Calgary Estonian Society: A look back
Helgi Leesment
Former executive and long-time members of the Calgary Estonian Society gathered on May 18, 2006, to formally recognize the cessation of this organization. A previous phone-in and mail-in vote had resulted in the unanimous decision to disband this society and encourage all to become active in the recently established Alberta Estonian Heritage Society (AEHS). It was also unanimously affirmed that all of the Society’s funds be transferred to the Alberta-wide organization. This will be done when the current bank term-deposit matures later this year.
By joining the Alberta Estonian Heritage Society, Calgary Estonians have come full circle. Originally there existed the Lõuna Alberta Eesti Selts / Southern Alberta Estonian Society. The Calgary Estonian Society developed first as a branch of that society, becoming a separate entity at a formative meeting on June 17, 1950. Now, in the 21 st Century, its former members have again become part of a provincial level organization.
The activities of roughly the first thirty years of the Calgary Estonian Society revolved mostly around weekly and annual events blended with private social functions
Weekly social gatherings of Estonian pioneers and their descendants took place at the downtown YWCA during the 1950’s, gradually joined by a generation of Second World War refugees who arrived in Canada via Germany, Sweden, Australia and elsewhere. A folk dance group functioned for a couple of years until the director moved out of town.
Typical annual events comprised commemoration / celebration of the February 24 th Independence Day, Jaanipäev (midsummer solstice), religious services when funds were available to bring in a Lutheran minister from elsewhere in Canada, Christmas gatherings with mini-concerts and Santa Claus, displays of national costumes and handicrafts at local international fairs as well as selling traditional ethnic foods and home-made cranberry juice (years before it became available in stores) at these events, plus hosting all nationalities of new Canadians at their Citizenship ceremonies in Federal Government facilities.
In general, socially, it was and continues to be customary to hold major private gatherings of local Estonians for christenings, confirmations and significant birthdays.
In the late 1980’s through early 1990’s, an Estonian language school functioned bi-weekly as the city happened to have enough children of suitable age whose parents wanted them to learn something of the Estonian culture and language.
The association’s recent history has been somewhat undefined, becoming officially dormant for approximately ten years as there was difficulty finding new executive officers. However, even during that time, various events were spontaneously organized by individual members of the Calgary Estonian community, frequently in response to news of visitors from Estonia. For some occasions the Society temporarily returned into active mode.
At the May 18 gathering, previous executive members spoke of memorable occasions, some solemn, others causing much laughter. Various members added their comments making for lively conversation. All agreed that apart from the original
formation of the Society in 1950, the most pivotal events occurred in the years just prior to and following 1991, the year Estonia regained its independence. These were heady times with visits by a basketball team from Estonia, various other sports competitors, a rock band, a large boys choir accompanied by a chamber orchestra, a television documentary crew, several musicians including symphony orchestra conductors, plus various additional Estonians including the democratically elected president of the independent Estonia—guests whose presence in Alberta would have been unthinkable during earlier years of Soviet rule with its political and travel restrictions on its citizens. Children of the Calgary Estonian supplementary school and adults participated in meeting such guests. Among local events, Calgarians, as well as all Albertans, now have business meetings with the staff from the Estonian embassy in Ottawa, another previously unthinkable concept.
This year’s May gathering especially recalled another Calgary happening, the well-organized Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian communities’ joint celebration of the 1991 regained independence of all three Baltic nations. This was an especially important event because a large segment of the Calgary Estonian Society were political refugees or the children of political refugees who escaped from Estonia in 1944, fearing for their lives. Their fervent wish since that time was for the country to become independent again, an admittedly hopeless ideal for most of the 51 years since the country was first occupied by Russian, then German and later Russian forces again. Thus, the 1991 actualization of the independence dream was a very emotional experience.
Suddenly, this nation had to establish a government, economic bases, laws, social policies and all of the other things taken for granted by long established independent countries. It quickly became possible to easily visit relatives, carry out historical and genealogical research, do unrestricted sightseeing and establish new contacts. This nation was now a “normal” country within the international community. Suddenly, certain goals of the Calgary Estonian Society altered drastically. These changes, coupled with the general aging of its members and the formation of the AEHS, resulted in the termination decision carried out in 2006, 56 years after the inception of the Calgary Estonian Society.
The Calgary Estonian community comprises a blend of descendants of early 20 th century pioneers plus various waves of later arrivals including political refugees in the 1950’s, career related arrivals attracted by or transferred here to Alberta’s vibrant energy industry as well as very recent immigrants from Estonia.
All former members of the Calgary Estonian Society wish the Alberta Estonian Heritage Society success and happiness in maintaining aspects of Estonian culture and traditions.
