A place for seniors in the Estonian Community
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VanemadUuemad
God bless you, Maimu!12 Mar 2018 17:49
Where were you when we needed you desperately?
When Meiusi, Marta and the mob were trying to destroy Ehatare out of revenge for Rosie?
Thank you.12 Mar 2018 20:57
As the community ages the current Esto House becomes increasingly inaccessible to Seniors. The driveway entrance is a huge challenge for canes, walkers and wheelchairs. Curbs on the outside and stairs going up and down inside. The north entrance is usually blocked by a car or two so walkers and wheelchairs unload at the street. Once inside, Seniors with limited mobility cannot access the Consulate, the Insurance Office, the Youth Room, the Rifle Range. Even access to the Main Hall is impossible when the Middle Hall is in use by a third party. Esto House needs major renovation at huge costs if it is to remain welcoming and functional for Seniors. Thanks for highlighting this issue.
hangman13 Mar 2018 07:55
EH has an elevator that enables access to bank, insurance, consulate, saalid, basement, etc.

I haven't seen any plans for elevator for Madison though.
Check your facts13 Mar 2018 13:05
The insurance office nor the consulate are accessible by elevator, and there IS an elevator planned for Madison.
Väino13 Mar 2018 08:37
All the access issues for Estonian House are resolvable for far less than the $285,000 that has been spent over the last 5 years on consultant fees. Moreover as evidenced by the Friends of Estonian House , there is government grant money available for handicap access projects. All we need to do is ask. The capital renovations to Estonian House to resolve the issues of accessibility including access to new handicap accessible washrooms on the main floor will cost less than what we've spent on consultant fees. It is also far less than the shortfall projected for the Madison project of $9.0 million. For those that are apprehensive about renovations to the old Chester Street school I remind them that the Asbestos issue is a red herring. The school was completed in 1891. Asbestos was not introduced into building materials in Canada until the 1900's Where there is a will there is a way. Teeme ära!
Re:asbestos14 Mar 2018 15:29
The additions to EM and renovations to the old school buildings were done in the 60's and 70's when asbestos was used extensively in building materials. It was in flooring, ceiling tiles, drywall, thermal insulation, acoustic insulation, even roofing. There is asbestos in Eesti Maja and removing it is complicated.
check again !!13 Mar 2018 09:36
ummmm... you obviously haven't been to the consulate or the insurance office .
There is NO elevator access .
Karl Otsa13 Mar 2018 10:58
Then there is the issue of washroom handicap accessible and for others. How many washrooms ARE the for the entire building??

If it is so easy to make the building accessible WHY wasn't such addition made during the two major additions?

Weren't there any infirmed, handicapped or even elderly who wished to use a building that they helped finance or donated to?
hangman13 Mar 2018 14:13
How many WCs in EH? Sounds like a trivia question. Let me see if I get this right.

The main bathrooms are in the basement. Men's women's and family/handycapped between them. For some reason women's bathroom has better decor. Then there are men's and women's near insurance/consulate and also one single or set of two one floor above it next to Noortetuba, north side. And then there is one single bathroom between entrance to the lasketiir and Noortetuba.

Is there any secret bathroom in the bar or kitchen that I don't know about?
Samalt IP numbrilt on siin varem kommenteerinud: hangman (07:55)
Karl Otsa13 Mar 2018 13:18
I can't understand WHY there are people thumbs down on my commentary?

