Edmonton Estonian Society in Retrospect
At the start of the Second World War Estonia was occupied by the Soviet Union then Germany and at the end of the war the Soviet Union again. Thousands of Estonians were arrested and deported to Siberia, thousands were conscripted to Russian and German armies and labour camps. Many crossed the Inlet and joined the Finnish army and helped to hold back Red Army attacks, like the Finnish Volunteers were helping the Estonians In our War of Independence in 1918 and our partisans in 1940.
To avoid the returning Russian Army and occupation, many Estonians and our prominent people risked their lives and crossed the Baltic Sea to Neutral Sweden and to Germany. Therefore after the end of the Second World War, thousands of Estonians found themselves in Allied Prisoner of War Camps and in refugee Camps in Germany, Sweden, Denmark and some other countries.
Soviet Union was occupying Estonia and Eastern Europe. They demanded the return of all Prisoners of War and refugees. Only a very few returned. They were treated as traitors and sentenced to serve time in Siberia. Therefore, whoever was lucky to have the opportunity, immigrated to USA, Canada, Australia or even to some South American countries to get as far as possible from Russia.
Many who immigrated to Canada settled in Ontario, mostly in the Toronto area, where various industries and construction needed able workers. Many settled In the Montreal area, as well as in Vancouver and British Columbia, where the sea and warmer climate attracted the newcomers.
The newcomers to Alberta had relatives or friends here already, or were professionals or skilled tradesmen. Domestic help and farm labourers were coming with Canadian Pacific Railroad sponsorship and agreed to work a year at a given job.
The first newcomer to Edmonton was a warbride, Mari Sörra-Pelletier, who married a French Canadian from Edmonton. They arrived in 1946 and bought "Four Aces" restaurant In the city centre, it flourished under Maris's management. She was well liked and known in Estonian and Canadian circles. She was one of E.E. Society's founding members and In the executive. Later, she was the President of the Alberta Restaurant Association. She sponsored her niece, Mai Sörra-Kreem, and her husband, Robert Kreem to get Immigration Visas and to find work in Edmonton. They arrived in the fall of 1948, at the same time as her friend Astrid Pihlakas-Pasevka and her husband Eugene. They were soon allowed by Vet, Dr. Evald Söerd and Erika Ins. Feliks Lasberg, Ursula and daughter, Sigrid, Mrs. Dr. Silvester and her mother, Surveyor limar married later, Ins. Harry Melts and Siina, Colonel August Kivi, Ludmilla and daughter Eva, Ülo and Aliide Mägi, Pianist Mrs. Kivistik, Lieutenant Mart Napa, Elisabet and daughter Eneken, Ballet teacher Laine Mets and electrician Ed Kreek. Laine and Ed married later, and Loreida Kesamaa. The following years brought more Estonians to Edmonton. I. name some, who were active in our society and often in the Executive: Captain Walter Reili, Aliide, with son and daughter, Agriculturist Jaan Raud and Salme, Architect Kristjan Päm and Ilse, Helmut and Airi Langeste, Gustav and Helmi Neland, with son Hillar, Irma Ruus with sons Albert and Ivar who started to study at the U of A, Karin Simm-Halisky, Albert and Ellen Pihlak, Jaan and Ethel Peet, Rein and Laine Sastok, Edgar and Mrs. Kastehein, Georg and Inga Neufed, Anni and Arnold Pent, Geologist Hugo and Nelda Miina, Bert and Agnes Koppel, Hans and Anni Erdell, Hugo Laanela, and the Pallases family.
All newcomers were greeted like long lost friends or relatives by Ed Moro, Henry Vemik, Robert Kinna and a few other Estonian families living in Edmonton since before the war.
On the 24th of February 1949, some Estonians were gathering at Robert and Mai Kreems apartment to celebrate Estonian Independence Day. Pleasant fellowship, Estonian songs and language brought vivid memories of homeland, mothers and fathers, friends and relatives who were still there. An idea came up and suggestions were made to form an organization and work together for re-establishing Estonian Independence, to co-ordinate our activities, mark our historical and national dates and heritage, promote our culture and language.
