Alberta Estonian Heritage Society

Letter from the Editors

Recently, the 2006 Canada census provided numbers and trends that speak directly to Alberta’s Estonians. It is said that numbers don’t lie but perhaps people who use them do. However the ‘Albertan’s with Estonian Ethnicity’ census tables printed on page10 are worth a close look. Embedded in the data are possible explanations for the genesis of AEHS and the adaptive ways it has responded to the realities of the Estonian presence in this province.

Overall there are a total of 2160 people in Alberta who identify themselves as having Estonian ethnic ties. This number is surprisingly large. About half of this group resides in the Calgary and Edmonton areas. The remainder is in the central Alberta region, with a smaller groups in Lethbridge and other areas. Separate Estonian Societies in the cities operated by post-war immigrants existed for many decades.

By 2004 it was obvious that to retain viability, other regions of the province needed to be included. It was the non-urban centres that contributed the pioneer and heritage history that makes Alberta Estonian history unique. The Alberta Estonian Heritage Society was formed to provide an inclusive organization for those who are interested in their culture and heritage, who want to preserve ties to their ethnic identity, and to share this through social means.

Table 2 highlights the changing demographics amongst successive generations of Estonians in this province. By 2006, only 20% of individual were born to parents who were both Estonians whereas 80% are born to or are in mixed marriages. In the under 15 year age group, fewer than 100 people have two Estonian parents. The trend toward mixed marriages is clear and so are its implications. Language will likely be lost as we continue adapt to a multi-generational, multi-ethnic reality. AEHS does not rely on the Estonian language because that would exclude the vast majority of its members. The reason for AEHS’s existence and its ability to thrive is that it encompasses local history and heritage, and promotes awareness of present-day Estonia, its stunning accomplishments and its changing culture.

AEHS hopes it can meet the needs of both older and younger generations even as our identity is changing. To this end we’re including a “Today’s Generations” section to showcase some of our accomplished contemporary Alberta Estonians. AEHS has demonstrated that pioneers, immigrants, recent arrivals and those born here can work together. This has been a source of some amazement to non-Albertans who wonder how this was possible. The driving force in the West has traditionally been survival and this has required an emphasis on shared values rather than differences, and inclusiveness rather than exclusivity. With this approach, AEHS is dealing with the reality of its changing demographics and utilizing the advantages of the electronic age to reach the greatest number of people possible.

The World Wide Web is an important engine of the Information Age, accessible to all , and responsive to the needs of present and future generations. By acting locally and thinking globally, we capitalize on the tremendous reach of technology to preserve our heritage and to raise awareness of who we are and what we do.

Eda McClung and Dave Kiil