Nicole Pede is an Estonian-Canadian university student who received a 2020 EFC Scholarship with funding from the new Martin & Heljo Mäeks Fund. After completing a degree in French, Nicole is completing her Bachelor of Education at Queen’s University. An excellent student with a passion for French Literature, she plans to pursue graduate studies.
Nicole grew up fully integrated in the Toronto Estonian community, attending camp at Jõekääru and Kotkajärve, graduating from Estonian School, attending Guides, and taking 2 trips with the school choir to the youth song festival in Estonia.
On being Estonian:Being Estonian is the largest and most significant part of my self-concept and my identity. When asked to describe myself, it is most often the first thing that I share about myself. Moreover, being Estonian is the basis for the majority of my values. Knowing what my grandparents and what many of the first generation of Estonian people who immigrated to Canada endured has taught me the value of perseverance, having a strong work ethic and the importance of family, community and friendships.
In addition to shaping my values, [being Estonian] is also the source of many of the unique experiences that I have had and will continue to have going forward. I am looking forward to finding meaningful ways to give back to the Estonian community in the future.
On EFC:The Estonian Foundation of Canada is important to the vitality and the longevity of the Estonian community in Canada. It supports organizations that bring people together out of a shared love for the language and culture. Without the financial support of EFC, many of these organizations would likely struggle to provide the programming and events that have been appreciated by so many Estonian and non-Estonian Canadians, both young and old. Our Estonian community in Canada likely would not be as strong and long-lasting.
