She believes that the proximity as well to major educational centres such as the University of Toronto and the Estonian Studies Centre will lead to natural and business synergies. “Estonians need to have a presence here that goes beyond folk dancing and gymnastics,” she said. “We can’t afford to be insular. The next generation has their feet planted firmly in their culture, we need to look outward so that they become involved and stay involved.” Anne’s parents, Reginald and Helene, who fled to Sweden from Estonia, came to Canada on the S.S. Walnut, one of the first ships that brought new immigrants here from that country. After settling in Toronto, they became actively involved in the Estonian community and Anne was immersed “in all things Estonian.” This included Kalev Estienne gymnastics, the Keele Street Estonian school and the Estonian church (where she was a member of the mandolin orchestra.) Anne and her husband Albert Cohen, “a dedicated Estophile who goes to everything,” live in Toronto. She has a son, Ian, who teaches Critical Thinking and Philosophy of Science at the University of Southern California. In her business life, Anne’s specialty is leadership and organizational de velopment. She completed her PhD at the University of Toronto in 2002 in Education Theory and Policy Studies. She has held leadership positions and designed corporate education programs in both government and private sector in organizations such as the Bank of Montreal, IBM, Pitney Bowes and the Baycrest Centre. An avid painter, Anne headed the Estonian House art committee for 10 years and mounted numerous art shows in the Estonian community help-
known songs and poems helped to keep up people’s belief in the survival of Estonianness and hope for independence. Runnel has also influenced and directed national-mindedness as the first invited pro fessor of liberal arts of the University of Tartu and as the refounder of the magazine Akadeemia. At the peak of the new national awakening he was one of the leaders working towards the reopening of the Faculty of Theology at the University of Tartu: he was convinced that a universitas must definitely comprise a school of theology and that the faculty which was closed by the Soviet authorities in 1940 had to be reopened.
ing support developing artists. She is excited about the potential for the IEC to promote and encourage the visual arts. She was also involved on the organizing committee of the Latitude44 (L44) technology conference and Estonian Music Week, which took place in Toronto in November 2019. This helped fuel her passion for helping other Estonians succeed and create connections. She moderated two sessions on e-health and e-education at L44, and reports that the participants in the panels will continue to keep in touch. “This is exactly what you want to happen,” she said. “This will also help set the stage for the new centre and its business accelerator, where these kinds of valuable connections will be nurtured and encouraged to grow.” Get involved and help support our future The International Estonian Centre’s capital campaign donor categories are Kalevipoja Laud for gifts over $100,000 (including naming rights for specific areas), Viru Vanemad for gifts over $10,000, and Kungla Rahvas for gifts up to $10,000. Stay tuned for the launch of the Kungla Rahvas campaign in 2020. To make a donation, please contact Urve Tamberg at donations@estoniancentre.ca. Donations may be made as a family gift, or in honour of an individual or family. All Canadian and U.S. donations will be issued a tax receipt. Let’s keep in touch! • Visit our website www.estonian centre.ca for regular updates • Sign up for our monthly email newsletter at www.estoniancentre.ca. • Follow us on Facebook: @ EestiKeskus
A productive essayist, publicist and critic, Runnel in his writings draws attention to the challenges and sore spots of society, and to values we all should strive for, keep, hold dear and appreciate in order to ensure high level of intellec tuality and cultural identity. Hando Runnel has received the Order of the National Coat of Arms, 4th class, and the Order of the White Star, 2nd class. He is a laureate of numerous literary awards. Hando Runnel is an Honorary Citizen of Tartu and a holder of the Grand Star of Tartu award. The University of Tartu has issued the award for Contri bution to Estonian National Identity 16 times.
