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AJAKAJA Alberta Estonian Heritage Society
Summer 2005 Volume 22
TEMPLATE
AEHS Biannual Publication
Ajakaja was initiated by the Edmonton Estonian Society (EES). Publication of Ajakaja was continued by the AEHS after the Edmonton, Calgary, Barons, Stettler and Eckville societies (or the past members) were united as the AEHS in 2005. The reproduction of Ajakaja on this website includes PDF page images and OCR translated text.
The editors of Ajakaja went to great lengths to balance and format each of the pages in the publication to conform with the fixed format of an 8 1/2 by 11 inch magazine. The information contained within the articles is valuable historic information that compounds its value over time. The detailed attention to the appearance and flow of the material is an equally impressive work of art that is indicative of our era and a component that will help define us. To that end we are retaining PDF images of the original publications.
The appropriateness of the editors presentation for a paper document is undeniable, however we recognize that access to the information will continue to evolve with the introduction of newer technologies. On this basis we apologize to the editors for the divergence from the fixed display. It is a consequence of dynamic text display. We feel confident, however, that the furtherance of this valuable information justifies our approach.
OCR (Optical Character Recognition) translated text enables word wrap capabilities on small display devices (ie cell phones etc.) The OCR translation is an ongoing work in progress. As a result, issues may or may not contain articles with dynamic text displays. The preamble you are reading at this moment is presented in dynamic text display.
To observe the automatic organization of dynamic text, rotate your phone. If you are on a large display, narrow or expand your window. Find an article that is presented in both PDF and dynamic text mode and compare the fixed format of the PDF display vs the dynamic text display by using phone rotation or window sizing. The dynamic display adjusts to the device and the way you are using it.
Bob Kingsep, EDM Web Administrator
This is a PDF view, essentially a 'picture' of a page.
This is the same article, with the textual component converted to digital characters via OCR.
Letter From the Editor (Dynamic Text Display)
In the summer of 1998 I wrote the first Editorial for the newly revived Ajakaja. With the Estonian-Canadian Centennial coming up in 1999 and the planning for the Canada wide centennial celebration in full swing, it seemed a good vehicle for keeping not only Edmonton Estonian Society members but all Alberta Estonians updated on the prosed activities.
The past eight years have brought many changes. The centennial celebrations resulted from a successful collaboration between EES members, Calgary Estonians and pioneer descendants from the Medicine River, Stettler and Barons/ Lethbridge areas. In the intervening years our membership in Edmonton has been shrinking and with the resultant decline in volunteers we have no longer been able to keep up our three annual social events. The enthusiasm generated by the successful collaboration between the descendants of the pioneer families and the first generation Estonian Canadians in the meantime continued to grow. Due to the hard work and planning of too many people to mention by name in this Editorial, The Alberta Estonian Heritage Society was founded in this, Alberta’s Centennial, year bringing all groups into one Alberta wide organization.
The work needed to make the Society official will continue over the next year. But the first event has already been planned. Linda Hall has been booked for our Jaanipaev celebration on June 25, 2005 for a family style picnic with “Kerbes” theme. An afternoon ceremony raising the Estonian flag will be followed by games that the Kerbes pioneer family was famous for as well as an evening bonfire complete with a traditional sing along. It promises to be a rousing event guaranteed to bring everyone together in the newly formed organization.
Ajakaja too will undergo some changes. This issue will debut a new logo and masthead designed by the talented Mare Maxwell who started the first Ajakaja. Despite moving back to Estonia she has kept up her connection including writing a guest Editorial some years ago. It seems fitting then that a new Editor should take over the newsletter for the new Society.
I have enjoyed participating in the production of Ajakaja and my time as Editor. It has been very satisfying to see the development of our little amateur newsletter to its present attractive format. With new creative and technological changes it can only get better!
One article in particular is of great interest to me in this issue. I was a rhythmic gymnast in Evelyn Koop’s Kalev-Estienne group in my teens and I have many fond memories of performing at various Estonian celebrations in Toronto in the 1950s as well as appearances at the Estonian Days in New York City and New Jersey. We were just a small amateur Estonian group at the time. This was before Rhythmic Gymnastics became an Olympic sport and Evelyn became the doyenne of Canadian Rhythmic gymnasts.
I would like to thank all my readers of the past issues of Ajakaja and look forward to exciting and innovative changes in the coming year.
Anne-Marie Hodes
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Dynamic
Greetings to all the members of the Alberta Estonian Heritage Society
BOB TIPMAN
President, Alberta Estonian Heritage Society
I first want to thank all those people who worked so hard to create the new Alberta Estonian Heritage Society. The formation of this society is very welcome and needed if we are to continue to maintain our connection with our Estonian roots and culture. It also gives us an opportunity to bring together the descendants of the pioneer families with the first generation Estonian Canadians from all over Alberta into one organization. Over the next year we will complete the work needed to make this organization official and communicate this to the other Estonian organizations and government departments. Also, we will plan events to bring our society together and enjoy our friendship and a little Estonian culture.