Robert Kreem agreed to work out the Statutes for Edmonton Estonian Society and when ready call a general meeting of all area Estonians.
The first general meeting was held on 4th of December, 1949 at St. John Lutheran Church social room. The Statutes were accepted as presented. Robert Kreem was elected President, Mara Kruberg as secretary, Henry Vemik, O. Luberg, Robert Kinna as Executives. Yearly activities were suggested to include; Estonian Independence Day Celebrations, May or Spring time party, Remembering the Deportations, Alberta Estonian Summer days, possibly in Eckville. Some picnics and outings to the lakes, Fall Seasons party, General meeting, Christmas Service and social.
The 1949 Christmas Service and following Social was at St. John's Lutheran Church and Social room.
In 1950 Estonian Independence Day was in the Social Credit Hall. The program consisted of Speeches, recitals, Estonian music and exhibits of Arts and Crafts. News media was present and their write-ups were very good. A local French Radio Station broadcasted Estonian music and a short talk on Estonian History and life under the Russian occupation. Later in the year some other local Radio Stations had also several Estonian broadcasts.
The first Alberta Estonian Summer Days were held in Eckville Estonian Hall and participated by all Alberta Estonian Associations.
The General Meeting was on the 16th of December at St. John's Social room. Robert Kreem was re-elected President, Mara Kruberg as secretary, Feliks Lasberg, Henry Vemik, Robert Kinna, and Andres Pilt as executives. Christmas Service and the Social followed the meeting, and was participated by the Finnish Society like many of our Social Activities at that time.
In 1950 the Independence Day was celebrated in the Corona Hotel Banquet room. The program was similar to the previous year. Our Folk-dancers were performing for the first time. All Edmonton Finnish, Swedish, Lithuanians, and Latvians were invited and presented, as well as all Alberta Estonian Societies. All representatives were bringing short Greetings. Banquet and Dance followed the programme. The next day was a meeting of Delegates. Topics included our co-operation in Alberta and with the newly formed Central Organization in Toronto, and aid to the Refugees still in the European refugee camps.
Sadly, this was the last time Robert Kreem organized an activity in Alberta. In the spring of 1951 Robert and his family moved to Toronto, where his organizational talents found much larger fields to work on for the benefit of all Estonians.
The following few years I carried on as President. I received lots of good help and advice from our membership and also from our newly formed War Veterans Association and Colonel Kivi's family.
We kept in contact with other Alberta Estonian Associations and Estonia's neighboring country organizations. Especially close contact was with Eckville Estonians. They were always numerously present at our Get-togethers. Dr. Rita Matiisen was often our highly regarded guest speaker, like the Canadian Centennial and Estonian Independence Day.
Our yearly activities were basically similar every year, with occasional changes. In one year we had the Alberta Estonian Summer Days in Edmonton, with great success and attendance from all Alberta Estonian Society's. Highlite was the play "Mikkumärdi" staged by our members and directed by Vaike Viil. The play was followed with a dance, like it was in the Rural Community Halls in Estonia. The next day was a meeting of the representatives and a picnic in the afternoon.
The weekend outings to the lakes were getting further apart. More and more of our members were buying houses and the weekends were spent working around the houses and gardens.
My workload and added responsibilities at the workplace started to take more of my time. Feliks Lasberg, Walter Reili, Ilmar Pals, Nurmi Simm, Siim Ruusauk, Ludmilla Kivi ja Hiljs Koot were taking turns as the Presidents or Executives. They did remarkably well keeping our Society alive and active.
Especially happy am I to see so many new and younger members and Executives with endless energy and new ideas. I am very impressed of the progress and results of activating the Alberta Estonians to work together to Commemorate the arrival of first Estonian settlers to Alberta and to Canada, 100 years ago.
I would also express my sincere appreciation and thanks to the members who do not have their roots in Estonia, nor speak our language, still continue to take part in our activities with helping hands and presence.
In closing, I wish a long and successful life to the Edmonton Estonian Society and all of its members and to Canada, Alberta and Edmonton, who accepted and helped us in our difficult times and last but nor least to our homeland Independent Estonia.
God Bless and Thank You.
A.E. Pilt
February 1999
