Update #154
Celebrate the Toronto Estonian House!
What better way to commemorate our community's home, than with a celebratory bash that brings back some favourite bands and performers?! They provided the soundtrack through the decades of the life that 958 Broadview Avenue had as the Toronto Estonian House.
The evening on October 1 will start with a performance by Toronto Estonian Men's Choir (TEM), to bookend the hello and the goodbye. Not only did TEM perform at the opening festivities of the Toronto Estonian House on September 10, 1960, but a TEM rehearsal was the first function in the building on April 5, 1960, five days after the purchase of the building by Estonian House in Toronto Limited, closed.
From there, a stellar lineup continues, reading like a dream music festival!
It's impossible to fit all of the bands and acts that ever performed on the stage of the Grand Hall into one night, but this sampling will pay homage to the stage where scores of "lasteaia" (kindergarten) graduates walked through the flowered arch, where rhythmic gymnasts concentrated on not dropping a ball or hoop off the stage and into the crowd, and where moving speeches, poetry declamations, folkdance performances and fashion shows took place.
Come and enjoy these bands, choirs and ensembles, some that are re-forming for this one night. Cut a rug on the dance floor with a few waltzes, and polkas as the evening progresses to more rockin' tunes.
You can take a tour of Toronto Estonian House and see parts of it you've never been in. Think about what memories of Eesti Maja you'll record in the video booth and, for sustenance, a cash bar will be set up and Ülle Veltmann will have her signature catering available for purchase.
Get your ticket today - once Estonian House reaches capacity there will be no more tickets, so please monitor the social media channels below, to make sure you don't miss your chance to relive and make new memories, catch up with old friends one last time at Eesti Maja and enjoy the music to which our memories have been made.
The entertainment is organised by Estonian Arts Centre, the charity associated with KESKUS. For those without internet access, please call Estonian Arts Centre at +1.647.250.7136 and Taimi Hooper will help facilitate. Doors open around 5:30pm, program starts 6pm. Entrance from the south doors.
All KESKUS valued donors make a critical difference
Please join the growing list of capital campaign donors in support of our future home!
The KESKUS International Estonian Centre’s donor categories are Kalevipoja laud for gifts over $100,000 (including naming rights for specific areas), Koidula gild, which is from $50,000-99,999, Viru vanemad for gifts of $10,000-$49,999, and Kungla rahvas for gifts up to $10,000.
To make a donation, please 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 from Canada, U.S., and Estonia are issued a tax receipt. KESKUS leadership donors are recognized here.
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