Summer 2010 • Volume 32

SUMMER 2010 • VOLUME 32 ALBERTA ESTONIAN HERITAGE SOCIETY Alberta Estonian ·Heritage Society (2010) The Alberta Estonian Heritage Society (AEHS) was fonnally established on April 23 , 2005 to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of Alberta' s Estonian commun ity, and to increase awareness of developments in Estonia. BOARD J>RESIDENT ................................................ Bob Kingsep .................................. (403)-949-4249 Vice-President ....................................... Helgi Leesment ............................. (403)-217-051 5 Treasurer .............................................. Toomas Paasu ke ............................ (403)-678-0737 Secretary ................................................ Juri Kraav ...................................... (403)-257-5690 Membership ........................................ Peter Asmus ................................... (403)-980- 1952 e-mail: [email protected] AjaKaja Editor ..................................... li:da McClung .. .............................. (780)-452-2712 Communications. .................................. l>ave Kiil ......................................... (780)-988-0019 DIRECTORS- AT- LARGE: Edmonton area ..................................... Eda McCiung ................................. (780)-452-2712 Calgary area ......................................... Vacant ...................................................... Allan Post.i ...................................... ( 403)-746-3571 Stettler ................................................... Deane Kerbes ................................. ( 403 )-7 42-352 7 Barons/Medicine Hat ........................... Martha Munz Gue... ...................... (403)-526-2226 Barons/Medicine Hat ........................... Barbara Gullickson ....................... (403)-757-2229 COMMITTEES Past President/Nominations ................. Bob Tipman .................................. (403)-263-9447 AjaKaja, Calgary area .......................... Helgi Leesment .............................. (403)-217-0515 AjaKaja, Eckvillc area .......................... vacant AjaKaja, Medicine Hat/Barons ............ Barbara Gullicksou ....................... (403)-757-2229 AjaKaja, Stettler area ........................... Astrid Ustina .................................. (780)-486-5498 Chair, AEHS Website committee ......... Bob Kingsep ............ ............... (403)-949-4249 Website committee ................................. Peter Asmus ................................... ( 403)-295-0291 Website committce ................................. Lorne Hennel ................................. (403)-274-6583 Website committce ................................. Juri Kraav ...................................... (403)-257-5690 Website committcc ................................. Helgi Leesment .............................. (403)-217-0515 Alberta Estonian Heritage Society (AEHS) Website: W\nY.aehs.ca AjaKaja AjaKaja 1s published semiannually to infom1 members about Society activities and heritage topics. Publication and distribution costs are covered by membership dues. Non-members may purchase AjaKaja for $5.00 per copy by contacting Eda McClung Members and friends are encouraged to submit articles, photographs and heritage-related items to Eda McClung at [email protected] Visit "Alberta's Estonian Heritage" website: W\\W.albertasourcc.calabestonians Alberta Estonian Heritage Society Summer 2010 AJAKAJA Volume 32 From the Editors' Desk In this issue: 'Flowers and butterflies drfft in color, illuminating spring' From the Editors' Desk 3 Author Unknown President's Message 4 Greetings from Riho Kruuv 5 Butterflies in flight over a pleasant surnmer meadow are beautiful AEHS Book: 'Fredom, Land, and enchanting. They symbolize freedom, travel and and Legacy' 7 transfom1ation. They undertake epic odysseys and undergo an Piret Noorhani's Message 8 astonishing metamorphosis. AEHS AGM, 2010 10 Leah Hennel: Photographer 12 For this spring/summer issue of AjaKaja, we chose the butterfly Krista Leesment: V ANOC to symbolize the story of Alberta's Estonian pioneers. They made Volunteer 13 amazing migrations, had an instinctive impulse for freedom, and Otto Nicklom Family 14 the resources for adaptation and survival. Over a century later, The Lustwerk Family 17 their descendants still demonstrate that willingness to change and The Mike and Alma Kerbes Story 20 transform. Alberta's Estonians are recognized for celebrating and 1825 Estonian Bible 22 documenting their heritage but it doesn't end there. Peetof/Linderman 23 Viktor Virak's Reminiscences 24 AEHS is working actively to be in the present by using the Meer Celebration of Water 26 Internet to further our infonnational, social, and culhrral goals. Tartu: Estonia's 2nJ City 27 As outlined in the President's Message, our next major project Folk Dance Revolution 30 will be an update of the AEHS user website. AEHS has earned Heartsick or Lovestruck? 