About the Estonian Archives in Vancouver (EAV)

The vision to create an archive dedicated to preserving the stories of Estonians on Canada’s West Coast emerged in the mid-1980s. Recognizing that the once-thriving Estonian community of approximately 2500 post-WWII refugees and immigrants was beginning to age, Teas Tanner (1931–2016) spearheaded efforts to preserve the community’s legacy for future generations. Tanner’s dedication laid the foundation for the Estonian Archives in Vancouver (EAV), which was formally established in 2000 by the directors of the Society for the Advancement of Estonian Studies in Canada (SAESC.EKÜK) and operates as a volunteer-led initiative. By 2006, the EAV had formalized its policies and bylaws, aligning with archival standards set out in the 1999 Manual for Small Archives by the Archives Association of British Columbia.

Our Mission
The mission of EAV is to collect, preserve, and protect archival materials that document the lives of Estonian Canadians in British Columbia, including records from individuals, families, organizations, and businesses of Estonian heritage. This archive aims to safeguard these invaluable materials for future generations, providing researchers with a window into the Estonian-Canadian experience on the West Coast.

Our Home, “Meie Kodu”
The archives are located within “Meie Kodu” (Our Home), the community hub for Vancouver Estonians at 49th & Oak Street since 1965. In our dedicated 143-square-foot archival room, furnished with a work table and 30 meters of shelving for storage, we house and organize our growing collection.

Our Emblem and Motto
The EAV banner proudly features the Estonian swallow alongside the West Coast seagull, symbolizing the blending of Estonian and Canadian identities. Our motto, “Siin me olime. Nii me tegime.”—“Here we were, thus we did.”—captures the essence of our mission: to honor the legacy of those who came before and ensure their stories endure.

PAGE 2a & b Policy Statement and Bylaws (see attached documents)