Our first social function is a ‘Jaanipaev” celebration with a family style picnic to be held at Linda Hall near Stettler, Alberta on June 25, 2005. The event begins with an early afternoon ceremony around raising the Estonian flag, followed by the games that the pioneer “Kerbes” family made famous. This includes events such as log sawing, nail pounding, rolling pin throwing (at dummies of course) and horseshoes. In the early evening the traditional bonfire will be lit and, and with the help of songbooks, we will try to recall some of the tunes that our grandparents used to sing. The pioneer descendants will be relying heavily on the more recent Estonian Canadians to remember the tunes and pronounce the words. We are hoping for a large turnout to support our new organization.
Our executive will continue with formal registration of the Society with both Provincial and Federal Governments. This will make both levels of Government formally aware of the existence of the Society and establish a mechanism to access to funding. We will also advise other Estonian heritage organizations across Canada and in Estonia of our existence so we can be a focal point for contact with any distinguished visitors, artists or musicians that may be traveling to Alberta. Everyone who attended Linda Hall for the visit from President Meri in 2000 is aware of how appreciative he was of the exceptional hospitality extended to him by the Stettler Estonian community and from the Leesment and Tiislar families.
I also want to express my appreciation for all the good work that Dave Kiil did to bring this new organization into existence. He had the help of many others, notably Helgi Leesment, Juri Kraav, Eda McClung and Toomas Paasuke. Fortunately, all of these individuals are still on the executive so we have the continuity we need to make a smooth transition into the new organization. Continuing to publish Ajakaja will be important for this new organization to keep members informed and involved in the society. Development of a web site is also planned to help better communicate the work of the executive with our members, and to provide a bulletin board for making announcements. The executive is always looking for new ideas and ways to improve our society and we would welcome any suggestions from our members.
We look forward to seeing you at Linda Hall on June 25.
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Dynamic
Alberta Estonian Heritage Society is up and running!
Ain Dave Kiil
At a meeting in Red Deer on April 23,2005, 33 committed members of the fledgling Alberta Estonian Heritage Society(AEHS) reviewed recent progress and agreed on a course of action for the future.(A special thanks is extended to Jiiri Kraav for preparing and distributing Minutes of all meetings leading to the establishment of the Society).
Helgi Leesment reviewed the need for and next steps to achieve provincial and federal registration. It was agreed that “Alberta Estonian Heritage Society” will be the registered name of the organization. The primary objectives are:
1) To provide for the recreation of the members and to promote and afford opportunity for friendly and social activities,
2) To promote and preserve Estonian heritage and culture in Alberta,
3) To facilitate contact and current awareness among persons with an interest in Estonian heritage and culture in Canada, Estonia, and elsewhere.
Toomas Piiisuke advised that the Society has already attracted 67 paid-up members, with membership dues and contributions totaling $2325.00.
It was decided that the Society’s newsletter AJAKAJA will continue to be published biennially and distributed to paid- up members. Eda McClung will continue as the Publisher, with a Board of Contributors to assist in provision of material. Four regional correspondents, namely Irene Kerbes (Stettler), Jack Pallo (Eckville), Helgi Leesment (Calgary) and Barbara Gullickson (Barons) were named.
A discussion about website development resulted in a decision to proceed. It was agreed that the AEHS website should have a restricted website for members only and a home page accessible to all “surfers”. Following Helgi Leesment’s proposal, it was agreed that the website design and implementation will be headed up by Bob Kingsep. He will be assisted by Helgi Leesment, Jaan Koosel, Eda McClung, Karl Vollman, Kelly Schuler, and Astrid and Judi Ustina.
Several options were considered for events and activities in the near future. It was agreed that a province-wide event would generate added interest in the Society. Local representatives agreed to confirm the availability of Stettler and Gilby sites for a midsummer “picnic basket” celebration of Jaanipiiev.
New Executive
A new executive was elected as follows:
President: Bob Tipman
Vice-President: Helgi Leesment
Treasurer: Toomas Paisuke
Secretary: Jiiri Kraav
Membership: Karl Vollman
Website: Bob Kingsep
AjaKaja: Eda McClung
Communications: Dave Kiil
Directors at Large:
Barons/Medicine Hat: Martha Munz Gue
Gilby: Allan Posti;
Stettler: Deane Kerbes;
Edmonton: Eda McClung
Members at Large:
Arne Matiisen; Lita Herman; Peter Asmus
PS. On a personal note, I would like to express my appreciation for your support and commitment leading to a successful launch of the new Society.
Congratulations to Bob Tipman, President, and the new Executive on their appointments!
Alberta’s Estonian community is unique in all of Canada, and the multi-generational makeup and talents of the people involved will no doubt contribute to the celebration of Estonian culture and traditions that will meet our equally diverse expectations.
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