Up to now the adjustments have mainly been driven by a new, open relationship with Estonia and its recognized place in the international community.
“It’s now time to re-structure EKN organizationally so as to comply with the federal Not-for-profit Corporations Act, under which EKN has registered, and to strengthen EKN’s seventy-year-old role as our community’s collective spokesman,” said Kairi Taul-Hemingway, Chair of EKN.
Up until now EKN’s legitimacy as the coast-to-coast representative of the concerns and interests of Canadians of Estonian heritage was based mainly on general elections for council members every four years – akin somewhat to a parliament. Any Canadian resident of at least 18 years who claimed to have some Estonian connection qualified to vote. This gave EKN the right and recognition to be the voice of the community.
Community input is most welcome and openness through ongoing updates will keep all who are interested involved.
But Toronto was always vastly over-represented in the elected members. “EKN is transitioning to an organization-chosen membership, that better reflects the nation-wide community as a whole,” commented Hemingway. “Estonian-Canadian organizations will be invited to choose their representative to EKN’s full council which establishes policy and decides on activity. Also, the council chooses the board and executive.”
Hemingway added that teams overseeing community outreach/contacts with organizations and change-over procedures will be guided by principles of transparency, fairness and inclusiveness. This will, she said, include details of who in EKN will be assigned with transition responsibilities, the criteria by which organizations are selected, etc. Community input is most welcome and openness through ongoing updates will keep all who are interested involved.
Editorial comment: For Estonians, disagreement will not be unexpected, but open discourse can also lead to acceptable solutions. Hemingway, a professional in leadership training, is well-positioned to manage this.
