Between a Rock and a Hard Place: A Historical Geography of the Finns in the Sudbury Area

Introduction

Introduction Why write a book on the Finns of the Sudbury area? There are sev­ eral reasons. First, the story simply deserves to be told. Since 1883 Finns have played an integral part in the transformation of the Sudbury area from a rail town to its present­day role as the regional capital of northeast­ ern Ontario. In a variety of ways, as pioneering agriculturalsettlers, labour reformers, hardworking citizens, builders of churches, halls, saunas and athletic fields, Finns left an indelible imprint on the physical and human landscape. Throughout the first half­century of Finnish settlement in Canada "there was no other locality. . . where the Finns had held such a pivotal role in history as in the community of Sudbury."1 In like fashion, Jim Ashcroft, former Ontario Division president of Inco, has remarked that "the story of the Finns in Sudbury is a noble and uplifting chapter in our regional history."2 Second, there is the question of "roots." For myself and others of Finnish origin, the book is intended to serve as a path of discovery, leading not only to a greater appreciation of our heritage but also to an understanding of how "carry­over effects" from Finland and elsewhere were influenced by domestic factors in Canada and Northern Ontario. Third, the time is right. A century of the Finnish experience has passed— time enough for a thoughtful review of the historical record. The rapid aging of the Finns as an ethnic group makes it imperative that their past aims, aspirationsand achievements be duly recorded for future generations. As one insightful observer once reminded me, "it is fine for you academics to deal with ethnic institutions, processes, patterns and all those sorts of things, but you must never forget that, in the final analysis, it all comes down to people."3 The book is also intended as a celebrationof the concept of multiculturalism. It is this aspect of the Canadian way of life—our Notes to the Introductionare on p. 279. 1 2 Between a Rock and a Hard Place ability to live with varying ethnic groups and cultures—that serves to differ­ entiate Canada from most other countries in the world. Finally, it is hoped that this book will serve as a useful framework for comparable studies involving other ethnic groups in North America. The book is approached from two distinctive viewpoints. First, it examines the Finnish experience in the Sudbury area from the vantage point of an academic geographer who has great empathy for the historical perspective. The Finnish Canadian experience has been intimately inter­ woven with geographical influences, such as the homeland setting, adapta­ tion to a new living environment, the fashioning of distinctive rural and urban landscapes and the creation of landmarks intended for the celebration and sharing of the collective ethnic experience. None of these geographical features, however, can be divorced from the perspective of history. The book can thus be considered as an attempt to assess Finnish ethnicity in terms of the integration of space and time. Second, it reflects concern for those readers whose primary interest lies not so much in the search for trends, processes and patterns but rather in the development of Finnish per­ sonalities, landmarks and landscapes. The book acknowledges these inter­ ests through the incorporation of maps, photographs and biographical sketches. The title for this book deserves comment. The Canadian environment was extremely difficult for Finnish immigrants. While the book gives ample evidence that Finns participated in many of the happier pursuits of life— sports, theatre, music, dancing, singing and the like—the reality was that everyday existence was harsh. Finns who came to Sudbury found them­ selves caught "between a rock and a hard place." Rock defined the physical reality of the Sudbury setting, whether in the form of rugged hills, hardrock mines or farms and forests intimately linked with the Precambrian Shield. The human setting, however, was equally hard. Assimilation brought with it many dangers, especiallywhere employment and politics were concerned. In forestry and mining, Finns were givenjobs that required great endurance and a tolerance for hazardous conditions. In agriculture, they were relegated to the rural fringes that others had rejected. To improve their lot in life, Finns turned to the only two options available to them—the labour move­ ment and political activism. It was in this fight for improved working and living conditions that the hardness of Canadian society proved to be the greatest. The book consists of six chapters. As the immigrant...