Tartu College is a very important place for the Estonian community of Canada. It’s the home of Eesti Elu / Estonian Life newspaper, VEMU Estonian Museum Canada, numerous academic organizations, and is also a place where many university students in Toronto reside.
As Tartu College celebrates its 55th anniversary this year, we wanted to introduce readers to the people who make this place thrive. With the student residence and events being such a major part of what goes on in the building, we wanted readers to get to know the person making sure these components run smoothly—Kyla Maloney.
(interview with Vincent Teetsov)
What is your role at Tartu College, and what brought you here?
I’m the Housing and Events Manager. I manage all of the resident admissions, room assignments, and events. I also work directly with the residents year-round to assist them with whatever they may need.
I came to TC during the pandemic, after being laid off from a previous job. I was originally drawn to TC because it was a good fit for my experience, and offered a lot of potential to grow within the company. Now that I have worked here for over four years, I’ve learned so much and feel like I have truly become a part of the community.
Where were you born and raised, and how has that place shaped who you are?
I was born and raised in Brantford, Ontario, a small city just west of Hamilton. Although most of my peers had a desire to move to a bigger city, I never did. Living in a small city made me appreciate open space. I have lived in Toronto now for almost seven years, but I still find myself searching for space away from all of the people. I return to Brantford often to visit friends and family and I always enjoy my time there. Although my hometown has changed and grown over the years, it still feels like a breath of fresh air, with lots of open space to enjoy.
What’s something about TC that all Canadians should know?
I think all Canadians should know that we welcome student from all post-secondary institutions, not just U of T! We often have residents completing work/co-op terms from other universities across Ontario. We also welcome local students from schools like George Brown, Toronto Film School, TMU, etc.
What has been your experience connecting with Estonian culture in the context of Tartu College?
I’ve lived in Canada my whole life and have only left the country a few times. When I began working at TC I knew very little about Estonia (besides a 7th grade poster project). After several years of working with people in the Estonian community at TC, I can say my experience has been enlightening. I have connected with so many amazing people who have taught me about the history of Estonia, and shared their experiences of finding refuge in Canada during the Soviet occupation. I have formed life-long connections with my TC colleagues, and from their stories and teachings I can now share my knowledge of Estonia with TC residents each year!
TC really has a way of making the staff feel like a family, to feel appreciated. Getting to enjoy a fun day together away from the office is something not many teams get to do, so I feel very grateful to be a part of the staff.
(Kyla Maloney)
What would you say about Tartu College to someone who is considering staying there as a student? Or renting the event space?
With potential residents I typically focus on the fact that TC is an affordable, no-frills option. TC is able to keep fees lower for students by offering only the most essential services like high speed WiFi, security, and laundry, but skipping the high cost amenities such as gyms and pools.
If you could choose one moment that has been most memorable for you at Tartu College, which one would it be?
I have so many memorable moments at TC, it’s hard to choose just one! But it would have to be our recent staff trip to Centre Island. TC really has a way of making the staff feel like a family, to feel appreciated. Getting to enjoy a fun day together away from the office is something not many teams get to do, so I feel very grateful to be a part of the staff.
Choose one photo that is important to you and tell us the story behind the photo.
This photo was taken on Centre Island in Toronto on an old bridge and features a group of TC staff. After the photo was taken, we found a great picnic spot and enjoyed a day away from the office, playing games and relaxing.
What’s something that not many people know about you that might be surprising?
I actually studied to be a veterinary technician and spent several years working with standardbred racehorses before deciding to pursue an administrative career.
Describe your favourite spot in the city of Toronto. What’s most fun/interesting about that place for you?
My favourite place in Toronto is the ROM. I first visited the ROM on my 18th birthday. I had always wanted to see the dinosaur bones and the Egyptian mummies, so my friends arranged for a day trip to the city to see the exhibit. I still enjoy visiting the ROM and seeing new exhibits.
What has been the most rewarding project or initiative you’ve worked on in the last few years?
The most rewarding project I’ve worked on was the introduction of the MyTartu web portal. A lot of work went into developing and testing the portal before it went live. Now it is our primary system for resident admissions. It’s so rewarding to see the transformation behind the scenes from everything being done on paper when I first started here to everything now being digital.
