Kalevipoja Laud donor profile: the Põldre family
- 13 hours ago
- 6 min read
Update #286
Countless moments of capturing community spirit culminates in a lasting gift
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then Peeter Põldre could fill a vast library of books with stories of what he has seen and experienced as the Estonian community’s multi-talented and dedicated photographer.
But this story is one of generosity and spirit. Peeter and his family, including wife Kathryn and daughters Kristina and Anneliis, have joined the KESKUS International Estonian Centre family as Kalevipoja Laud donors.
“Donating to KESKUS provides Estonian Canadians with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to the future of their heritage through the educational and cultural opportunities that KESKUS will provide,” Peeter said.
“We decided as a family to make this donation,” he explained. “It enables us to express gratitude for the lifelong Estonian friendships that have blessed us.”
Documenting our community’s history
Peeter is a well-known figure at Estonian community events with his Nikon camera and well-equipped camera bag. He has photographed a huge range of events over the past 20 years and has, on many occasions, been the official press photographer for the Toronto-based newspaper Eesti Elu.
When asked what his most memorable moments have been, he chuckles.
“That’s like asking me to rate my favorite meal,” he said. “There have been so many!”
But there are a few standout events, such as when he traveled to Ottawa to photograph Toomas Hendrik Ilves at Ottawa’s Rideau Hall, the first state visit of an Estonian President to Canada.
As he covered Prince Harry’s 2017 Invictus Games, Peeter became the Estonian team’s official photographer. When Jaune Engel won the team’s first medal, she did not have a flag for the field-level awards ceremony. Peeter was at ground level, ready to photograph, and quickly got one just in time from an Estonian attendee who was in the stands.
Peeter has been interested in photography since his teenage years. In the early 2000s, with the advent of digital photography, he began contributing to Eesti Elu. He knows the community well since he has also volunteered as a director with the Estonian Foundation of Canada since 2004. He has been a member of korp! Vironia for almost 50 years.
He and Kathryn have travelled to Estonia over a dozen times, including on six occasions to photograph both the youth as well as the full Laulu- ja Tantsupidu (Song and Dance festivals), all highly memorable visits.
Kathryn is an enthusiastic co-traveler.
“Where else can you see thousands of singers, and one hundred thousand spectators, participate in an incredible event like this?” she said.
Since moving to Mississauga, Peeter has been involved with The Riverwood Conservancy and is its past Chair of the Board.
Left: Kristina and Peter Nielander, Tantsupidu 2014
Right: Rosie Lindau, Toomas Saun, Anneliis, Alexandra Wilbiks, Rongkäik, 2019
It all started at Toronto General Hospital
What readers may not know is that Peeter had a prestigious career in medicine before retiring in 2021. He earned two doctoral degrees at the University of Toronto in medicine (MD) and in higher education (EdD).
He worked as a clinical hematologist for 40 years, caring for serious diseases such as leukemia, mainly at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, where he was the first Vice-President of Education for 20 years as well as Vice-President, Medical Professional Practice for seven years. At the university he was promoted to Professor in 2005 and retired as Professor emeritus.
From 2010-20, he served in various roles at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, culminating as President in 2019.
Kathryn earned her nursing degree from Charles Sturt University in New South Wales, Australia. She worked in various specialty areas of nursing including hematology, gastroenterology and most recently has specialized in hepatology. She is currently working with a roster of 13 physicians in the Toronto area to provide care to patients with hepatitis.
The couple met, not surprisingly, on the ward at Toronto General Hospital and were married at St. Peter’s Estonian Church in 1984. The day was made particularly memorable because of a famous visitor to the city at precisely the same time.
Kathryn recounts: “I was almost late for the wedding because Pope John Paul II was visiting Toronto and the procession was close to our home, holding up traffic!”
But the ceremony went off without a hitch, and Põldre family life began to unfold.
Many memories made at summer camp
Kristina and Anneliis have been active members of the Estonian community from an early age. They started attending summer camp Jõekääru when they were seven and four years of age respectively.
“I went along as the camp nurse,” Kathryn said. “The girls loved the camp experience and when they got older, they graduated to becoming ‘waterfront directors’ (a.k.a. lifeguards.)”
“Having Estonian heritage has enriched their lives immeasurably.”
Left: JKAL organizers Kristina Kald, Anneliis, Paul Lillakas, Siiri Valter, 2024
Right: Kristina and korp! Amicitia 100 organizers, Tartu, 2024
Kristina earned a bachelor’s degree at McMaster as well as two University of Toronto master’s degrees, in health informatics and health care administration. She works as a project manager at Sunnybrook, continuing the Põldre legacy. Kristina danced for several years with folk group Kungla, including at the 2014Tantsupidu and most recently at the Nou Pois Älaud dance camp in 2025. She has held various leadership roles in korp! Amicitia.
Anneliis has a master’s degree in education from the University of Toronto and bachelor’s degrees from Ottawa and Western Universities. She teaches elementary school French immersion in Guelph. Anneliis sang at Laulupidu as a member of the Ööbik choir. She has been a founding organizer of Jõekääru Alumni Laager ("JKAL") and is also a member of korp! Amicitia.
Family history encompasses several continents
Peeter’s parents traveled many miles before settling in Canada. His father August was born in Tomsk, Siberia and escaped from Märjamaa via Finland. Mother Herta fled from the far western part of Saaremaa onSeptember 28,1944. They met and married in Stockholm and then traveled to Argentina in 1948 because his father, a ‘forest brother’, feared repatriation from the Soviet authorities.
Peeter was born in Buenos Aires and the family came to Canada when he was four years of age.
We have a chance to shape our future
Peeter and Kathryn, and their daughters, are proud and grateful for the role they are able to play to help shape the future of the Estonian community.
They both believe that welcoming people with Estonian roots who may not be fluent in Estonian, or are from mixed marriages, is important so the community can grow and prosper.
Peeter goes on to say, “The international aspect is also important, and will draw people and events from all over the world.”
As someone who has seen the KESKUS vision grow from a germ of an idea to bricks and mortar, Peeter is gratified this major undertaking is now taking shape with construction moving full speed ahead.
“In partnership with Estonian Foundation of Canada, Northern Birch Credit Union and Tartu College, as well as the key tenants and user groups of the former Estonian House, the aptly named KESKUS will be the major contributor to what it means to be an Estonian in Canada,” Peeter said.
And, needless to say, he is anticipating continuing his photographic explorations at KESKUS.
“I am looking forward to discovering all the interesting photo opportunities in this beautiful new building,” he said.
“I predict KESKUS will be the largest and most prestigious centre of its kind for the global Estonian community.”
Discover the benefits of giving to KESKUS
Please join the growing list of KESKUS capital campaign donors to help bring this extraordinary project to completion. KESKUS leadership donors are recognized here.
There are many ways to make a contribution to KESKUS.
To donate, click here, or 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. All donations are issued a tax receipt, in Canada via Estonian Arts Centre, US tax receipts via Myriad USA and Estonian tax receipts via Eesti Rahvuskultuuri Fond. Donations by credit card may be made here.
Legacy gifts made to the Estonian Arts Centre, the charity associated with KESKUS, are creative and tax-effective ways to provide support. These are known as “planned gifts” because with thoughtful planning, we create a win-win situation that benefits both you and our community for generations to come. Find out how to provide a bequest in your will by going to www.estoniancentre.ca/bequest.
For information on making other types of planned gifts, including gifts of appreciated securities or insurance policies, or if you have any other questions, please contact EAC Donations Manager Taimi Hooper via email at donations@estoniancentre.ca or phone +1.647.250.7136.
Let’s keep in touch
Comments