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Written by Estonian Life No. 40 2019 - Markus Alliksaar

Published: 04 October 2019

A key factor that will determine the acceptability of the new Madison Ave center is parking. For this reason, I asked for a comprehensive parking study to be performed. At the last Estonian House AGM, I introduced a motion that would have mandated such a study but was prevented from presenting it to the shareholders. There were rumours of a parking study, but even though the project posted an article summarizing these findings on June 19, the study itself was never released to the public, Unfortunately, the summary was too brief for any in-depth analysis. Fortunately, the two parking studies that have been commissioned are displayed on the City of Toronto website.

Read more: Commentary - A Tale of Two...

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Written by Estonian Life No. 40 2019 - Tauno Mölder

Published: 04 October 2019

This seemingly simple question turns out to have many different answers that vary significantly. In his “Tale of two parking studies”, Markus Alliksaar reveals that the Madison project has conducted not one, but two parking studies, albeit both having significant methodological flaws. This left me wondering how many cars can actually be found parked at the current Estonian House parking lot?

The first parking study, conducted by LMM Engineering, found the maximum utilization at 12 parking spaces on Tuesday, between 4:30 and 5:00 pm and the second study by LEA Consulting found maximum utilization of 19 spaces on Saturday at 3:30pm and 36 on Tuesday 4:30pm.

Read more: How many cars are actually...

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Written by Eesti Elu Nr. 38 2019 - Markus Alliksaar

Published: 20 September 2019

Üks olulisemaid kriteeriume, mis määravad plaanitava Madisoni keskuse vastuvõetavuse meie kogukonna poolt, on parkimine. See on ka põhjuseks, miks ma palusin Madisoni projekti juhatusel läbi viia kõikehõlmava parkimisuuringu. Viimasel Eesti Maja aastakoosolekul esitasin ma ettepaneku, et selline uuring läbi viia, kuid juhatus keeldus sellist ettepanekut aktsiaomanikele esitamast. Kogukonnas käisid ringi kuulujutud, et parkimisuuring on tegelikult tehtud, Madisoni projekt isegi avaldas kokkuvõtte tulemustest 19. juunil, kuid uuringut ennast kunagi ei avalikustatud. Avaldatud kokkuvõte oli kahjuks liiga lühike, et seda põhjalikult analüüsida.

Read more: Kommentaar - Lugu kahest...

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Written by Estonian Life No. 38 2019

Published: 20 September 2019

The vision of a globally connected and vibrant gathering place for Estonians in North America and around the world is the driving force behind the new International Estonian Centre (IEC) in Toronto. To help make this vision a reality, the IEC’s Steering Committee members and advisors have collectively pledged $1 million toward its capital campaign. The Steering Committee is comprised of dedicated volunteers from each of the four organizations which are cooperatively leading the project; Veiko Parming and Glen Leis (Toronto Estonian House), Ellen Valter and Mihkel Liik (Estonian Credit Union), Eva Varangu and Mihkel Holmberg (Estonian Foundation of Canada), Jaan Meri and Peeter Einola (Tartu College) and Tom Koger (advisor).

Read more: Estonian Centre Project...

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Written by Eesti Elu / Estonian Life Online

Published: 16 September 2019

Representatives of the International Estonian Center (IEC) team met with Enn Eesmaa, Chair of the Estonian Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, in Toronto on September 11, 2019 to discuss the Centre's progress and how it fits within Estonia's Foreign Policy Development Plan 2030. "The Centre is impressive for its outstanding architectural design, and easily accessible downtown location. The detailed planning for a project of this complexity is to be commended, " said Mr. Eesmaa. "Supporting the Estonian diaspora is one of the four main objectives of Estonia's Foreign Policy Development Plan 2030, and it is heartening to personally witness the active community of Estonians in Toronto who are expanding Estonia's global cultural footprint."

Read more: Estonian Centre Project...

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Written by Eesti Elu Nr. 37 2019

Published: 13 September 2019

Leone and Toomas Kalm

Toetades uut keskust austame oma vanemate pärandit

Toronto vendade David ja John Kalmi jaoks tähendab uue Rahvusvahelise Eesti Keskuse (IEC) toetamine kummardust nende vanemate pärandile ja selle edasi viimist järgmisele põlvkonnale.