Those who put thumbs down are you against additional washrooms, against handicap accessible entrances or that nearly 50 years has passed since anyone questioned the LACK of such facilities when 2 MAJOR renovations or additions were made and these suggestions were overlooked?
Samalt IP numbrilt on siin varem kommenteerinud: Karl Otsa (10:58)
Guido Laikve13 Mar 2018 14:37
You should ask these questions from the Board, who provided the base requirements and refused to do any required renovations or repairs over the past 15+years. With proposed EH renovations a new corridor will be provided between the two entrances at the end of Crystal Hall and a new elevator near the central entrance to serve all floors. New additions will be constructed if required for additional income. The EH will be renovated and beautified. The possibilities are endless at Brosdview Estonian House. Community Centre
Guido Laikve13 Mar 2018 14:39
You should ask these questions from the Board, who provided the base requirements and refused to do any required renovations or repairs over the past 15+years. With proposed EH renovations a new corridor will be provided between the two entrances at the end of Crystal Hall and a new elevator near the central entrance to serve all floors. New additions will be constructed if required for additional income. The EH will be renovated and beautified. The possibilities are endless at Brosdview Estonian House Community Centre.
Samalt IP numbrilt on siin varem kommenteerinud: Guido Laikve (14:37)
The shame of it all!13 Mar 2018 18:21
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Huh?13 Mar 2018 18:33
It sounds like you have mixed up Eesti Elu and Eesti Maja, two different entities. What in the world has Eesti Elu got to do with renovations to Eesti Maja?
Kadri Wichman13 Mar 2018 21:08
It’s all very murky, and muddy—sogane vesi, a swamp. A mess. Very confusing...
Who has been snuggling up to who anyway…? The insurance company to the Consulate, or the Consulate to the Insurance company? The insurance company is free to rent elsewhere, are they not? They do not have to rent and be in the Eesti Maja. The commentary about ‘there is no elevator to the insurance company” is arrogant. Is the insurance company not free to relocate to better conditions? Rent elsewhere, kui Eesti Majas ei sobi?… Why has the insurance company stayed this long anyway?….complaining now of no elevator? Insurance company employees are talking to ETV that the roof leaks, and heating is intermittent,putting the Eesti Maja down, yet they are totally free to relocate, find better conditions, other jobs? no?
Toronto Eesti Consulate should (a long time ago) have had it’s own presence in Toronto anyway, it’s own dignified entrance, not a sidedoor/an offshoot from a third floor insurance company. I realize there’s a history here, with Consul Ilmar Heinsoo having been the owner of the insurance company (Heinsoo Insurance) and being Consul at the same time, but that seems long in the past….
Also, if Siht Kapital has kindly been subsidizing Eesti Maja…Where were those contributions and annetused to Siht Kapital directed to re the Eesti Maja? To Eesti koolid? To Heat? To taxes? Obviously not to repairs… Looking forward to clarification.......
Thomas Heinsoo14 Mar 2018 14:14
It’s unfortunate that after close to 47 years where Heinsoo Insurance has been subsidizing the Estonian honorary consulate that some of our Estonian friends are unaware of the service of the Consulate . Our office with it’s “ dignified entrance , on the second floor” has been serving the Estonian community in most of Canada during this time. It has been important for the community that the Consulate is located in the Estonian House - and as such , the insurance brokerage has remained here also ! After Ilmar Heinsoo’s retirement , the Estonian Foreign Ministry appointed Laas Leivat and Thomas Heinsoo as Consul and Assistant Hon . Consul for purposes of continuity . We hope that the community has appreciated our presence .

Honorary Consulates are appointed by the Estonian Foreign ministry and do not receive financial assistance from Estonia. An Honorary Consulate usually is run in conjunction with a business operation and the services we provide are done in addition to our day to day insurance operations. As such we have provided translation, interpreting , assistance with documentation from Estonia, application for Estonian passports and the like for a fair number of years.

Our office has no elevator access and is often difficult for the elderly to access. This is not a complaint!
Facts such as roof leaks and intermittent heating are true. We are long time tenants of this building and pay rent and are aware of the shortcomings of the building as it is now .
The fact that fundraising is done for the roof project is telling. We are also keenly aware that the building is ageing .

We would be most happy to provide additional information on our operations to anyone who has questions.
Samalt IP numbrilt on siin varem kommenteerinud: check again !! (09:36)
It's a disgrace!14 Mar 2018 13:06
Meiusi becomes a contributing editor at EWR, gets a platform to spew facts, fantasies and even slanders; then, erases commentary that he does't like.
Samalt IP numbrilt on siin varem kommenteerinud: The shame of it all! (18:21)
Kadri Wichman14 Mar 2018 19:51
Aitah Toomas Heinsoo for your response! I did not know that Heinsoo Insurance has been subsidizing the Consulate all these years! Hats off to you, your father, and the name Heinsoo for that! 47 years no less.! THat really is something! I did not know the relationship between the insurance company and the Consulate in their shared space nor did I know that you are Hon. Assistant Consul either.
The Consulate and its services are top notch. There is no one ‘unaware of the service of the Consulate’ !. Consulate and its services are excellent in all ways. Consulate has gone above and beyond the call of duty, they are always accessible, efficient, knowledgeable, informative and friendly to top it off! No discussion or issue about Consulate’s services whatsoever.

