Pauline Browes, a former PC Member of Parliament, Federal Minister, an EKN Medal of Merit recipient (1990) and a great help to the Estonian community at a time when Estonia was fighting for its independence (late 1980's-91), is running for election in the Scarborough-Guildwood, the riding that encompasses Eesti Kodu and Ehatare.
Pauline Browes receiving an Estonian and Canadian flag lapel pin from Aino Uus. Photo: Adu Raudkivi
Browes will be going to Eesti Kodu on January 11 at 5 PM for a question and answer session with the Estonian community. "It feels as if I'm going home," said Browes.
"Pauline was fantastic, helping us every way she could, throughout the time she was in Ottawa," said Aino Uus, a fellow teacher who has known Browes for nearly thirty years.
"In 1989 we went to the Baltic states with a group of Canadian politicians, first Lithuania for the elections, then Latvia and finally arriving at Estonia. There I was surprised to see Aino. It was obvious the government were not glad to see us, especially when we were asking pointed questions," said Browes.
"When we left Estonia on an Aeroflot airliner to go to Moscow (from there they would fly to Canada) the airliner kept circling the airport for an hour. Finally there was an enormous crash and the airliner re-landed at Tallinn. Later we found out that we had been shot at."
With her experience, Browes is seen as one of the star candidates being fielded by the Conservatives. It would be interesting to see her read on the current political scene.
Sending Pauline Browes back to Ottawa would be an opportunity to say thank you for all that she has done for Estonians.
