From Shares to Members: 75-Year-Old Estonian House in Toronto Ltd. Successfully Pivots to ONCA///Uus ajastu Eesti Maja juriidilise isikule
Updated: Sep 26
Teade/Update #298
On September 15, 2026, shareholders of Estonian House in Toronto Ltd. ushered a 75-year-old legal entity into a modern era, passing a critical special resolution with an 83.88% majority. The hybrid meeting drew approximately 25 attendees in person and 75 online, representing 2,319 shares at call to order. /// septembril 2026 viisid aktsiaseltsi Estonian House in Toronto Ltd. aktsionärid 75-aastase juriidilise isiku uude ajastusse, võttes 83,88-protsendilise häälteenamusega vastu olulise eriotsuse. Hübriidkoosolek tõi kokku ligikaudu 25 kohapealset ja 75 veebiosalejat, kes koosoleku alguses esindasid 2319 aktsiat.
Led by Veiko Parming—a board director since 2015 and chair since 2018—the transition resolved the reality of an archaic corporate structure. Incorporated under the legacy Corporations Act as a share-capital social club, Estonian House faced a mandatory statutory deadline to transition into another form of entity under the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act by October 19, 2026. True to the non-profit spirit established by its founders, the organization chose to continue as a non-profit corporation, guided by specialized legal counsel at Gowling WLG to navigate the notoriously intricate process./// Juhatuse esimehe Veiko Parmingu eestvedamisel – kes on olnud juhatuse liige alates 2015. aastast ja esimees alates 2018. aastast – lahendas see üleminek aegunud äriühingu struktuurist tulenevad probleemid. Kuna Eesti Maja asutati varasema aktsiaseltside seaduse (Corporations Act) alusel aktsiakapitaliga seltsingulise klubina, seisis see silmitsi seadusjärgse kohustusega minna Ontario mittetulundusühingute seaduse (Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act) alusel üle teisele juriidilisele vormile hiljemalt 19. oktoobriks 2026. Jäädes truuks asutajate loodud mittetulunduslikule vaimule, otsustas organisatsioon jätkata mittetulundusühinguna, kaasates selle kurikuulsalt keeruka protsessi läbiviimiseks Gowling WLG spetsialiseerunud õigusnõustajad.
The approved governance model calls for the redemption of Class A shares and converts Class C common shares into single memberships, collapsing multiple shares into a fair one-member, one-vote system. Looking forward, the board plans to issue a call for new memberships to Estonians and those with an interest in and commitment to the Estonian Canadian community. ///Heakskiidetud juhtimismudel näeb ette A-klassi aktsiate tagasiostmise ning C-klassi lihtaktsiate ümberkujundamise üksikliikmesusteks, asendades senised mitmikaktsiad õiglase süsteemiga „üks liige, üks hääl“. Tulevikku vaadates plaanib juhatus kutsuda liituma uusi liikmeid nii eestlaste seast kui ka nende hulgast, kes tunnevad huvi ja pühendumust Kanada eesti kogukonna vastu.
Estonian House in Toronto's role remains that of oversight of International Estonian Centre Inc. and Estonian Arts Centre Trustee and. Beneficiary, respectively, of International Estonian Centre Trust that is building and will operate KESKUS International Estonian Centre. /// Estonian House in Toronto rolliks jääb järelevalve teostamine organisatsioonide International Estonian Centre Inc. ning Estonian Arts Centre üle, mis on vastavalt KESKUS International Estonian Centre'it ehitava ja haldama hakkava sihtfondi International Estonian Centre Trust usaldusisik (Trustee) ja tegelik kasusaaja (Beneficiary).
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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.
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