Van Loan welcomes president of Estonia

May 14, 2013 · 0 Comments

Evelin Ilves, Peter Van Loan (MP York-Simcoe), His Excellency Toomas Hendrik Ilves (President of Estonia) enjoy a visit to the riding.

York-Simcoe MP Peter Van Loan welcomed His Excellency Toomas Hendrik Ilves, president of Estonia, to the Joekaaru Estonian Children’s Summer Camp in the Town of Georgina. The president attended the camp’s spring work day, where parents and volunteers prepared the camp for the summer season.
The visit took place during the president’s first official state visit to Canada. It also had special meaning for the current head of state – he attended the camp as a youth many years ago.
“It is a real honour for Georgina residents and members of the Canadian-Estonian community to host President Ilves. Like many others, he has fond memories of spending his summers here as a youth,” said Peter Van Loan.
The president took the opportunity to join the volunteers working on tasks like cleaning cabins, clearing brush, and stacking firewood.
“I am pleased to be here on the 61st anniversary of the camp and to join the volunteers in readying the camp for another great summer,” said the president. “Camp Joekaaru’s history highlights the deep roots of the Canadian-Estonian community and the rich cultural diversity of Canada.”
The president also participated in the spirit of the “Let’s do it!” community cleanup movement, which was born in Estonia and has now moved to 100 countries.
Van Loan and the local Councillor for Ward 5 Brad Smockum, helped the president plant a tree that will serve as a reminder of this important visit.
Camp Joekaaru, which means “river bend” in Estonian, was first opened in the summer of 1952 by a group of Canadian-Estonians. During the decades-long Soviet occupation of Estonia (which finally ended in 1991) Joekaaru was an important feature in keeping Estonian culture, language and identity alive – in the hope of a restored freedom for Estonia.
Today, the overnight camp continues to serve as a gathering point for youth with Estonian roots from around the world.