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A documentary being produced about Vapaa Sana
The chairman of Vapaa Sana Press Ltd, John Majanlahti, interviewed in early August for a documentary about the publishing house and the Canadian scene it serves. The documentary is an idea of two recent Finnish interns at Vapaa Sana, Virpi Oinonen (right) and Aleksi Moisio (not in the picture). The cameraperson is Yi Chun. - The film is also about the Finnish-Canadian scene, now is the time to do this kind of documentary, as the Finnish element in Canada is dwindling, says Oinonen. Immigration from Finland to Canada has practically ceased as Canada is no longer competitive in terms of social security, labor laws and family education costs. Specialists working in higher echelon jobs do arrive from Finland, but often on a work permit basis for a limited period of time. Newspaper Vapaa Sana was launched in 1931.
FinnJoy 2008 FinnJoy08 (the 69. Finnish Suurjuhlat) took place at the Mel Lastman Square in in Toronto (North York) from Friday to Sunday during the last weekend of June. The FinnJoy was cimbined with the first ever Nordic Fair, featuring input from emigrants to Canada from Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Iceland. Finnish Ambassador Pasi Patokallio and Mrs Raija Patokallio in conversation with the Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. The picture was taken at a reception hosted by Mr Myrskog after the opening of the FinnJoy. At a joint Nordic folkdance during the opening ceremony, the second from the left Mr Hans Myrskog, the main organizer of the event. Mr Myrskog was also the key person in the 2000 joint North American Finnish celebration in Toronto. Ethnic media at the Toronto City Hall - Not many people come from Finland, but we are proud of each of them.. This was a seemingly impromptu comment by Mayor David Miller on the low level of immigration from Finland and the rest of Scandinavia. Mayor Miller and the president of the National Ethnic Press and Media Council Thomas S Saras met representatives of ethnic journalists in early July to mark the opening an exhibition of ethnic press and media at the rotunda of the City Hall. - Concerning ethnic media in Canada and the press in particular, the hightlight of the evening were comments by the Member of Parliament for Scarborough-Agincourt, Jim Karygiannis (lib). He noted the low level of public advertising channelled to the ethnic press. He also questioned the structure whereby an intermediary is allowed to cash in on public advertising in this branch and asked why the ethnic media cannot approach the government directly. Other speakers included media people and political figures such as the Ontario Minister for Immigration Michael Chan and the leader of the Ontario opposition John Tory. A more detailed report in Finnish in Vapaa Sana issue 28. . The able communicator means business Why would the launch of Nicaragua made cigars on the Canadian market be featured on this website? The reason is that the president of Mumbacho Cigars, Markus Räty, is a Finnish Canadian. Markus Räty (left), Cameron Heaps, corporate executives and a team of PR workers at the launch on Thursday July 17th. Markus Räty has been known on the Finnish Canadian scene as board member and former chairman of the Finnish Credit Union and a one time CEO of the Vapaa Sana Press Ltd. He has also devoted his time to the Canadian Friends of Finland executive, but had to withdraw this year due to time considerations. Earlier he was also involved in the Finish Expatriate Parliament. People who know Räty note he is no "hands on" executive, but an excellent communicator and visionary. This kind of cigar project and corporate environment looks like matching the business talent of Markus Räty, well reflected in the upscale launch party at a hangar of the Toronto Island Airport, where indeed only the sky was the limit. In the cigar business the product image and consumer self esteem matter probably more than actual product features. It can well be that it is Markus Räty that gives the Mumbacho cigars the extra touch, in their marketing profile, much based in the initial phase on the presence and availability of Markus Räty. The other man behind Mumbacho is Cameron Heaps. Räty and Heaps have known each other since university days. Heaps told Vapaa Sana that it had actually been difficult to talk Räty into taking the job. Read more about the event and Markus Räty in Vapaa Sana. JN The 2008 Finnish-Canadian entrepreneur
