The rector at the national university's anniversary ceremony in Toronto: we can keep in touch with the expatriate Estonian community through young people

On the occasion of the 105th anniversary of the national university, a delegation visited the University of Toronto and the local Estonian community. On 1 November, a ceremony was held to discuss mutual support, young people's ties with Estonia and business cooperation. 

Delivering a speech at the 105th anniversary ceremony of the University of Tartu at Tartu College of the University of Toronto, Rector Toomas Asser stressed the importance of ties. “We have reason to be grateful to the expatriate Estonian people and to think together about what it will take to keep the relationship between the Canadian Estonian community and Estonia strong. I see that the main way to do this is through young people – through cultural and educational ties, research and business cooperation,” he said. He invited young Canadians to Tartu, where they have the best opportunity to get to know Estonian language and culture in depth during their university studies. In addition, the rector expressed his hope that the ties between Estonians in Canada will remain close, as this is the only way the bond between Tartu and Toronto can last.  

Guests at the ceremony were welcomed by Professor Andres Kasekamp, the Elmar Tampold Chair of Estonian Studies at the University of Toronto. Also in attendance was Estonian Ambassador to Canada Margus Rava, who conveyed the congratulations of the Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa Pakosta and handed over a letter of thanks from the Minister of Foreign Affairs to Professor Mihkel Tombak of the University of Toronto for his cooperation in bringing the international business accelerator programme Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) to Estonia and the University of Tartu. Rava stressed the importance of teaching Estonian in Toronto and highlighted the work of Andres Kasekamp and Peeter Einola, President of the Chair of Estonian Studies Foundation, at the opening of the Estonian language lectureship. 

Einola, who chaired the event, noted that the joint projects between Tartu and Toronto have proven successful. Over the past decades, cooperation has become increasingly mutually beneficial: Estonians in Toronto support the activities of the people of Tartu and Estonia actively contributes to the promotion of Estonian culture in Toronto. As a token of appreciation for the value of collaboration, the University of Tartu was gifted the artwork “Our animals together” by Inuit artist Oshoochiak Pudlat. 

This year, within the framework of the programme “The academic studies of Estonian language and culture abroad” (EKKAV) coordinated by the Education and Youth Board, Kadri Tüür, a researcher from Tallinn University, started teaching Estonian at the University of Toronto. At the ceremony, she presented the university's study programme in Estonian language, literature and culture. In addition, the Toronto Estonian Academic Mixed Choir Ööbik performed. 

During his visit, Rector Toomas Asser met with University of Toronto President Meric Gertler. The topics of the meeting were Estonian language teaching at the University of Toronto, the development of CDL in Tartu, support for students from Ukraine and closer cooperation between the two universities. Tõnu Esko, Vice Rector for Development met with the chief executive officer of CDL in Toronto.  

As part of the visit, researchers from the University of Tartu gave two academic lectures at the University of Toronto. The lecture by Professor of Psycholinguistics Virve-Anneli Vihman was titled “Multilingual education: language in transition in Estonia’s schools”. Professor of Comparative Politics Piret Ehin spoke about “Russia-Ukraine war: implications for ethnic relations and domestic politics in Estonia”.