Community Roots Scholarship

Elizabete is a second-year student in the Concurrent Education program at Brock University. She has been connected to her Latvian roots throughout her life, attending Latvian school in Hamilton and later assisting with classes and dance after graduation. Elizabete is also involved with the Girl Guides in Hamilton and is skilled at playing the traditional Latvian instrument, the kokli. Additionally, she has participated in the Latvian folk-dance group, Vainadziņš, traveling with them to Latvian Song and Dance Festivals over the years.

Johanna Kiik is a second-year student at the University of Toronto, studying Cell and Molecular Biology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and English. With both parents of Estonian heritage, she has been active in the Estonian community since childhood. Johanna has worked as a music teacher at Toronto Estonian Kindergarten, a counselor and lifeguard at Seedrioru, and a kindergarten teacher at Hamilton Estonian School. Currently, she teaches the “mudilaste” (toddler) class at Toronto Estonian Kindergarten.

Felix Tamm is a second-year urban planning student at Concordia University in Montreal. He has been actively involved in Estonian Scouts, the weekly Estonian supplementary school, and Estonian camp throughout his life. Staying connected to his roots,  Felix volunteers as a Scout leader at the annual camp and has dedicated time to working with children at the Estonian kindergarten.

Katrina is in her third year of the Life Sciences program at Queen's University. She has been involved with the Estonian volleyball community for a long time, with fond childhood memories of summers at Jõekääru Kalev Volleyball Camp and volunteering at their fundraisers at Tartu College. In her spare time, Katrina is a competitive equestrian, takes part in extracurricular clubs at Queen's, and enjoys staying active through outdoor activities like running, hiking, and biking.

Stephen Jenkins is in his second year of the Management and Organizational Studies program at Western University. Stephen has been involved in the Estonian community from a young age as a camper and later counsellor at Jõekääru and Kotkajärve summer camps, as a student at the Toronto Estonian School, and a Scout with the Estonian Boy Scouts. Stephen has also joined the Estonian fraternity Korp! Rotalia, in Toronto.

Teija Hogg is a first-year student in Family Studies and Human Development at the University of Guelph. Teija has been engaged in Toronto’s Estonian community throughout her life. Since childhood she has participated in Girl Guides and has attended both Estonian summer and volleyball camps. She has become a dedicated club volleyball player, devoting much of her spare time to the sport.

Joona is in his second year of the Civil Engineering program at the University of Toronto. He has been involved with the Estonian community in Toronto since moving to Toronto 7 years ago, including Boy Scouts, winter camps in Kotkajärve, and volunteering at events like Latitude 44 and Estonian Music Week. Joona is also a member of the Estonian fraternity, Rotalia, in Toronto.

Monika Siim is a first-year student at York University in Toronto, currently studying Film. She has been connected to the Estonian community from a young age, singing in choirs and dancing. She recently taught at the Chicago Estonian House’s language immersion summer camp, and she currently works in the archives at the Estonian Museum of Canada, helping preserve historical memory by digitizing photo collections. She enjoys organizing events and staying connected to her community.

Natalie is a first-year MSc student in Digital Policy at University College Dublin. She has been active in Toronto's Estonian community through Girl Guides and the Estonian school and spent her summers at Jõekääru and Kotkajärve summer camps. Currently, she works at Eesti Elu/Estonian Life newspaper, writing articles and connecting with young Estonians through her interview series, “Community Unwrapped”. She also teaches journalism workshops at the Toronto and Hamilton Estonian schools. In her spare time, Natalie enjoys making music.

Miks is in his first year of Mechanical Engineering at Toronto Metropolitan University. He was born in Riga, Latvia and moved to Canada with his family in 2009. Miks attended the Toronto Latvian Saturday School from kindergarten age and has continued to remain involved there after graduating, working as a teacher's assistant.

Alek Kness is in his first year of the Commerce Program at McMaster University. Alek has been involved in the Latvian community throughout his life, attending Saulaine Latvian camp during his childhood and graduating from the Latvian Summer High School (Garezers Vasaras Vidusskola) in the USA. He is an avid volleyball player, participating in tournaments at Sidrabene and Garezers. After graduating from the Toronto Latvian Saturday School (TLBSS), Alek returned to teach kindergarten class for a number of years.