Update # 201
Heartfelt holiday greetings from the KESKUS team!
The KESKUS team, that includes the boards of International Estonian Centre Inc., Estonian Arts Centre, Estonian House in Toronto Limited, and EAC Eesti MTÜ, and advisors, committee members, managers, consultants gathered to share some holiday cheer and invited the leadership of Tartu College, Northern Birch Credit Union Limited, Estonian Foundation of Canada and Estonian Museum of Canada to join in as well.
Special thanks goes to Tom Koger, David Kalm and Ellen Valter who donated the food and drink for the gathering and to Tartu College for providing the space and supplies. Karin Ivand, pictured top right, penned the below poem and recited it at the gathering:
A KESKUS Limerick
There once was a dream called KESKUS
That got off to a challenging start
There was blood, sweat and tears
And sure, there were fears
But there was always plenty of heart
When I think about why we need KESKUS
I think of my taat and my memm
I think of the children yet to be born
We are really doing it for them
And the other thing I am thinking
Is that I really want to be there
I want to hear music, to dance and to sing
I want to see everyone, and do everything
I want to help independence
And freedom of thought
To support what we hold dear
To link with Estonians all over the world
And I’d like to make something else perfectly clear
When the day arrives that the dream comes true
And we’re finally able to walk through that front door
I say look look out Toronto, and look out world
Because there’ll be this almighty roar
You’ll be able to hear it up to the stars
Across the ocean, and in lands afar
In homes and in churches and out on the street
It’ll have a kind of uncanny beat
Elagu Eesti, Elagu KESKUS! Is what we will shout
We can hardly wait to get the words out
We’ll stampede to the grand hall, the kohvik, the shhhh….saun…
The rooftop garden, the library
It will all be our own
And as long as there’s kringel, and plenty of cheer
And yeah, OK, a truckload of beer
We will stay mighty, mighty and strong
And the spaces will fill with throng after throng
New friends will find us, their eyes open wide
Because there’ll be nothing better than gathering inside
- Karin Ivand, December 2023
Häid pühi /// happy holidays !
KESKUS International Estonian Centre in downtown Toronto will open in the spring of 2025 and will be a dynamic hub showcasing our rich heritage and promoting Estonian innovation. It will be a vibrant gathering place for Estonians of all generations and backgrounds to connect, celebrate, and share our culture and achievements with each other and the world.
Read more about the project by signing up for the newsletter here. /// Pane end kirja uudiskirja saajaks siin.
Get involved and help support our future
Please join our growing list of capital campaign donors to help bring this extraordinary project to completion. KESKUS leadership donors are recognized here.
To donate, please call +1.647.250.7136 or email donations@estoniancentre.ca. Last day for donations of securities is December 27Donations 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 KBFUS and Estonian tax receipts via Eesti Rahvuskultuuri Fond. Donations by credit card may be made here.
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