Between a rock and a hard place : a historical geography of the Finns in the Sudbury area

Where else can that well-known phrase be better applied than to a study of the Finns in Sudbury? “Rock” defines the physical reality of the Sudbury setting: rugged hills, mines, farms and forests set in the Precambrian Shield. “Hard” defines the human setting: Finnish immigrants having to contend with the problems and stresses of relocating to a new culture, with livelihoods that required great endurance as well as a tolerance for hazardous conditions. Since 1883 Finnish immigrants in Sudbury, men and women alike, have striven to improve their lot through the options available to them. Despite great obstacles, the Finns never flagged in their unwavering fight for workers’ rights and the union movement. And as agricultural settlers, labour reformers, builders of churches, halls, saunas and athletic fields, Finns left an indelible imprint on the physical and human landscape. In the process they have played an integral part in the transformation of Sudbury from a small struggling rail town to its present role as regional capital of northwestern Ontario. This penetrating study of the cultural geography of the Finns in the Sudbury region provides an international, national and local framework for analysis — a model for future studies of other cultural groups. MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict Contents 6 List of Tables, Figures, Maps, Aerial Photograph and Biographies 10 Acknowledgments 14 Introduction 18 Chapter I. Finnish Settlement in Canada 22 Immigration 22 Distribution 35 Demographic Characteristics 42 II. Geographical Pattern of Finnish Settlement in the Sudbury Area 46 Migration to the Sudbury Area 47 Distribution 51 Copper Cliff 52 Temporary Mining Camps 61 Company Towns of Garson and Creighton 64 Sudbury and Environs 67 Rural Enclaves 86 Post-World War II Trends 116 III. The Great Divide 126 The Legacy of Finland 129 The Influence of Russia/Soviet Union 133 The United States Factor 134 Domestic Factors 141 Early Factionalism in Copper Cliff 142 Shift of Radicalism to Sudbury 147 Conservative Countermovement 172 World War II and Its Aftermath 180 Finnish Institutions and the Canadianization Process 191 IV. Finns in the Workplace 194 Labour Force (1883-1945) 195 Transportation 195 Mining and Construction 196 Lumbering 198 Farming 201 Workers' Rights and the Labour Movement 204 Gender Equality in the Labour Force 213 White-Collar Pursuits 220 Post-World War II Employment 225 V. Finnish Cultural Contributions to the Sudbury Area 238 Sports 238 Athletic Clubs 239 Wrestling/Bodybuilding 242 Cross-Country Skiing 243 Track and Field 246 Gymnastics 246 The Summer Festival Tradition 247 Performing Arts 250 The Sauna 265 Knights and Ladies of Kaleva Organizations 268 Sudbury Finnish Rest Home Society 269 Sudbury Suomi Lions Club 272 Finnish War Veterans (Sudbury) 275 Finnish Language Schools 275 Symbolic Ethnicity 276 VI. Conclusions and Retrospect 280 Notes 296 Bibliography 318 Index 332 A 332 B 332 C 333 D 334 E 334 F 334 G 336 H 336 I 337 J 337 K 337 L 338 M 339 N 340 O 340 P 340 Q 341 R 341 S 342 T 343 U 344 V 344 W 344 Y 345 Z 345 "Since 1883 Finnish immigrants in Sudbury, men and women alike, have striven to improve their lot through the options available to them. Despite great obstacles, the Finns never flagged in their unwavering fight for workers' rights and the union movement. And as agricultural settlers, labour reformers, builders of churches, halls, saunas and athletic fields, Finns left an indelible imprint on the physical and human landscape. In the process they have played an integral part in the transformation of Sudbury from a small struggling rail town to its present role as regional capital of northeastern Ontario."--BOOK JACKET. "This penetrating study of the cultural geography of the Finns in the Sudbury region provides an international, national and local framework for analysis - a model for future studies of other cultural groups."--BOOK JACKET. This sociological/historical text chronicles the story of Finnish immigrants in the Sudbury area of Canada, from 1883 to the present. Saarinen (geography, Laurentian U., Sudbury) describes how Finnish society, culture, economics, and politics influenced the development of a small rail town toward its present role as regional capital of northeastern Ontario. The title refers to the physical reality of the area (rugged hills, mines, farms, forests) as well as the difficulties encountered by the immigrants. Statistical graphs, maps, and bandw photos support the text. Canadian card order number: C98-932487-7. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR Since 1883 Finnish immigrants have played an integral part in the transformation of Sudbury from a small struggling rail town to its present role as regional capital of Northeastern Ontario. This study of their cultural geography provides a framework for analysis and a model for future studies.