Nr. 9
EESTI ELU reedel, 4. märtsil 2022 — Friday, March 4, 2022
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The multinational meeting point of Nathan Phillips Square Vincent Teetsov
Marcus Kolga, speaker at rally in support of Ukraine. Photo: Ülo Isberg
Kolga’s remarks at Ukrainian demonstration Seven years ago today, just steps from the Kremlin, Borys Efrimovich Nemtsov was gunned down by a gang of Putin’s thugs, who were dis patched to silence his voice and extinguish his dream of a democratic and free Russia – that respects its people and its neighbors. Boris was a champion of Ukrainian independence and democracy. He fought with you during the Orange Revolution. He stood with all of us, united, against Vladimir Putin’s autho ritarian aspirations. In contrast to Putin, who hates his own people just as much as he hates all of us, Boris stood with us, together, in common cause, for democracy, human rights and in friendly solidarity. It is these values that Boris Nemtsov was killed for, and the same reason Putin is attacking Ukraine and the entire Western World. Friends, Vladimir Putin is nothing more than a schoolyard bully. His only chance of win ning is when we are divided. United he doesn’t have a chance. Boris Nemtsov believed this too. I can feel him standing here with us today and with the 4.5 million Canadians of central and eastern European heritage who stand untied with Ukraine against Vladimir Putin’s bar baric invasion and tyranny.
Putin abhors the fact that today we have conservatives and liberals from all levels of government standing here united against him. I see James Bezan, Arif Virani, Yvan Baker, James Maloney, Melissa Lantsman, The Deputy Prime Minister, the Mayor – Canadians of so many different ethnic backgrounds and political views. And I say to Vladimir Putin and his agents watching us today: Canada is united, and you will lose. Our government has done a great job of working with our allies to push back against Vladimir Putin and his invasion. But we need to do much more. The central and eastern European council in Canada calls on the Canadian govern ment to block Russian state media from polluting Canada’s airwaves with conspiracies, lies and hate, immediately. We call on the Canadian government to place sanctions on Putin’s corrupt oligarchs who are hiding billions of dollars right here in Canada. Many oligarchs have abandoned Putin in the past 12 hours – sanctions work. Use them now to freeze and seize their assets here in Canada. Most importantly we call on Canada to send additional re sources and weapons to help Ukraine defend itself against the barbaric invasion of its sovereignty.
Outwardly, it could have been the 103rd, 102nd, or 101st Eesti Vabariigi aastapäev ceremony. The Estonian flag was hoisted on the upper walkway section of Nathan Phillips Square. Smaller handheld flags fluttered be low. Interspersing these were teklid (student caps) and a larger flag held in the middle of the huddle of around 50 people in attendance. This day is usually imbued with a celebratory quality, but on the 104th anniversary, it was somber, with the people of Ukraine in the minds and hearts of Estonians. Words were shared by Kairi Hemingway and Reet Marten Sehr, along with a message from Marcus Kolga. Look within the huddle, and you could say to someone that we were in Estonia. Look to the side, however, to the containers of Tim Hortons coffee and Timbits that accompanied the crisp, cold February morning, and it’s clear this was in Canada. More indicative, though, were the civic buildings loom ing over the square. On the east side was Old City Hall, com pleted in 1899. A grand, sand stone, Neo-Romanesque edifice designed by Edward James Lennox. To the north was New City Hall, Finnish architect Viljo Revell’s creation, finished in 1965. The building has attracted critics for its cost and design, notably Frank Lloyd Wright, who said “This marks the spot where Toronto fell.” But let’s disregard the structures themselves for a moment and consider what they do for people. Vabariigi Aastapäev events have been held all over the GTA since Estonians arrived here after the Second World War. At Toronto Eesti Maja. At Eesti Kodu. At Suomi Koti. In 1978, celebrations were held on the premises of the University of Toronto. Even when indepen dence was far away, it was remembered on a large scale: in 1968, for the 50th Estonian
Chryssia Freeland, Canada’s Deputy PM, marching with demonstrators in Toronto recently. Photo Ülo Isberg
Independence Day, Estonians in Toronto consumed a 1.3 metre wide kringel that was surround ed by 50 candles. But it has been this congre gating point at Bay and Queen that has put Estonian values and identity at centre stage. For the Global Estonian Culture Days in 1972, the square held approximately 15,000 people who had just walked through the city’s streets demanding freedom for Estonia. They listened to former prime minister John Diefenbaker advocate for standing up to the advances of the Soviet Union and pushing for the rest of the world to be vocal about the occupation. Adding to the visibility at the time, the CBC made a documentary about the festival and broadcasted it on television. For the first Black Ribbon Day on August 23rd, 1986, thousands came to Nathan Phillips Square, raising the flags of all Soviet-occupied nations and carrying a strand of barbed wire. This latter act was done to symbolize the oppres sion of these occupied nations. Canadian politicians and digni taries of all levels have attended Black Ribbon Day thereafter. Moreover, Lithuanians, Lat vians, and Estonians have come together at the square to re member the June 1941 depor tations. Thinking about structures themselves again, though, echoes the purpose of the square. The three arches over the reflecting pool/skating rink at the square have been re named the Freedom Arches, with a piece of the Berlin Wall forming the base of a plaque below the middle arch. The plaque reads: “The citizens of Toronto dedicate these arches to the millions who struggled in cluding Canadians, to gain and defend freedom and to the tens of millions who suffered and died for the lack of it.” On other days of the year, the square has accommodated for the significant dates of other national communities in Toron
to, with a maximum capacity of 65,000 people. It has provided space for the Indigenous Legacy Gathering, the launch ceremony of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival, free con certs during the Pan American Games, and most recently, the Mega March for Ukraine on February 27th, 2022. Seeing the streets filled to the brim with thousands of sup porters holding flags and signs – not only Ukraine’s blue and yellow flag, but signs of sup port from Hong Kongers to Estonians – was a reminder of how Nathan Phillips Square and the City of Toronto continue to stand as exemplary places where people of all nations can stand together and support each other’s cultures, values, and ways of life.
Ukraine… (Continued from page 12)
further aggression by Russia. The main efforts of cooperation are to provide humanitarian assistance/relief in the areas of Assistance to displaced persons, Medical care, Emergency Shelter and Food security. As of Sunday, February 27, the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has raised over $3 million with widespread support from all parts of Canada, from friends of Ukraine from all sectors, including: • The provinces of Alberta ($1,000,000), Saskatchewan ($100,000), Manitoba ($150,000), Ontario ($300,000) and Nova Scotia ($50,000) • Family foundations and major donors led by the Temerty Family Foundation ($750,000) • Major Credit Unions across Canada, led by Ukrainian Credit Union ($100,000) and many other members of the Canadian Credit Union Asso ciation • Canadian businesses led by Chapman’s Ice Cream ($50,000) and many others • And thousands of Canadians from coast to coast.
