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EFC Scholarship – Helmi Hess


Helmi Hess is one of 2 Estonian-Canadian graduate students who received a 2020 EFC Scholarship with funding from the Vilma and Heinrich Blum Scholarship Fund. Currently completing an MSc in Forestry from UBC, Helmi’s Master’s thesis investigates the effects of selenium in aquatic ecosystems in the Rocky Mountains of BC (an aftereffect of coal mining). After weeks in the field trekking through rivers in the mountains, catching birds and collecting blood samples, Helmi is writing her thesis which she hopes to defend by April 2021.
Helmi Hess

Helmi also has a BSc in Biomedical Science. In fact, Helmi was planning for medical school when a research scholarship working with baby birds in the Bay of Fundy changed her life. Today Helmi’s goal is veterinary school after which she hopes to work in the Arctic to study climate change effects in animals.
After a childhood embedded in the Estonian community including TES language school and choirs, guides, and summers at Seedrioru and Jõekääru, Helmi continues to be incredibly active – in choir, Korp! Amicitia, Seedrioru and teaching at the Hamilton Estonian School.

On being Estonian
Being Estonian is very important to me because it is my past, present and future. It has always flowed in my veins. It is always with me, wherever I go and it is the home to which I can always return. Being Estonian has taught me to persevere, to uphold traditions and to honour community – values that I will pass on to my children.

On EFC:
Estonian Foundation of Canada is important to our community in order to ensure the future of Estonian culture in Canada. Activities, events and organizations that our forefathers established would cease to exist without appropriate financial assistance. Our Estonian community is able to donate and access funding through one central organization because EFC is well-known and trusted…. Thankfully, EFC is a reputable foundation through which individuals are able to support our whole Estonian community.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Estonian Foundation of Canada has granted 150 scholarships to Canadian-Estonian students since 2003. See www.estonianfoundation.ca for details on eligibility and application dates or to make a donation to help support youth in our community.