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Thunder Bay is FinnTastic
by By Susan Poizner, The Toronto Sun, 6/5/2005
They came all the way from rural Finland to the New World, and found themselves in the wilderness of northern Ontario. The work these rugged young men found in the late 1800s was most often in the logging camps, deep in the bush.
The world of the first Finnish pioneers to this region has been recreated in Thunder Bay’s lush Centennial Park. It’s easy to get lost in time within the 147 acres of greenery, set along the shores of the Current River which flows south towards Lake Superior.
Inside the park, visitors will find a reconstruction of a 1910 bush camp and the nearby Logging History Museum has saws, axes and other early artefacts. The brass pots and pans would have been used by the Finnish women who worked as logging camp cooks.
Almost 125 years after the first Finnish pioneer moved to this area, the city of Thunder Bay still bears the imprint of the Finnish Culture. So if you are hankering for an exotic holiday but were hoping not to leave Ontario, this is one place you may want to visit.
Wandering down the city’s Bay Street, it’s clear that the Finns of Thunder Bay are still alive and well and keen to get more gear for the outdoor saunas at their summer cottages. Here sauna equipment shops stand side by side with Finnish bookstores and craft shops.
Pick up some snacks at the Scandi-Deli and have a chat with Marjit, who will be happy to tell you more about community activities. Her bulletin board is groaning under notices for Finnish community events…and visitors are always welcome to join in.
In the early 1900s, the Finns were very active in the socialist movement and across the road from Scandi-Deli is a Finnish Labour Temple circa 1910. Finlandia Hall was once a home for radical unionist and socialist activity. Today the hall is still used for Finnish cultural events.
Call ahead of time (at 807 344 6323) to book a tour of the small museum on the top floor of Finlandia Hall. “The Finnish Experience” display tells the story of the community starting from their exodus from Finland in the late 1800s.
In the basement of Finlandia Hall you can find the Hoito Restaurant. First established in 1918, this has been a popular place to eat traditional Finnish pancakes and sausages for almost a century. Weekends can be busy, so come early to avoid the queues.
No genuine Finnish-Canadian holiday is complete without experiencing an authentic sauna. Locals get naked together in the privacy of their own saunas at their summer cottages. But the Kangus Sauna in town offers a genuine experience as well – and bathing suits are optional.
Sidebar:
The best time to visit Finnish Thunder Bay:
The summer is short in Finland, and so Finns around the world are big on celebrating the Summer Solstice – also called Juhannus. With bonfires, traditional music, dancing, and crafts, this is a great time to visit Finnish Thunder Bay.
June 19, 2005
SuperiorFinn Juhannus Arts Festival
Finlandia Hall/Bay Street
(807) 964-2941
June 24-25, 2005
Juhannus Midsummer’s Solstice
Finlandia Hall and Surprise Lake
Thunder Bay Visitor Information
1-800-667-8386
www.thunderbay.ca
Susan Poizner is the producer of the TV series Mother Tongue, which explores ethnic communities across Canada. For more information on this and other destinations please visit www.mothertongue.ca.
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This series of educational videos was made possible with funding from
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Mother Tongue: A woman's history of ethnic Canada is a 13-part TV series that documents Canada's multicultural history from a female perspective. Each program tells the story of a notable woman in one of Canada's communities, including a Black fugitive slave, an Acadian mail order bride, and an Icelandic suffragette.
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