I am still however, a little confused about some stuff....…. …. And will write my questions and confusions tomorrow. Again, Thank you for writing and the selgitus. Appreciate it.
Samalt IP numbrilt on siin varem kommenteerinud: Kadri Wichman (21:08)
Jaak Jarve15 Mar 2018 15:27
Hello darkness, my old friend
I've come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence

In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
'Neath the halo of a street lamp
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence

And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never share
No one dared
Disturb the sound of silence

"Fools" said I, "You do not know
Silence like a cancer grows
Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you"
But my words like silent raindrops fell
And echoed in the wells of silence

And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming

And the sign said, "The words of the prophets
Are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls"
And whispered in the sounds of silence
Ingrid Tanner02 Apr 2018 18:53
Asbestos

http://wx.toronto.ca/intra/hr/...

Most of our homes have asbestos... and your car surly has it in the brake linings.
My father died of asbestosis... and I witnessed the slow decline in his ability to breath. Thus, I do not take lightly the the presents of asbestos.

Back to our OLD apartment buildings. We HAVE removed asbestos in an apartment complex. All is possible. The asbestos that is in tact is safe. Should upgrades occur... the asbestos should be removed. The companies that do the removal are professionals... and everything is sealed off... and they even setup a shower in the closed off areas to ensure that non gets into the buildings.

Thus, please do not create a mountain where it is just a process like anything else. Keeping or selling the Estonian house will entail safe removal of asbestos. They cannot just put it into a dumpster. The removal will cost US while renovating the Estonian House and/or it will depreciate the value of the Estonian House purchase prices should Asbestos removal have to happen for demolition.
Ingrid Tanner02 Apr 2018 19:47
Accessibility at the Estonian House

This too can be fixed... short term

first... have someone ticket people who park and block the side entrance . Not fair for the people who need to have accessible access.

Determine if it is the staff or visitors?

rent lifts... example at the side door to the large hall and middle hall. Or ramps. though ramps could make it challenging if to steep a slope. But ponder options is a MUST. Should we keep the Estonian House better and more fluid solutions can be installed during renovations.
Samalt IP numbrilt on siin varem kommenteerinud: Ingrid Tanner (18:53)
Ingrid Tanner02 Apr 2018 20:01
Why I believe the current Estonian House should be renovated and upgraded.
First... the location is great. We have a property that has spectacular views of the Don Valley... can you just imagine a beautiful hall with a balcony overlooking the don valley... fall colours... to spring growth to green views... this is a one in a million view that can be marketed.

We have a large piece of land that includes onsite parking... Parking can be charged... to add to the revenue steam.

We have multiple halls... that allow us to rent earn funds from more than one source.

We can upgrade our heating system and immediately lower the maintenance costs. We can ask the city for an energy audit that will out line the cost savings of retrofitting our heating and our lights.

https://saveonenergy.ca/Busine...

All the experts are available to help calculate the saving in energy costs.

Perhaps the "friend of the Estonian House" can look into this... just like they were able to get funding to help fix our roof... since our management does not seem to know how to get things done.
Or they are reluctant to get things done... so as to present the negative aspects ... not the possibilities.
Samalt IP numbrilt on siin varem kommenteerinud: Ingrid Tanner (18:53), Ingrid Tanner (19:47)
To Ingrid03 Apr 2018 08:24
Please get a group together of like minded people and put together a credible business plan. Hoping that someone will do this for the past upteen number of years has yielded zero results to properly renovate and renew the present Estonian House. To keep bringing this up without a plan is just torturing those who really want it.
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