Seminar and exhibition relating to Stalinist Repressions in the Baltics

A seminar Misplaced People: Stalinist Repressions in the Baltic, 1941 – 1951 will be held at the University of Toronto (Natalie Zemoan Davis Conference Room, Sidney Smith Hall 2098, 100 St. George Street) on Friday September 21 starting at 10:00 a.m until 3:30 p.m. The seminar is being held in conjunction with the arrival at Toronto’s Tartu College of the travelling exhibition Harsh Spring. Seminar participants: Vello Salo (Pirita Convent, Tallinn), Aigi Rahi-Tamm (Tartu University), Lelde Neimane (Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, Riga), Tiina Kirss (Tallinn University), Jüri Kivimäe (University of Toronto).

The entire program can be found here.

All presentations will be in English.

The event is organized by the Elmar Tampõld Chair of Estonian Studies (University of Toronto) and the Estonian Studies Centre/VEMU.

That evening, at 6:00 p.m., we will view films on the same topic at Tartu College (310 Bloor Street West – use the Madison Avenue entrance). The first film, a documentary by the Latvian Museum of Occupation, Latvian Deportations March 25, 1949. Away From Home (2009) // 1949. Gada 25. Marta deportacija Latvija. Prom no majam (Latvijas Okupacijas muzeja, 2009) is based on individual recollections by Latvians who were children at the time of the deportations. Lelde Neimane will introduce the film. The second film, Life Stories/Elulood by Rao Heidmets (RHF Studio, 2007) is also based on memories. The biographical elements were chosen and made into a film script by Mats Traat; the film was animated by the director Rao Heidmets and artist Ave Nahkur. The chief archivist of VEMU, Piret Noorhani, will provide the opening commentary.

The Latvian documentary is in Latvian with English subtitles. We will be viewing the English version of the animated film.

Friday evening will also see the English opening of the State Archives of Estonia’s travelling exhibition Harsh Spring/Karm kevad.

There is no admission fee for the event. A small donation to VEMU, however, would be appreciated.

The exhibition Harsh Spring will remain at Tartu College until mid-January.

Information:
Piret Noorhani, tel. 416-925-9405, piret@tartucollege.ca