(May 19th, 1941 – October 31st, 2025)
It is with great regret and sorrow that myself and colleagues at the Embassy learned about passing away of John Olaf Soosaar, Honorary Consul of Estonia in Halifax.
Mr. Soosaar was an outstanding Canadian who was proud of his Estonian heritage, from where his parents escaped the Soviets during Second World War and eventually settled in Nova Scotia, Canada.
His journalistic achievements earned him also a place in the delegation led by Mr. Michael Wilson, then Trade Minister of Canada, to Tallinn, Estonia, in September 1991. The country had just regained its independence and Mr. Soosaar saw and reported firsthand the official acknowledgement of that by Canada.
From 2010 onwards Mr. Soosaar served as Honorary Consul of Estonia, hosting among others presidents and ministers of Estonia in Halifax during those years and facilitated business contacts as recently as in October.
His long voluntary service to Estonia was recently acknowledged with an honorary silver badge of Estonian Foreign Ministry, which will be delivered to him posthumously, alas.
I present, also on behalf of my present and former colleagues at the embassy, sincere condolences to his wife Sandra, children Kersti, Marti, Jaan and seven grandchildren, other members of his family as well as to friends and colleagues of Mr. Soosaar.
We will miss you, John.
Margus Rava
Ambassador of Estonia
