KESKUS

KESKUS Project Update (#120) - KESKUS Year-End Reflection

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Thursday, 23 December 2021 19:00

Estonian Life No. 51/52 2021

As 2021 draws to a close, we reflect on a remarkable year filled with community-building, progress, challenges and excitement. Despite construction-related hurdles posed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, spirits are strong and momentum continues to build for the KESKUS project.

Over the past 12 months, KESKUS has achieved much, startiing with developing its KESKUS International Estonian Centre name, through to gaining new board members, fundraising campaign ambassadors, hundreds of new donors from around the world, and hundreds of new followers on social media and subscribers to the monthly newsletter.

New KESKUS Campaign Ambassadors

KESKUS is grateful to several wonderful Estonian celebrities who joined the project as Campaign Ambassadors. Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Former President of the Republic of Estonia, continues to serve as Honorary Chair of the KESKUS Capital Campaign.

This year, professional tennis champion Anett Kontaveit, the highest-ranked Estonian singles player of all time and the first Estonian to participate in the 2021 WTA Finals, lent her support to the project. From Estonia via video, she commented “KESKUS will be home to everyone with Estonian roots. You can do a great service by supporting KESKUS.”

Grammy-winning conductor Tõnu Kaljuste, acclaimed Estonian director Elmo Nüganen and Olympic gold medal winner Erki Nool also joined the project as Campaign Ambassadors in 2021.

Hundreds of New Donors from Across the Globe

Over the past twelve months, hundreds new donors stepped forward to pay tribute to their roots and make a lasting difference in shaping the future of the Estonian community. These donors supported KESKUS from across Canada and the United States, as well as Switzerland, Sweden, Austria, New Zealand, Italy, Germany, and of course, Estonia. The 3-day “Tere, KESKUS” campaign raised over $2.8 million thanks to matching funds provided by two generous donors.

The Capital Campaign is ongoing, and currently stands at $8.3 million of its $10 million goal. With the pandemic affecting construction supply and labour costs, KESKUS needs each and every donor. Please write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to make your contribution to ensure that KESKUS will be the best it can be.

Staying Touch + Looking Forward to 2022

During 2021, KESKUS gained almost 1000 new followers on social media. Estonians, friends of Estonia, organizations, government represetnatives, diplomats all over the world engaged with the KESKUS project.


2022 will see the completion of the full budget review given escalated costs, and the permitting process to get the project to groundbreaking.

Please sign up for the newsletter at estoniancentre.ca so that you will get this news straight to your inbox. Together, we are building for the future!

Wishing all a joyful, healthy and peaceful holiday season. Häid jõule ja head vana aasta lõppu!

Get involved and help support our future

Are you interested in helping build this spectacular new home for the global Estonian community? Please join our growing list of capital campaign donors! The International Estonian Centre’s donor categories are Kalevipoja Laud for gifts over $100,000 (including naming rights for specific areas), Viru Vanemad for gifts over $10,000, and Kungla Rahvas for gifts up to $10,000. Stay tuned for the launch of the Kungla Rahvas campaign in 2021.

To make a donation, please contact Urve Tamberg at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Donations may be made as a family gift, or in honour of an individual or family. All Canadian and U.S. donations will be issued a tax receipt.

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