Annual General Meeting (AGM)

ECC’'s AGM took place January 31 – February 1, in Toronto. Representatives from member organizations across Canada attended, along with youth delegates and committee members. Also present were Estonia's Ambassador to Canada Margus Rava, the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Estonia in Toronto Toomas Heinsoo, the President of the World Network of Estonian Youth Kaisa Kasekamp, and EKN Advisory Council member and estophile Rob Zeidler.

ECC chair Reet Marten Sehr presented the 2025 annual report along with slides highlighting key events. ECC’s membership has grown to 15 organizations. Over the past year, the following organizations have joined: Toronto Estonian Supplementary Schools, Kitchener Estonian Society, Jõekääru Estonian Summer Camp, St. Catharines Estonian Society, Estonian Canadian Business Chamber (ECBC), and Toronto Estonian Kindergarten.

ECC’'s governance and activities are guided by the board. Looking ahead, the focus will be on building even stronger relationships among Estonian communities across Canada and with the governments of Estonia and Canada.

ECC has 5 active committees whose members come from the board, member organizations, and the broader community.

• The Strategic Planning Committee has held regular meetings since the fall.
• The Education Committee coordinated 2 study visits for 65 Estonian education leaders to Ontario educational institutions, in the spring and fall. The focus was on multilingual learning, multicultural communities and institutional leadership. Guests also found time for presentations and meetings with Estonians in the Toronto area.
• The Media Committee is developing an updated website and increasing its presence on social media.
• The Medal of Merit and Awards Committee recognized two Canadian community volunteers in 2025 with EKN's Gold Merit Award for long-standing service and eight recipients with the Silver Merit Award, among them Estonia's Ambassador to Canada, Margus Rava. The Laas Leivat Prize was awarded to Katariina Jaenes and Kaisa Kasekamp.
• The Youth Committee established a new ECC sub-organization intended for Estonian youth living in Canada: "KENA" — @kenadkanadas; @KENA; kenadkanadas@gmail.com. KENA partners with multiple organizations including World Network of Estonian Youth to organize movie nights, music events and was a key partner in organizing the Toronto Estonian independence day reception.

ECC remains committed to supporting Ukraine. In December, a fundraising campaign #SaveTheSoldier was launched at the People's Christmas Tree. The initiative saves the lives of wounded Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines by supplying them with tourniquets manufactured in Ukraine. The project is coordinated by Advisory Council member Rob Zeidler. The Canadian Latvian community has also joined the fundraising effort through its central organization LNAK.

Although ECC does not hold charitable status, over the past year and a half it has supported Estonian organizations in Canada, as well as the ESTO 2025 celebrations to the value of up to CAD $100,000.

On the first evening of the AGM, ECC co-hosted a reception and panel discussion with the Estonian Canadian Business Chamber, where top Canadian strategic planning experts from Pendulum Group shared insights in a panel discussion on crisis preparedness and strategic communications.

On the second day of the AGM, members participated in expert-led training on public communications and media, and government relations, laying a strong foundation for ECC's core focus in the months and years ahead.

ECC in Toronto

ECC organized the annual diplomatic reception marking the 108th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia on February 21st, in cooperation with the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Estonia in Toronto. Attendees included Estonians from the Toronto area, international guests, Canadian Members of Parliament, consuls, and leaders from the Ukrainian and other ethnic communities — 130 participants in total. Performers at the reception included Seto ensemble Kiiora and KUNGLA folk dancers.

ECC organized the traditional Estonian flag-raising ceremony at Toronto City Hall on February 24th. EKN representatives took part in Stand with Ukraine rallies at Toronto City Hall on February 23rd.

The Black Ribbon Day commemoration took place on August 21st, combined with a celebration of the restoration of Estonian independence. The University of Tartu Men's Choir performed. Greetings were delivered by the presidents of the Latvian and Lithuanian central organizations.

June 14th deportation commemoration events were organized in Ottawa, at the Memorial to the Victims of Communism, in cooperation with the Baltic Federation in Canada. Ottawa area ECC representative Paul Läänemets laid a wreath at the memorial.

Reports from ECC Member Organizations

Alberta Estonian Heritage Society (AEHS)

AEHS organizes a variety of cultural and social events throughout the year, strengthening ties within the Estonian community and introducing Estonian culture to a broader audience in Alberta.

Language Research Project with the University of Tartu: https://eestielu.ca/about-aehs-and-university-of-tartu-linguistic-research/

Descendants of Alberta's Estonian pioneers were interviewed as part of a language research project conducted in cooperation with the University of Tartu.

