Baltic Heritage Network seminar for young diaspora researchers in Riga on the 20th and 21st of June 2017. The aim of the Baltic Heritage Network (BaltHerNet) youth seminars is to bring together young diaspora researchers from different fields of study (history, sociology, cultural studies, literature, art, music and others): university students at bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral studies levels. The seminar also welcome university students who are just beginning to look into diaspora studies as well as experienced researchers who are willing to share their expertise with junior colleagues. Topics for presentations include, but are not limited to the following: -new research findings on the Baltic diaspora -how to research the past and present of the Baltic diaspora communities -availability of (historical) sources and data pertaining to the Baltic diaspora -researcher as a collector, researcher as an oral historian -what could be done by memory institutions to make cultural heritage of the Baltic diaspora more accessible and available Please feel free to propose additional topics. The seminar will be conducted in English and is free of charge for all participants. Please send abstracts of up to 1 page to maarjamerivooparro@gmail.com. The deadline for submissions is June 5th, 2017.

On May 10th, 2017, Professor Jüri Kivimäe of the University of Toronto E. Tampõld Chair of Estonian Studies gave a lecture on the topic of “The Meaning of the Lutheran Reformation in Estonian Culture” to celebrate 500 years since the beginning of the reformation. Professor Jüri Kivimäe is currently finishing his final year teaching after 17 years at the University of Toronto. See photos of the event here

VEMU has tried to walk hand in hand with Estonia with our programme of events. One way we do this is by keeping an eye on the themes the Ministry of Culture announces in Estonia each year. In 2013 we celebrated the Year of Cultural Heritage with a number of projects. For the Year of Music in 2015 we announced a collection campaign, which we concluded in the summer of 2016 at the symposium dedicated to Roman Toi’s 100th birthday. 2016 was the Year of Sea Culture. Marko Matvere and Peep Raun visited us with their songs and stories of their experiences at sea. In Estonia, 2017 has been announced as the Year of Children and Youth Culture. To celebrate this, VEMU invited well-known Estonian author, translator, and librettist Leelo Tungal to Canada. Leelo Tungal arrived in Toronto on April 27th and had a busy week attending many events. The day after Leelo Tungal arrived, Kaja Telmet and Helge Kurm took our guest to visit Canada’s largest natural wonder, Niagara Falls. On Saturday, Leelo Tungal made a trip to the Estonian House to participate in the frenzy at the AKEN Bazaar and make sure that Estonians can truly do their banking in their mother tongue at the Toronto Estonian Credit Union. On April 30th VEMU hosted its 6th Fundraiser where Leelo Tungal was an honoured guest and keynote speaker. The author shared her childhood memories and pondered over the perseverance of the Estonian language and culture. In addition to Leelo Tungal, Tartu College President Jaan Meri and Chief Archivist of VEMU Piret Noorhani greeted the guests. Toronto-based catering company The Edible Story with chefs Brian Cheng and Alanna Fleischer served a delicious dinner. Dinner was followed by a special performance by the new jazz ensemble “The Facebook Four.” Some of the members were already known to Toronto Estonians: Toomas Heinar (bass), Eve Heinar (piano), and Vincent Teetsov (drums). It was the saxophonist Selchuk Shun’s first time performing for Estonians. In Toronto, Leelo Tungal also met with the Bibliography Club and the Tartu College Life Stories Group, performed at the T.E.S. Supplementary School as well as the Estonian retirement home, Ehatare. On May 3rd, Leelo Tungal gave a lecture at Tartu College on the topic of “Our Fairytale Mother Language. 25 Years Since the Sten Roos Fairytale Competition.” Ann and Ants Roos organize the Sten Roos Fairytale Competition in memory of their son Sten Roos (1970-1991) who wrote fairytales as a child. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the competition of which Leelo Tungal has been one of the main initiators and organizers. Piret Noorhani

On March 4th, 2017 the exhibit Sharing Our Stories: The Baltic Diaspora at Home in Canada was opened at VEMU in the hall of Tartu College. After being on display at VEMU through March, the exhibit moved to the Toronto Latvian Centre in April, and to the Lithuanian Museum Archives of Canada in June. The Baltic Germans will be displaying the exhibit at their annual Canadian Baltic Immigrant Aid Society Spring Dance in Kitchener on May 13th. Piret Noorhani

On April 1st Kotkajärve Metsaülikool celebrated its 50th anniversary with an exhibit opening at Tartu College featuring photos from past and present. People of Estonian heritage have attended this camp in Muskoka, Canada every summer since 1967. Lectures and workshops are interspersed with other fun activities, such as canoeing, visiting the sauna, folk dancing, and partying. Maimu Mölder opened the exhibit and VEMU’s Chief Archivist Piret Noorhani also greeted the guests. The film of Kaja and Tiit Telmet’s wedding in 1972, which was held at Kotkajärve and followed Estonian wedding traditions, was screened. Guests were also treated with a performance by the Jaaniku ensemble. If you were unable to attend the opening, the exhibit will be on display at Tartu College until August 31st. At the end of the summer the exhibit will travel on to Estonia. See photos and videos of the opening event here Piret Noorhani

It is mostly a 1,057-page paper copy of the Alberta Estonian Heritage Society’s heritage website content, with some added material.

In 2018 the Republic of Estonia will be celebrating its 100th birthday. For this jubilee year, the Estonian Maritime Museum will be opening an exhibit at the Seaplane Harbour on February 23, 2018 about ships that have been related to significant Estonian historical events on both sides of the Iron Curtain.

In fall of 2016, senior researcher of Lithuanian Studies Department at the National Library of Lithuania, Dr. Dalia Cidzikaitė, took part in a web documentary on contemporary migration “La Crise Migratoire et Nous” (in French and Lithuanian) created by French Institute in Lithuania.