Community Roots Scholarship

Marta Kanne

Marta is a second-year student at McGill University, studying Quantitative Biology. Marta has been an active member of the local Latvian community, attending Latvian school and later becoming a music teacher at the school. Marta is now a member of the Baltic Student Society at her university. 

Kiira Käärid 

Kiira is in her second year studying Law at Western University. Kiira participated in the local Estonian community growing up by attending the Toronto Estonian School, Estonian Summer Camps and participating in Estonian choirs. She has recently founded a not-for-profit organization, Kiki's Kitchen London, where she prepares and delivers meals to the homeless and marginally housed.

Natālija Vāgners 

Natalija is a nursing student at Humber College in the accelerated nursing program, currently in her second year of studies. Natalija has been a teacher at the Toronto Latvian Saturday School for 10 years, and has been a member of the Latvian National Youth Association of Canada Board of Directors as a secretary for 4 years and now as a treasurer. She also dances in the Latvian folk-dance group Daugavina.

Kaija Käärid 

Kaija is a third-year medicine student at McMaster University. Kaija took part in many Estonian community activities growing up, including the Toronto Estonian School, spending summers at Seedrioru Estonian Summer Camp and singing in choirs, which she continues to do today with the Hamilton Estonian Choir. Kaija now volunteers as a Crisis Text Line responder for Kids Help Phone. 

Līva Zemītis

Liva is a fourth-year student in European Studies at the University of Toronto. Liva has been a board member of the Latvian National Youth Association of Canada since 2016, and has interned for the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She has participated in all sorts of Latvian community activities, such as schools and summer camps. 

Liivi Sermat Cooke 

Liivi is in her first year of Environmental Studies at York University. Liivi has been active in the Estonian community throughout her life. She spent her summers attending both Jõekääru Summer Camp and Kotkajärve, and has also taken on various volunteer roles within the community, including volunteering at Ehatare Retirement and Nursing Home. 

Mārtiņš Linde

Martins is currently in his second year studying Landscape Architecture at the University of Guelph. Martins has grown up active in the Latvian community, attending Latvian camps throughout his life. He has also participated in several Latvian Song and Dance Festivals in Canada and the United States. Martins is currently a member of the Landscape Architecture Student Council at his school. 

Monika Hutchings 

Monika is a second year Communications and Media Studies student at Carleton University. Monika has been active in the Estonian community ever since she can remember, participating in the schools, girl guides, folk dancing and summer camps. She has taken on leadership positions as a camp counsellor, guides leader and Estonian school teacher, and has also taken a course at Tartu University to improve her Estonian language skills.