32 recognition for documenting its unique history. However it also Tartu U/Inte11igent Estonians 34 wants a worldwide link to others who share present day interests. Estonian Students/Internet use 35 Staying current is a task we ignore at our own peril. Conductor Anu Tali!Tusty's new film 36 The multi-generational makeup of our membership provides us 2014 Olympics: Estosadok 37 with a unique opportunity. A sense of adventure continues to be AEHS 20 l 0 Membershjp 38 reflected in the community spirit of present-day generations. Wil1 the younger generation continue the symbolic flight to preserve their heritage? Will they embrace communications technology to develop global links to Estonian interests? This is our present and future challenge. A multi-media fonnat of our heritage information is now in place. We have the capability to continue the story and to conununicate globally with those who are interested. We invite your involvement. Feedback on our use of Internet and other connnunications media to enhance the AEHS is welcome. Although no formal province-wide Jaanipaev is planned this year, we hope you take time to celebrate a wonderful Estonian Midsummer. Eda McClung and Dave Kiil President's Message Tcre! is a book documenting the Alberta Estonian story. It Congratulations everyone! is in its final phases and We have completed five wi11 be available this years as the Alberta summer. It too will be Estonian Heritage Society! another quality endeavor of which to be proud. Something in the passing of time captivates us. The challenge of Looking back, we organizing and accessing remember that after our accumulated material combining the resources of has been a concern to us. the Alberta Estonian However, through a series community and establishing ourselves as of negotiations, the Provincial Archives a registered non-profit organization, we of Alberta in Edmonton has agreed to embarked on a DVD documentary store, categorize and make available our project. This, as you know, was not a prized collection. simple conglomeration of pictures and facts, but a professionally organized work Our personal website is five years old, of art that provided an historic profile of and, as is the case with teclmology, it's a cultural community. It is a story, which time for an upgrade. Time. There's that can be appreciated by anyone regardless word again and with it an implied project of ethnicity. and a hint of predictability. The information gathered for the DVD As you know, over and above these and the experience gained during that projects, we have enjoyed Jaanipaev process provided a logical progression to celebrations, centennial events and other another ambitious project, the successful social activities. The print establishment of an historic website you hold -in your hands this moment is a documenting Alberta's Estonians. This classic example of the energy and website covers the history of the people, dedication of our talented voJunteers. places and events of the Estonian Pioneers, world war immigration and the Einstein theorized that time is a variable descendents through to the present and dependent on mass and speed. While it is makes it available for worldwide access. interesting to speculate on how we might work that phenomenon to our advantage Additional information arrived with the some day, our accomplishments, uti1izing repatriated collection from Toronto. The conventional time over these last five third project was more traditional, and in years, are quite remarkable. Perhaps it's part, was the completion of a task what we do with time that captivates us. initiated by the Centennial of 1999. This Hats off to all of you! Bob Kingsep Dear Albertan's, Ajakaja readers Photo by Wle Baum From left: Ambassador of Latvia to Canada His Excellency Margers Krams, Ambassador of Lithuania to Canada Her Excellency Ginte Damusis, Honorable Peter Van Loan, Member of Parliament and Mr. Riho Kruuv, Charge d'Affaires ofEstonia to Canada. you Estonia is a land of grandfathers, great Riho Kruuv is the Charge d'Affaires ofthe grandfathers or even great great grandfathers. Yet, Estonian Embassy in Ottawa. if you still read this journal there is probably still some Estonian blood in your veins. This is It gives me great pleasure to address you in 2010 something you can be proud of. Summer edition of AjaKaja. By now, I have been in Canada on diplomatic duty for almost half a As mentioned above, I had a chance to visit year but since the last edition was published at the Alberta in mid February enroute home from moment of my arrival, I was not able to introduce

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