In the latest edition of Community Unwrapped, Eesti Elu spoke to long-term member of the Toronto-Estonian community, Kristina Lepik.
Growing up, Kristina was deeply involved in community life. She attended Toronto Estonian School as both a student and later a teacher, participated in Gaidid (Girl Scouts), and danced with the TERR Kungla folk dance group. She also spent her summers at Jõekääru and Kotkajärve camps, where she would eventually meet her husband, Armand Lepik.
“It’s kind of a funny story,” Kristina said. “When I went to Jõekääru, Armand and I never really crossed paths because he’s a little older than me. I recently found a camp photo, though, where he’s sitting a couple of rows behind me. We officially met later at Kotkajärve, during one of the lumelaagrid (winter camps). This year, we’re celebrating our five-year anniversary!”
Today, Kristina works as the Deputy Clerk for the Town of Cobourg. While her responsibilities vary day to day, much of her role involves participating in council meetings and responding to inquiries from the public.
Kristina said she always had an interest in politics and government, making the position a natural fit. “I really enjoy process and procedure,” she explained. “It’s also very fulfilling because I’m able to give back to the community and make a real difference in people’s day-to-day lives. It’s incredibly rewarding to go the extra mile making someone feel heard, and have them come back and thank you for your time and effort. You really get to see how much people appreciate your work.”
“I’m ordained through the Marriage Act, so I’ve been able to officiate a couple of weddings for friends… My sister got married this past September, and I was her officiant. It really added a very special touch.”
(Kristina Lepik)
Another unique aspect of Kristina’s role is that she serves as a marriage officiant. “I’m ordained through the Marriage Act, so I’ve been able to officiate a couple of weddings for friends,” she said. “My sister got married this past September, and I was her officiant. It really added a very special touch.”
Kristina also said that growing up in the Estonian community played an important role in shaping her career path. “For my undergraduate degree, I was able to spend a year abroad in Estonia,” she said. “That experience was very eye-opening. I gained a better understanding of the political sphere in Europe, which was something I didn’t really focus on before. It was interesting to see what different communities prioritize. On top of that, my involvement in the Estonian community instilled in me the importance of giving back,” she added.
Kristina and Armand now live in Lindsay, Ontario. While the commute to Toronto is long, Kristina remains actively involved in the Estonian community and sees it continuing to play an important role in her life.
“I’m currently involved with the Ehatare Foundation,” she said. “It’s been a bit tricky to take part in some day-to-day activities, but since so much moved online after COVID, it’s become much more accessible. Growing up in the Estonian community played such an integral role in my childhood and early adulthood. Many of my closest friends are Estonian, and we still get together often. Those friendships and bonds are for life, and I really value them. That’s something I definitely look forward to continuing.”
You can watch Kristina’s episode of Community Unwrapped below:
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Responses have been edited for clarity and length.
This article was written by Natalie Jenkins as part of the Local Journalism Initiative.
