Lisa Kerbes headstone

Image © Copyright Estonian Private Collection
Deane Kerbes and Marguarite Kerbes beside a family headstone in the Estonian Cemetery near Stettler
The Alberta Estonian Heritage Society held its first Jäänipaev, a celebration of summer solstice, at Linda Hall on June 25. The celebration brought together the descendants of Estonians who arrived at Sylvan Lake between 1899 and 1903. The Kingsep brothers had explored opportunities in Canada, setting up homesteads in 1899 at Sylvan Lake. The reports they sent back encouraged about 25 more families to follow. They homesteaded north of Eckville, south of Stettler and near Lethbridge. Here, Deane Kerbes and Marguarite Kerbes, Marguarite's husband's grandmother and Deane's great-grandmother. The two were participating in the ceremony's at Linda Hall south of Stettler and went by the grave to see where some of the Kerbes are buried.
Location :	Stettler