KESKUS International Estonian Centre has secured $750,000 funding from the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).
The additional funds will bolster the $41 million current budget of the project that was initially estimated to cost $18 million.
“The KESKUS International Estonian Centre is a fantastic new community space for families to gather and celebrate their cultural heritage. Our government is happy to support projects like these that foster inclusivity and connectivity while leaving a lasting legacy for the Estonian community in Canada,” said Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.
The $750,000 contribution from the Government of Canada to this project enables the current below grade work underway, including removing contaminated soil from the former city parking lot, waterproofing the TTC subway infrastructure, backfilling it with clean soil, covering the subway tunnels and erecting structural concrete and steel, on which the open and publicly accessible courtyard rests, announced Estonian Arts Centre, the charity associated with KESKUS.
The KESKUS is expected to open in fall of 2024.
Viimased kommentaarid
Kommentaarid on kirjutatud EWR lugejate poolt. Nende sisu ei pruugi ühtida EWR toimetuse seisukohtadega.
Truth is painful30 Jul 2023 07:54
This Keskus project is not a sustainability plan for the Toronto Estonian community but instead for the Northern Birch Credit Union. The Credit Union has now been able to move from a low traffic residual area to a high traffic main street address in Toronto. Even the old Estonian House management is not running this Keskus project. It is the Credit Union running the affairs. Rumour has it that the Keskus project does not even have a building permit in place since the TTC has not given the green light to build upon their tunnels yet. Funny how transparency has been discarded in this "Oh so popular project."
lugeja30 Jul 2023 06:29
Diplomaat, I agree 100% and you said it perfectly! Especially your last sentence - Newcomers are treated as valued additions to the community, rather than as a lesser form of Estonian.
That's exactly the way it is. I've for example heard one leading figure in our community say that the stronger ones escaped from Eesti and the weaker ones stayed behind (just one example, there are many others). Embarrassing and shameful, what a waste.
Diplomaat29 Jul 2023 14:30
The reason estos from Estonia are turned off by Canadian estos comes down to how they are received. There is a high degree of arrogance among Canadian estos. I myself have heard many claim there would not be an Eesti if it wasn’t for them (ironic considering these words are spoken predominantly by those who do t even know Estonian themselves). They regard themselves as more Estonian that the actual people born and raised in VABA EESTI and have come here. Simple as that. In the US communities kodueestlased are welcomed as a connection to the Isamaa. They are encouraged to help up learn more. To help us connect. This is why the communities in Washington, New York, LA, and Chicago are thriving. Newcomers are treated as valued additions to the community, rather than as a lesser form of Estonian.