Subscribe Menu

Estonian Foundation in Canada scholarship fellow Triin Taal


Triin Taal
is an Estonian-Canadian university student who received a 2020 EFC Scholarship with funding from the new Martin & Heljo Mäeks Fund. Born and raised in Tallinn, Triin now makes her home in Ottawa where she is in the 3rd year of her Bachelor of Commerce E-Supply Chain Management at Algonquin College. She previously completed a Bachelor of Science in Sports Therapy in London, England and was an Athlete and Ambassador on the Estonian National Basketball team for 6 years.

On being Estonian
The small size of the land inhabited by Estonians and indeed the Estonian population itself are unbelievable when compared to the rest of the world. Foreign forces have enslaved Estonians for centuries, but this small nation has managed to survive and preserve its beautiful language. It is very uplifting to be part of it. Wherever I go in the wide world, I am proud to introduce everyone to this small but unique and extraordinary cultural fragment.

I am extremely fortunate to have been born of this nation, to be born in my homeland Estonia, to spend my childhood there and to hear the stories of my grandmother about her family’s terrible deportation to Siberia. These are the tragic events of our family, but they have made us strong. I have grown just as tenacious and ambitious on the basis of these stories, I have also learned to deal with difficulties where at first sight everything might seem impossible. During those times I remind myself that as an Estonian, I cannot give up so easy, that I am from a country where, according to Tammsaare, love comes from hard work! Now I can proudly say that I have been fortunate to represent Estonia in the national basketball team. However, as a true Estonian, I hope to achieve even greater things in my life and to hold Estonia’s torch high.

On EFC
Abroad, in a foreign language and cultural environment, it is sometimes more difficult to preserve our Estonian heritage. Estonian Foundation of Canada has worked very hard for it and invested a lot of time and funds to promote cultural heritage. These traditions, so important to Estonians, have been kept alive here with great care and pure enthusiasm.