Activities:

• Baking courses
• Estonian language course
• Annual photo competition
• Estonian film screenings
• AEHS 20th anniversary and Midsummer celebration
• Christmas celebrations
• Publications – Ajakaja

Estonian Canadian Business Chamber (ECBC)

As of April 1, 2026, the Estonian Canadian Business Chamber (ECBC) completed its first year of operations, establishing a solid foundation for long-term growth and collaboration. Following a successful membership drive in May 2025, the Chamber's membership has grown to approximately 70 members representing business, finance, technology, and professional services.

To strengthen its position in the bilateral cooperation network, ECBC joined EUCCAN (the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Canada) as a voting member, thereby expanding its reach in both policy and networking spheres.

During the year, ECBC organized numerous targeted events, including business networking receptions, panel discussions on Canada-Estonia trade, innovation and crisis preparedness, as well as community gatherings attended by delegates from the International Bar Association conference from Tallinn law firms Hedman and Sorainen, an eight-member delegation representing the Estonian Parliament, and the Attorney General of Ontario.

These activities have emphasized relationship-building, knowledge exchange, and the visibility of Estonian Canadian business, establishing the Chamber on a credible and active trajectory. The first Annual General Meeting will take place on April 21, 2026, and more information can be found at www.estonianchamber.ca

Hamilton Estonian School and Hamilton Estonian Society

The Hamilton Estonian School has over 60 children and adults enrolled. Most of the school's events are organized jointly with Seedrioru Summer Camp or the Hamilton Estonian Lutheran Church. In spring and fall, the school welcomed visiting school leaders from Estonia. Guests were provided with an outstanding opportunity to learn about the multicultural and multilingual student body and curriculum.

In December, a joint community Christmas celebration was held for Hamiltonians of Estonian background; in March, a deportation commemoration; and on February 24th, the anniversary of the Republic of Estonia was celebrated together with the church.

The community participated in charitable initiatives and numerous rallies in support of Ukraine.

Jõekääru Estonian Children's Summer Home

For 64 years, Jõekääru's mission has been to educate young people who come from Canada, USA, Sweden, and Estonia, offering them a unique, Estonian-language and cultural experience and education in a peaceful natural setting. Jõekääru operates as a camp for 4–5 weeks each summer. Jõekääru's volunteer board manages the camp's property of over 150 acres, which includes a baseball diamond, basketball court, an Olympic-sized stadium track, soccer field, obstacle course, well-maintained forest trails and fields for walking, playing, and other leisure activities. In 2025, 290 children attended the camp.

IECI (KESKUS) — International Estonian Centre Inc.

International Estonian Centre Inc. serves as trustee responsible for the construction and management of KESKUS (the International Estonian Centre). As of April 1, 2026, KESKUS has entered its final pre-opening phase, with momentum building toward the official opening on August 20, 2026, which coincides with the 35th anniversary of the restoration of Estonian independence.

Over the past year, KESKUS has advanced construction and interior design work while simultaneously developing future programs. Activities have included construction-phase tours, previews of cultural events, donor and stakeholder events, and collaboration with Estonian Canadian organizations to pilot programs that will form the cornerstone of the centre's operations. Regular project updates have highlighted key construction milestones — completion of the facade, glass installation, and rooftop construction — maintaining community enthusiasm and ensuring transparency.

All these efforts have positioned KESKUS not only as a landmark cultural and architectural project in Toronto, but also as an emerging platform for global Estonian connectivity. The grand opening of KESKUS will take place August 20–24 of this year.

Toronto Estonian Supplementary Schools

The school's primary objective is Estonian language instruction for children aged 7–16, delivered both in school and in a virtual learning environment. In addition to Estonian language classes, the school day includes folk dance, singing, library, history, geography and drama. Teachers plan instruction with consideration for each student's abilities and needs.

The Supplementary School celebrated its 75th anniversary on October 29, 2025, with a formal ceremony. The school's children participated in the Global Read-Aloud Day, commemorated the March deportations, and celebrated Mother's Day and the anniversary of the Republic of Estonia.

St. Catharines Estonian Society

Annual events continue to include the celebration of the Republic of Estonia's anniversary, Midsummer, a summer picnic, the annual general meeting, and a Christmas celebration. The St. Catharines Estonian Society is one of the four founding organizations of Seedrioru. Current members actively support work bees and Suvehari festivities.

Vancouver Estonian Society (VES)

VES consists of 12 board members who held 14 board meetings over the past year. Clean-up days took place at the Mäeotsa Summer Home. Notable events included:

• Margus Tabor's Mamma Lood
• Christmas Fair
• Celebration of the Republic of Estonia's anniversary

A fundraising event was held in support of the 2025 Song and Dance Festival; Midsummer was celebrated at the Mäeotsa property; and a reception was held for Estonian athletes who participated in the Invictus Games. VES member organizations took part in the Estonian Song and Dance Festival, the Baltic Chain and Black Ribbon Day commemorations (co-organized with the Lithuanian and Latvian communities), and organized the traditional Christmas fair and social gathering.