Esko Mattila, the founder and CEO of Flint Packaging is the 2008 entrepreneur of the year. Awarded the second time now, the title is the creation of the Finnish Credit Union (Toronto) and the Canada-Finland chambre of commerce. See here are the president of the CFCC Ms Tuula Kivinen, the recipient of the award and the CEO of the Finnish Credit Union Antero Elo. For coverage of the event see Vapaa Sana issue 24. Photo: Jari Autio, the Finnish Credit Union Midsummer all over.. Nordic Midsummer was again been celebated in Finnish communities. Seen here Judy Parker leading in singing juhannus songs at the bonfire (kokko) in Wanup, Sudbury, on Saturday night June 21st, 2008. Wanup is the only surviver among the many Finnish halls that used to attract visitors in Sudbury. Midsummer Eve in Wanup is a family tradition for many, such as here Marged LeDuc with her daughters and and their families. Jessica (right) and Jennifer told Vapaa Sana that they had been regulars in the Wanup Hall from childhood and bring their kids to the Midsummer celberations as well, to keep the tradition going, even though they now live outside Sudbury. A new voice on the Finnish scene in Toronto
Baritone Gil Anderson seen here with wife Cindy Koistinen and daughter Kaelyn. Anderson sang at a concert arranged by the Toronto Finnish Male Singers in early April, with Paul Hietala conducting. Gil Anderson was heard in songs famous from South Pacific and Man of La Mancha. This was his first appearance for a local Finnish audience. Cindy Koistinen is of Finnish extraction and already well known on the Finnish scene in Toronto. Anderson told Vapaa Sana Press that so far he has not performed any Finnish songs. Vapaa Sana (issue 15) suggests that they could consider Finnish duets, such as Onnelliset (Oskar Merikanto, lyrics Aleksis Kivi), something many Finns here remember from an iconic Finnish radio 1953 recording featuring Veikko Tyrväinen and Maini Vilppula. Finnish war dead remembered
People who had died in action in the wars between Finland and the USSR (and its allies) were remembered again on Sunday, May 18th. Flowers were placed on the memorial on the Agricola Church grounds in Toronto. Pictured here the vice chairman of the Finnish War Veterans in Toronto, Veikko Nuppola and Mrs Maire Brett-Evans, who had served in the female auxiliary organization in Finland, Lotta-Svärd. On the right Matti Kormano of the Agricola church and Mrs Laura McSwiggan, of the Finnish Honorary Consulate in Toronto. She was representing Honorary Consul Patrick Brigham. Taking part in the ceremony were among others Karelians in Toronto, Ostrobothnians in Canada and the Agricola Congregation. As usual, there were also representatives of the Estonian volunteers who had participated in the war on the side of Finland. 131 000 Finns in Canada according to the 2006 census Thirty thousand people gave in the 2006 census in Canada "Finnish" as their only background. Another hundred thousand people included Finnish in referring to multiple origins.Over a half of those giving Finnish as their sole origin (18 000) lived in Ontario. At the national level the number of sole-origin Swedes amounted to close the Finnish frequency, 28 000. Swedish came up a lot more in the multiple origins, exceeding 300 000. Read more about the Finnish element in the 2006 census in Vapaa Sana issue 15, available on April 10. Hans Myrskog at 60
Hans Myrskog, a key figure on the Finnish scene in Toronto, celebrated his 60th birthday on June 14th. The story of Terttu and Hans Myrskog is like a recollection of the legends of success in traditional immigration, as a combination of hard work and the opportunities offered by Canada. Arrived from Finland in 1969 he has built a successful real estate, construction and rental business. Hans Myrskog has been in active organizations such as the Finnish Canadian Cultural Federation and the Toronto Finnish School. He was the main organizer of the 2000 Finn Grand Fest in Toronto, and is again the main catalyst in the preparations for the FinnJoy (Suurjuhlat) to take place in and around the Mel Lastman Square (North York) in Toronto on June 27-29, 2008. See www.finnjoy.com Hans and Terttu Myrskog enjoyed the evening with family and friends at the Thornhill Golf and Country Club, under the 1960s theme of peace and love. For more coverage, in Finnish, see issue 25 of Vapaa Sana, the Finnish weekly in Toronto. The last countdown...
