The Estonian kindergarten in Toronto marked their 40th anniversary with a grand birthday party on February 19th. A sign of the times is that many of today’s kasvandikud have a parent of non Estonian background.

As Anita Saar, this year’s kindergarten director noted at the celebration, of the 76 children in the six classes of the kindergarten fully 60% have one parent that does not speak Estonian. Even more remarkable is that 4 children have parents who don’t speak Estonian at all!

A very positive aspect is that these non-esto parents embrace our culture with a passion, and willingly support our Estonian schools at all levels.

Anita Nippak Genua was the chair of the kindergarten anniversary celebration committee, and her speech thanking parents was delivered in both Estonian and English, reflecting the reality pointed out above. Here is an excerpt from her address:

“Nowadays, very often both parents work, have stressful workweeks, and look forward to their downtime on weekends. Many have married non-Estonian partners, travel for business or work at home on the weekends.

“However, instead of having a slow Saturday morning, they wake the kids up just as early as ever and often drive from area code 519, 905, even 705, and make it to the Toronto Estonian House for 9:30. And then, since we are a co operative nursery school, the parents work for the Estonian kindergarten.

“Wow!

“I believe that you parents who are here today can still feel the energy that was put forth to the school 40 years ago from the parents of the previous generation. See how you feel when you look at the photos from the past on the walls today.

“Eesti Lasteaed is thriving. It is a collection of the work that was and still is.

“We now have the vision of being “global Estonians”, at ease in the GTA, Canada, Estonia, Australia, New York, Sweden, - and the list goes on. Our children can now be part of an inspired international community that shares an intimacy through the Estonian language and culture. To feel meaningfully connected through community is a gift that you have given your children that will last a lifetime. Eesti Lasteaed is their first step.

“I thank all the parents in the room today for their tenacity and belief in this vision.

“Elagu tublid eesti vanemad!”

Märkmed: