Independence Day Celebrations

Ann Pals was born, raised and educated in Edmonton, Alberta and has a degree in Cultural Geography. She is the mother of three children; Kaila, Aleks and Matthew. The Holtz family has resided in North Vancouver since 1990, but continues to maintain strong roots in Alberta.

My parents Lydian and Ilmar Pals arrived in Edmonton in 1953 from Calgary to an established Estonian community network. My earliest memories then were of people who may have had little else in common except for their Estonian roots, their language and customs and their shared newness as immigrants.

My clearest memories growing up in Edmonton was the Independence Day celebrations in February. Depending on the year and the President some celebrations were memorial, some were political and some were social in nature. The program was made up of the Canadian anthem, greetings from the city and provincial dignitaries, music and speeches, sometimes very long speeches, finally ending with the Estonian National Anthem. The speeches were passionate, sometimes drawing tears and always giving a call for those present to not forget, to remember their homeland, freedom and those left behind. My earliest memories were of Ülo Magi, Col. Kivi, my father, and others speaking passionately about concepts and a place that were foreign to me. The themes were always the same... don't forget, freedom or independence and/or get those Russians out. Some in the community questioned the relevance of all this politics ... we lived in Canada now, what could we do from here?

By 1966-67, we as a community marched publicly, lobbied publicly for recognition of people who had no voice. We explored similarities with the Latvians and Lithuanians for a larger voice with which to speak to Canadians. We began a long period of educating our fellow Canadians about Estonian people. Coincidentally we were also educating my generation on what it meant to be an Estonian Canadian.

My parents' biggest dream was that Estonia would obtain its freedom. My father was lucky to see that dream come true and to go back home one more time. For him though, home had changed, perhaps too much time had passed. The home he remembered of his youth no longer existed. He could not go back to the Estonia he had left. Home was in Canada now.

Were those Independence Day memorials for naught? Was it a preoccupation with things "ethnic"? I don't think so. What those early Estonian gatherings taught me was the importance of our roots, to me Estonia was a far off place with which I had no connection, so to call for independence for this far off place meant little to me. What touched me was the power of the emotion, the need to speak out for political justice, the love for a place, a shred history, a community that gathered to remember where it came from. We had no family roots here so this community became part of our family.

I would like to commend the Edmonton Eesti Selts for continuing to meet, for continuing to encourage and support the Estonian community in Edmonton and Alberta. The needs of your community today are just as important as those 50 years ago - friendship, community connection, cultural roots and the pride in sharing our Estonian heritage.

Ann Pals