Ehatare is a retirement home in Toronto. It has been operating for over 40 years. Estonians want to be together and live together. Therefore, they bring people here who need help.
Ehatare has 75 beds or apartments. 30 are for the nursing home section. It has been open since 1985. Veronika Viinamäe is the director of Ehatare.
Ehatare is like a small family. People make sure that Estonians can hear the Estonian language and see Estonian culture in their old age. They sing old songs and eat Estonian food. The cooks prepare dishes that Estonians ate in their youth.
Resident Keto Soosaar says that life at Ehatare is pleasant. The food is good, and they watch ETV. Old friends visit or come to live here.
Many Ehatare residents came to Canada in 1944. Keto Soosaar left Estonia after the bombing. His house was hit by a bomb, but it did not explode. Since then, he has loved music.
Ehatare has many old items from Estonia. These make the residents happy. Allan Meiusi says that these items are 60-70 years old.
Overseas Estonians still love Estonia decades later. The Estonian language is heard in the homes of the second and third generations as well. Keto Soosaar says his language skills are not very good, but his wife Reet kept the language alive. The children had to speak Estonian.