Monday, June 2nd, marked the end of the period of transition when former Finnish nationals and their children could, with certain qualifications, hand in a declaration of Finnish citizenship. Vapaa Sana visited the Finnish Honorary Consulate in Toronto during the final hour of service. The very last customer happened to be the president of Ostrobothnians in Canada, Lauri Talvitie. Not quite the seven brothers as in the novel by Aleksis Kivi, but three Kojola brothers seem to be asking tough questions about the dual citizenship. Information officer Laura McSwiggan from the Finnish Honorary Consulate in Toronto is responding. The scene was captured at an information event during the final weeks of the transition period. Sudbury artists of Finnish extraction arranged a fair
Works by artists with a Finnish background were for sale at the Finlandia Village on April 12. Despite the poor weather the event was well attended. Seated at the front, from the left,. Elaine Garreau, Kerttu Haapamaki, John Kulmala, Hilkka Koivisto. Standing behind Kim McKibbon, Ray Laporte. Jean Kulmala, Eva Luca, Susan Lampinen and Anita Anita Maki. Spring entertainment, Finnish Canadian style
The Toronto Suomi Finlandia Lions Club offered an afternoon of entertainment at the Suomi-Koti on Sunday, April 13. Seen here is Maire Paltanen in one of her performances. Hanna Syrjala of Vapaa Sana was there, get a copy of Vapaa Sana issue 16 for more. Subscriptions easily via 1 800 618 1584, MonFri 10-13, or to customerservice@vapaasana.comToronto Osuuspankki elects a new Board
The Finnish Credit Union (Toronto) got a new Board in its annual meeting on April 2. Of the old Board Maija Näppi was no longer available. Eric Nakkila was nominated again and was re-elected for a three year term. The nominating committee had had nominated in all four candidates to fill the two vacancies.Pirjo Ojanen was elected with a wide backing among the participants. In our picture the 2008 Board, from left Eric Nakkila, Petri Hasanen, Marja-Liisa Konttinen, Karen Kelar, Pirjo Ojanen and John Majanlahti. Of the Board members, Markus Räty was unable to attend the AGM. Read more about the current life and times of the Toronto Finnish "Osuuspankki" in Vapaa Sana issue 15. Expatriate Parliament briefings in Western Canada
The Finnish Expatriate Parliament was a theme of discussion amongst Edmonton Finn on March 31st. From left Markku Hilvo, Kauko Siik, Tuula Hilvo, Arto Ohinmaa, Jaana Ohinmaa, Cia Rahikka and Pauli Vanhala. Veli Niinimaa, deputy to the Canadian vice-chairman of the Expatriate Parliament (Niilo Saari) on the right, half visible. Saari and Niinimaa toured Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary in late March early April to inform about the Expatriate Parliament. Photo: Pasi Karsten. Read more about the USP (ulkosuomalaisparlamentti) events in Western Canada in Vapaa Sana issue 15. Your view?
What is your opinion on current issues concerning Finnish Canadians or the relationship with Finland? Our Community Forum pages offer discussion threads. Add your input. We have also opened a forum for Finnish Canadian History - as you see it. How to support Finnishcanadian.com
This site (Finnishcanadian.com) is a service by the Vapaa Sana Press Ltd, the publishers of the newspapers Vapaa Sana and Canadan Sanomat. If you think our service is worth your support, consider taking a subcription of Vapaa Sana, the Finnish weekly newspaper with a fortnightly English supplement. You may also choose to subscribe Canadan Sanomat (Thunder Bay), that paper has no English supplement though. For subscriptions of Vapaa Sana, contact customerservice@vapaasana.com, or call 1 800 618 1584 (Mon-Fri 10-13). Have your credit card ready. We take Mastercard, American Express and VISA. Annual subscriptions serving addresses in Canada are available at 100 CAD plus GST, first class mail 150 CAD plus GST, the United States and other foreign addresses 250 CAD in first class mail. The fixed rate for subscriptions in Finland is 175 euros. That is payable directly to our bank account in Finland, see www.vapaasana.com and tilaukset for details. Thank you for your support.
To launch a family in Canada or in Finland? Vapaa Sana reporter Minna Harmaala compared the benefits that young families get in Finland and in Canada. Her feature can be seen at www.vapaasana.com, currently in Finnish, an English version will be available later. But for the time being you can practice your Finnish there. Vapaa Sana offers a variety of features about anything associated with being of Finnish extraction in Canada. Such as having the option of dual citizenship, with a choice of living in Europe or in Canada. Suomi-talo was celebrated
The Finnish-Canadian Reporter The Finnish Canadian Reporter is the English section of Vapaa Sana. Appearing fortnightly on pages 7-10 the FCR can be easily pulled out and kept separately. Select features from the FCR can be seen at www.vapaasana.com Vapaa Sana Press Ltd is the publisher of the weekly newspapers Vapaa Sana and Canadan Sanomat, and also the owner of this website. With an annual subscription of Vapaa Sana you will support journalism covering the Finnish heritage in Canada, in all its brands. To subscribe, call 1 800 618 1854 (best 10 am - 1 pm Eastern). The cost of an annual subscription to Canada is 100 plus GST, in first class mail 150 plus GST. The rate for Finland is 175 euro per annum. Finnish subscriptions can be paid directly to an account in Finland. See www.vapaasana.com and tilaukset for details. In Canada the forms of payment are credit card, cheque and cash.
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One of the Finnish landmarks in Toronto is Suomi-talo (The House of Finland) at 276 Main Street. Purchased in the early 80s, Suomi-talo was the youngest Finnish hall in the GTA area, and also the last. This September 2007 an enthusiastic audience of former Suomi-talo activists celebrated the 25 years of Finnish activities there. At the time when Suomi-talo was purchased various Finnish associations in Toronto were wealthy owners of properties. Efforts to pool all that could not be done, however. The divisions between various groups could not be overcome. A Vapaa Sana feature in English in 
