Summer student: Joonas Roose
- ellenvalter
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 8 hours ago
Update #257
Since he could remember, Joonas has felt equally at home in two countries
Estonian Arts Centre, the charity associated with KESKUS International Estonian Centre, announced a summer internship this spring, and Joonas Roose stepped into the role.
Born and raised in Tallinn, Joonas brings fresh Estonian spirit to the whole KESKUS team. From a young age he loved math, and went on to graduate from Tallinn Secondary Science School (Tallinna Reaalkool), specializing in economics. That interest in economics pointed him toward Canada, where his grandparents had settled after fleeing Estonia in the 1940s. His father, Peter Roose, was born in Toronto and later moved to Estonia in the 1990s.
Even though Joonas was born in Estonia, he’s also been an active member of the Estonian community in Canada. As a kid, he spent summers as a camper at Jõekääru Estonian Children’s Camp, later returning as a counselor for two years. This summer, after wrapping up his internship at Estonian Arts Centre, he even helped lead the camp together with his cousin, Lief Kolga. “I’m really happy that I’ve been able to take part in Jõekääru every year, and this year contribute to making it a success. Jõekääru has always been the highlight of my summers.”
Now living in Canada for the past four years, Joonas recently completed his bachelor’s degree in Political Economy at Wilfrid Laurier University and is heading straight into Laurier’s MABE master’s program this fall. Alongside his studies, he joined the fraternity korp! Rotalia, where he’s a reb! (a pledge, not yet a full meber) and has already helped his fraternity brothers win volleyball tournaments.
Joonas has also given an Independence Day speech at Ehatare nursing home. “The Estonian community in Toronto is much larger and more diverse than I expected, and there’s always something happening. People are welcoming and helpful, and I feel at home here even though I didn’t grow up in Canada.”
“I never made it to the old Estonian House in Toronto, so I’m really looking forward to KESKUS opening soon as a place where everyone can come together and celebrate Estonian culture. Keeping my roots alive means a lot to me,” Joonas says, adding, “I think the architecture of KESKUS will really put Estonia on the map here, and I can’t wait to bring my Canadian friends to show them how great my homeland is.”
In his free time, Joonas loves watching movies—he even took a couple of film studies courses at university. He enjoys running and sports too: he played soccer at school and tennis with friends. He recalls a saying from his school days that still resonates: “A healthy mind thrives in a healthy body.”
Although his summer internship at the Estonian Arts Centre has come to an end, Joonas plans to stay involved in KESKUS projects. Most recently, he joined the new Estonian Canadian Business Chamber.
“ECBC fits perfectly with my studies and brings together the interests of both of my favorite countries. Trade and business links between Europe and Canada keep growing,” Joonas says. “The crowd at the launch event in May was enthusiastic and diverse—I met so many interesting people, and felt like we already had much in common.”
Discover the benefits of giving wisely
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