This was just what happened when the Toronto chapter of Korporatsioon Vironia hosted their fellow fraternity members from Estonia and the United States. For quite a few visitors, it was their first time ever in North America. It was also the first time many members had met each other.
What better a way to make introductions then, than to commence the trip with a nightcap at the Madison Avenue Pub? It's a favourite haunt for Vironused (Vironia members) from Toronto, and spending time there helped new arrivals settle in comfortably.
By Monday May 30th, most guests had arrived, in time for Vello Keelmann and Hillar Lauri to take a large group of enthusiastic visitors through the historic University of Toronto campus and lively streets of Chinatown. Lauri has worked hard for the last two years to bring Vironia members from North America and Estonia closer together. Though he lives in Tallinn, he was born, raised, and educated in Toronto; so he could offer his own take on the city.
Despite the looming threat of jet lag, Vironia visitors were committed to see the city for themselves independently, too. Soon after arriving, they sought out a tour at the Ontario Legislative Building. Rainer Jürgenson, Hannes Mädo, and Valjo Tooming took the ferry across to the urban oasis that is the Toronto Islands. Being so open to this new place offered perspectives on what it's like to be a local.
By day, the nearly 25 Vironused and significant others engaged with city highlights as well as more concealed gems. Rob Hiis led a group through the Royal Ontario Museum. Mihkel Liik introduced visitors to IZUMI Brewery, from which Ken Valvur operates Ontario Spring Water Sake Company. On Thursday June 2nd, Burton Naylor took Vironused up the 533.33 metre tall CN Tower, an ideal vantage point to see across this metropolis they temporarily called home.
By night, Toronto's vast representation of global culture was witnessed through cuisine, from injera at an Ethiopian establishment (Rendezvous) to delectable Chinese pork and chive dumplings. During one evening, award-winning beers from Shacklands Brewing were presented by their head brewer Kalev Nisbet, himself a member of Korp! Rotalia. An exchange of Estonian and English language practice was also on the menu during these nights of fellowship.
The pinnacle of this time in Toronto was attending a baseball game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Chicago White Sox. In the Rogers Centre, there was fanfare and booming music all around. To make it even better, Toronto Vironia members could take pride in their home team's high quality performance; one such moment being Teoscar Hernández' huge home run in the sixth inning.
Eventually, it was time to leave the bustling energy of Toronto and head to the countryside. Friday's focus was an overview of the Niagara Region, as curated by Toomas Kütti. Certainly, the number one destination in Niagara is the falls. Thus, the group and hosts went aboard the Hornblower catamaran to get up close. Undoubtedly, this is the best way to see Niagara Falls. There is something heavenly about the aura that forms at the overhang, the rainbow that arcs through the pummelling water and spray around the plunge pool.
One couldn't venture to Niagara without also exploring the region's wine scene, including the distinctly Canadian product of ice wine. As such, the group toured and tasted flights of wine at Inniskillin, learning the science behind the region's suitability for cultivating grapes. Lunch preceded this, pairing Ontario wines with luxurious pasta, risotto, and soup.
But spirits sank when Vironused learned of the passing of beloved friend and Korp! Vironia member, Markus Hess. It was a shock for everyone. Just that Tuesday, he had been sharing drinks and conversing with everyone, looking forward to the Vironia Kommerss weekend at Seedrioru. While such a loss would normally make celebrating impossible, the Eestseisus and senior members of the Toronto chapter of Vironia made the decision, knowing Markus' love for Vironia and gregarious personality, that he would have wanted the festivities to continue.
It was moving to see how nearly 122 years after the founding of the fraternity, its rituals and songs have been preserved. Even with the geographical separation between Toronto, Estonia, and California—and Vironia being spread across the world since the 1940s…
The weekend was restorative on all accounts. The effort put into preparations by the Seedrioru community was enjoyed by dozens of guests: comfortable tared (cabins), a get-together at Toomas Koger's suvila (cottage), meal preparation led by Angie Crossman, beach volleyball, and a piping hot sauna each evening to ensure a good night's sleep.
Capping off the whole week was the international Korporatsioon Vironia “Quo Vadis” seminar, in which members from the USA, Tallinn, Vilistlaskogu, Tartu, and Toronto chapters discussed the future activities of the fraternity. Ways to continue strengthening interpersonal connections were discussed, as was the newly purchased Tallinn konvendihoone (chapter house) at Falgi tee 3, down the street from Pikk Hermann, for which fundraising for the renovation is actively underway in Eesti. Toronto members were invited to join in, to help ensure the timely success of this bold initiative.
When all of the hard work was complete, the leadership of the Toronto chapter commenced Kevad Kommerss, wherein Vironia celebrates the anniversary of the first academic celebration that happened in Ogre, Latvia in 1900.
It was moving to see how nearly 122 years after the founding of the fraternity, its rituals and songs have been preserved. Even with the geographical separation between Toronto, Estonia, and California—and Vironia being spread across the world since the 1940s—the core values, rituals, and songs remain very similar. There is a timelessness to their patriotic power.
