What's New

• Join us for an entertaining evening at the Thunder Bay Historical Museum. The Museum and the Thunder Bay Finnish Canadian Historical Society present Dr. William Wilson of the Lakehead University Geography Department speaking on “A History of Finnish Agriculture in the Thunder Bay Region”. Will Wilson is a dynamic speaker who has made use of the Finnish archival collection at Lakehead University. The evening promises to be a truly enjoyable talk with wonderful historical images. See you at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27.
• On Sunday October 17, we held our annual business meeting and social at the Suomi Koti. Dr. Antti Hakkinen, the new Finnish chair teaching at Lakehead University spoke about his plans for the coming year. His research is based on Finnish families in the Thunder Bay Region and he is hoping to create a social history from this. If you would like to be interviewed and share your family’s story, contact him at antti.hakkinen@helsinki.fi or call him at 343-8349.
• Also at the annual meeting, a new executive was elected for 2009 – 2010. President – Brent Kelso, Vice President – Ahti Tolvanen, Treasurer – Jane Chapman, Secretary – Jeremy Mohr. New directors elected are Kathy Crewdson, Dave Nicholson and Shirley Kauranen.   Cairine Budner’s new role is Past President. She has been involved with the Society since its inception, and has been the longest serving member of the executive. All of the Society appreciates the enthusiasm and dedication she has shown throughout the years to advance the Society’s goals. We welcome her guidance in her new role as advisor.

• The Society was pleased to receive funding from the Finland Society of Helsinki for the creation of a bushworker play. See press release from the Chronicle Journal April 2009

• The Hudson's Bay Company (Hbc) is proud to confirm that the recent application from the Thunder Bay Finnish Canadian Historical Society to the Hbc Local History Grant Program has been successful. The Hudson's Bay Company History Foundation (HbcHF) is a leading supporter of the Hudson's Bay Company at the Manitoba Archives, the Manitoba Museum, Canada's National History Society and numerous smaller community organizations that promote heritage across the country through our Local History Grant Program. In 2007, HbcHF donated more than $1.6 million to successful applicants.
  
  We now have $1,000.00 to engage youthful members of our Society in developing virtual exhibits online using audio and video tools, complementing research, and communicating with the public.
  
  Our website hosting, development, and creation will be presented by Mark Walther at TBayIT.com.
  
• Research into our new publication relating to sports and athletes in Thunder Bay is officially underway. Learn how you can be part of this research.

FinnishCanadian.com