Users we've spoken to see nearby highways, free onsite parking, access to non-metered street parking, walking distance to the subway and a facility located in a safe and quiet residential area free from traffic chaos, rowdy bar hopping partiers and inner-city issues as big plusses. For 3 generations, we have let our kids joyfully roam the house without worry. What's more exciting is the recent growth of Esto community users. Lasteaed is growing with 70 kids enrolled, suggesting a bona-fide baby boom. The Pensionäride Klubi has been re-activated with renewed energy and participation. Eesti Kool, including its adult students, uses all corners of the building. Recently Koolikoor held a successful fundraiser event in the Grand Hall for its upcoming trip to the Song Festival in Eesti. Kungla, Meeskoor, Estonia Koor, Etnograafia Ring, Yoga, Lasketiir, Skaudid and Hundud all continue regular use of the facilities. Gaidid and Hellakesed (there are close to 25 hellakesed now) hold their meetings across the street at the Baptisti Kirik, because on Saturday mornings, the Eesti Maja is full of Esto users. The Noorteruum is full of symbolism and history of the Estonian Scout and Guide movement in Canada. The lasketiir is a treasure in itself, never to be duplicated. Recently its grateful community of users made improvements to these facilities. Overall, more than 31,000 square feet are utilized by permanent Esto users as well as Esto groups and users.
The Friends' Café has also brought many happy customers to Eesti Maja. The AKEN basaar was a smash hit and will continue its annual fundraising event here. With the variety of reconfigurable spaces adapting to changing user needs, Eesti Maja continues to be a cherished and sacred space for our community. A new and energetic workforce who invest their efforts planning, painting, repairing, and installing, see the potential of the building working for our community now and in the future. Organized ‘talgud' have given many a reason to return to the community to give back. Many donors have responded generously by opening their wallets, because they love the building too.
The Eesti Maja has a great business model to sustain a resurgent Esto cultural community with external renters. It has sustained a community thus far, and now there is new energy for continued sustainability. We owe it to ourselves to service a building that has serviced us so well. Efforts need to help pay down the debt incurred during the “re-development” activities, which is Eesti Maja's only significant debt. But with increased external rentals and by taking advantage of available grants and programs, the building can be maintained, expanded and sustained for generations to come.