,,See pole lihtsalt niisama õhust võetud projekt,“ ütleb John, äriõiguse advokaat. „Selle taga on pärand, mis sai alguse meie vanemate pühendumusest, ning meile on antud võimalus otsustada, kuidas ühine kogukond tulevikus edasi kestab. Ootamatult üles kerkinud võimalust ei saa mööda lasta, mis tähendab, et me kõik peaksime samal eesmärgil tegutsema.“

IEC projektijuht David põhjendas pikemalt, mis ajendas ta peret saja tuhande dollari suurust annetust tegema.

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Written by Estonian Life No. 36 2019

Published: 06 September 2019

Leone and Toomas Kalm  

Supporting the new IEC is all about honouring their parents’ legacy

For brothers David and John Kalm of Toronto, supporting the new International Estonian Centre (IEC) represents honouring their parents’ legacy as well as paying it forward for the benefit of the next generation.

“This is not just any project,” says John, a corporate commercial lawyer. “It represents a legacy that began with our parents’ commitment and now we have the opportunity to define our community for the future. We have a limited window here, and we all have to get on board.”

David, who is project manager for the IEC, described their families’ motivation for stepping forward with a donation of $100,000.

Read more: Estonian Centre Project...

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Written by Estonian Life No. 32 2019

Published: 09 August 2019

Estonia's Ministry of Culture held a well-attended conference in Tallinn on July 3, 2019 within esto2019 to discuss how to strengthen Estonia's footprint around the world. The International Estonian Centre being built in Toronto is an exciting flagship building and Chair of the IEC Steering Committee, Ellen Valter presented the IEC vision to participants who had gathered from around the world. The enthusiasm the IEC generated in the room was evidenced in the comments and questions from the audience and spilled over into the social time after the presentations. "This Centre is exactly what my generation needs," said an esto2019 youth delegate, 23-year-old Viivianne Malmgren from Virginia, "a new, modern, clean and current home that reflects who we are today. I am looking forward to planting myself in the outdoor square of this centre to meet my Estonian friends from all over the world. Indeed, this Centre may be a good reason to move to Toronto!"

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Written by Eesti Elu Nr. 27 2019

Published: 05 July 2019

Eric Sehr (2019)

Mul on hea meel tervitada kõiki järjekordsel kogukonna teavituskoosolekul. Meil on põhjust põnevusega oodata meie külalise, North Design Office’i maastikuarhitekti Alissa Northi, ettekannet.

Alissa ja ta partner Peter North kujundavad International Estonian Centre (IEC) haljastuse ja rohelise katuse. Keskuse-esine väljak on üks olulisemaid detaile uues ehituses. Sellest saab meie kogukonda ühendav süda.

Kas keegi on kunagi reisinud sellistesse suurlinnadesse nagu Chicago või Pariis ja on otsustanud iga hinna eest külastada kohalikku IKEAd või Walmarti? Mina igal juhul mitte. Hoone, mis seisab keset parkimisplatsi, ei kutsu sisse astuma, ei tekita erilist paigatunnetust või rõõmu. Avalikud väljakud on need, mis seda teevad. Nad annavad ruumile mõtte. Sinna läheme siis, kui ei tea, kuhu mujale minna. Nad täiendavad hoonet, kutsuvad peatuma ja on keskseks ühiste mälestuste ja ajaloo hoidmisel. Mälestused ja ajalugu on olulised. Nad kujundavad meie kogukondi. Nad hoiavad meie kogukondi.

Read more: Eesti Keskuse Projekti...

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Written by Eesti Elu Nr. 26 2019

Published: 28 June 2019

2. juunil said Ottawa ja Montreali Eesti Seltsid kokku tulevases Eesti saatkonna hoones Ottawas, tähistamaks Eesti lipu 135. aastapäeva ning saamaks teada värskeimatest arengutest seoses International Estonian Centre (IEC) ehk Rahvusvahelise Eesti Keskuse projektiga.

Saabunuid tervitas suursaadik Lukk: „Nii Rahvusvahelise Eesti Keskuse arendamine Torontos kui ka Eesti saatkonna hoone renoveerimistööd siin Ottawas sümboliseerivad Eesti pühendumist kohalolule Kanadas.“

Tulevane Eesti saatkonna hoone Ottawas ehitati aastal 1875 ning on muinsuskaitse all. Hetkel värskenduskuuri läbiv maja avab uksed aastal 2020.

Suursaadik Lukk avaldas lootust, et IEC näol tekib kogunemiskoht kõikidele eestlastele sõltumata põlvkonnast ja varasematest sidemetest. Ka IEC enda visioon näeb ette, et sellest kujuneb kohtumispaik, kus jagada ja pühitseda kultuuri nii üksteise kui kogu maailmaga.

Read more: Eesti Keskuse Projekti...