Montreal Estonian Society

The Montreal Estonian Society was founded in 1933. The Society is dedicated to preserving Estonian culture and identity. Over the past year, a cleanup day was held at the Estonian summer camp Lätemäe, where Midsummer was also celebrated; blood sausages were made together prior to Christmas; and the traditional Christmas fair was organized.

Ottawa Estonian Society (OES)

OES members participated in several rallies on Parliament Hill in support of Ukraine. June 14th and August 23rd commemorations were organized together with representatives from the Latvian and Lithuanian central organizations, the. The 108th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia was celebrated and the Estonian flag was raised on Parliament Hill.

 

Seedrioru Summer Camp

Seedrioru's summer activities began with Suvehari — the traditional Midsummer charity event — which also marked Seedrioru's 70th anniversary.

Seedrioru Summer Camp 2025 brought together children and youth from across Canada, the United States, and Estonia to experience the Estonian language, culture, and a strong sense of community in a natural setting. The camp opened on July 6th with a flag-raising ceremony, marking the start of a four-week program full of varied activities. These included folk dance, singing, and crafts, as well as sports, hikes, team games, swimming, and campfire evenings. Counsellors from Estonia taught participants folk dance and singing, including songs from the 2025 Song Festival. Each week had its own theme, featuring survival games, nature skills development, sports, and traditional Seedrioru activities. Special emphasis was placed on using the Estonian language in everyday activities to support language acquisition.

Thanks to the dedication of counsellors, volunteers, and major supporters including ECC, the camp ran smoothly and safely, leaving participants with lasting memories and a strengthened connection to their Estonian roots.

VEMU (Museum of Estonians Abroad)

Collections and Archival Work

In 2025, over 60 individual donations were received into VEMU's collections, including printed materials, archival documents, photographs, audio and film recordings, and objects. Two collection drives were organized — one in connection with preparation for an upcoming exhibition on Estonian children in Canada, gathering toys and childhood memories, and the other marking the 75th anniversary of the Estonian Relief Committee in Canada, seeking family photographs and mementos from their first steps in Canada.

Volunteers from the Bibliography Club met weekly to catalogue books, sort newspapers, describe photographs, and organize archives, while VEMU staff handled digitization, database updates, and researcher services. At the end of the year, 205 boxes of books (8 pallets) were shipped to Estonia, and preparations began for a storage room renovation scheduled to commence in spring 2026 — for which a grant of $40,000 was received from Heritage Canada.

Exhibitions and Cultural Programming

During 2025, five exhibitions were on view at VEMU and Tartu College, including the mass exodus of 1944, an artist's ancestors' journey through Siberia, a mother-and-daughter travel memoir in Estonia, Estonian music in exile on vinyl records, and the 500th anniversary of the printing of the first book in the Estonian language. In addition, an exhibition introducing VEMU — Our Tartu: 50 Years of Tartu College — was displayed at the University of Tartu. In total, 76 events were held during the year — 51 in the spring (including 17 during Estonian Music Week) and 25 in the fall.

Regular Community Activities

Several ongoing programs continued to bring the community together throughout the year. The VEMU Book Club held three meetings, reading works by Meelis Friedenthal, Piret Jaaks, and Urmas Vadi. The Language Café, which provides a safe environment for practising Estonian, met 17 times. The Writers' Club held nine monthly meetings and published stories in the newspaper Eesti Elu. The podcast EstoCast, produced jointly with Estonian Music Week and Eesti Elu, released 20 episodes in 2025 — 10 in Estonian and 10 in English — accumulating 2,080 listens, primarily from audiences in North America and Europe.

Partnerships and Future Plans

VEMU collaborats closely with Estonian and international institutions, including the National Archives of Estonia, the University of Tartu, the Estonian Literary Museum, the Ministry of Education and Research, and Toronto cultural organizations. Preparations have advanced for the sixth Estonian Music Week, planned for May 2027, and work began on commemorating the 100th birth anniversary of composer Olaf Kopvillem in 2026. Planning also continued for VEMU's new building and permanent exhibition, and preparations were made for a fundraising campaign.

VEMU is a member of the Baltic Heritage Network, the Archives Association of Ontario, and the Bloor Street Culture Corridor.

April 4, 2026, Toronto Reet Marten Sehr, Chair of the Board

Estonian Central Council in Canada