Vancouver Estonian Society
6520 Oak Street V6P 3Z2 Vancouver, BC, Canada

Eesti Elu is searching for a new visual identity for their website! If you are a graphic designer, or know someone who may be interested, view and share their post info below.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs invites Estonians to take part in a survey. Full details can be found at this post, with the survey available at: https://formulas.mfa.ee/851612?lang=en

Estonian Foundation of Canada - Eesti Sihtkapital Kanadas is holding a Short Story Contest! Follow the link below for all the details deadline to submit is December 31, 2020. https://estonianfoundation.ca/en/efc-short-story-contest

Reminder to take some time today to complete Estonian Foundation of Canada - Eesti Sihtkapital Kanadas recent survey. View their post for survey link!

Head Eesti Taasiseseisvumispäeva! Happy Restoration of Independence Day, Estonia! On August 20, 1991, Estonia regained its independence. Read further about the history of the events leading up to and surrounding this day...... Estonian World (English): https://estonianworld.com//estonia-celebrates-the-day-of-/ Riigikogu.ee (Estonian, from 2016): https://m.riigikogu.ee/fookusteemad/taasiseseisvumine

Head Eesti Taasiseseisvumispäeva! Happy Restoration of Independence Day, Estonia! On August 20, 1991, Estonia regained its independence. Read further about the history of the events leading up to and surrounding this day...... Estonian World (English): https://estonianworld.com//estonia-celebrates-the-day-of-/ Riigikogu.ee (Estonian, from 2016): https://m.riigikogu.ee/fookusteemad/taasiseseisvumine

On August 23, Canadians commemorate Black Ribbon Day, the National Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Communism and Nazism in Europe. Black Ribbon Day 2020 Online Commemoration taking place tomorrow: Thursday, August 20 at 10am PST (1pm EST)... Register at: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_aYbmwKITQ8iscMgyYuvm7A Established through a unanimous resolution of Canada’s Parliament in 2009, Black Ribbon Day coincides with the anniversary of the signing of the infamous Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact between Nazi Germany and the Communist Soviet Union. Soon after the Pact was signed, the two regimes jointly invaded and dismembered Poland, starting World War II. Millions of men, women and children were murdered, imprisoned, and subjected to dreadful brutality by the Nazi and Soviet regimes. On Black Ribbon Day, we honour the memory of millions of innocent victims of Nazi Germany and the Communist Soviet Union. Hosted by: The Central & Eastern European Council of Canada (CEEC) The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC)

Mälestame koos Balti ketti Baltic Way Commemoration Join us for a celebration to commemorate the historic and peaceful Baltic Way demonstration of 1990, when approximately two million citizens of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia joined hands to form a 675 km human chain to express their resistance to 50 years of soviet occupation. The event will be held on Saturday, August 22, 2020 and take place at Jericho Pier located on Jericho Beach. The event will consist of two parts f...eel free to join for one or the other if you can't take part in both. 3pm: Picnic/BBQ on the grass area near the beach (look for flags of our Baltic Countries). Due to COVID-19, we will enjoy separate picnics in our own social bubbles and forgo a potluck table. 6pm: We will sing the well known Baltic Way songs and watch our local Baltic paddlers on stand up paddleboards make a special appearance with boards painted in their national colours. Organized by Lithuanians of British Columbia, registration is required and please read over all of the details about ensuring a safe commemoration. Registration available at: https://www.imambo.com/balticway/registration/index.html Thank you to Vidas Vitkus for this excellent video showing memories from our 30th Anniversary commemoration in 2019.

Estonian Foundation of Canada is conducting a community survey and has asked for your input! The survey should only take 5-7 minutes and your input is really important. EFC provides regular financial support to the Vancouver Estonian community, so join us in taking a moment to help them by completing the survey if you haven’t already. Deadline is August 31! Access the EFC survey here: https://forms.gle/tXnmYEpvVDPpF3BQA... If you have any questions or concerns, please contact EFC directly 416-465-5600 or [email protected].

More excellent live music to enjoy from Eesti! Be sure to view our VES Online Jaanipäev event page as well for more links to get you in the Jaanipäeva mood! Head Jaani!

Head Jaanipäeva kõigile!!

XXXV Lääneranniku Eesti Päevad 35th West Coast Estonian Days Festival takes place next summer, July 16 to 18, 2021! Save the Date! See their post below for links to a recent article sharing news from the planning team (available in Estonian and English), including the upcoming logo contest deadline of June 28.

Täna 14. juunil on Eestis lipu- ja leinapäev. Today on June 14, Day of Mourning and Commemoration in Estonia, we remember the victims of the 1941 and 1949 Soviet mass deportations to Siberia. We remember those who suffered, and those who lost their lives because of repression during the periods of occupation in Estonia. On this day, the Estonian flag flies at half-mast. Please view the Estonian Central Council in Canada's virtual commemoration (plus further info below) at: ht...tps://youtu.be/DAtq3qF5ffI Photo gallery: "Wagon of Tears" installation at Vabaduse väljak, Tallinn's Freedom Square, commemorating the victims of the June deportation of 1941: https://news.err.ee//gallery-deportation-victims-commemora Õhtuleht article (in Estonian): https://www.ohtuleht.ee//puhapaeval-heisatakse-eesti-lipud

If we can't celebrate together in person at Mäeotsa this year, we will celebrate online instead! Join us for our online Jaanipäev video event, Saturday, June 27th at 7pm PST. Follow our event page for further information closer which will be added closer to the video date.

Kevad tuli teisiti. Kontsertüritus lauluväljakul! Watch the virtual choir and Ivo Linna concert from the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds online at: https://etv.err.ee//kevad-tuli-teisiti-kontserturitus-laul