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

Chapter III: The Great Divide

CHAPTER III The Great Divide One of the most enduring themes pertaining to Finnish settlement in the Sudbury area and elsewhere in North America centres around its uniquely institutional character. As Krats has affirmed, "the study of Finnish immigrant institutions has become a dominant feature of that group's historiography."1 It is indisputable that Finns were active joiners, as reflected by the formation of such organizations as fraternal groups, halls, political bodies, co­operatives, churches and sports clubs.2 Figures 5 and 6 illustrate aspects of the diverse institutional character as it applies to the Sudbury area. Within this "associative spirit" framework, however, the ethnic community came to reflect the presence of a simri hajaanus (great split) between its leftist and conservative factions; thus, the collective umbrella evolved along two parallel streams with little interaction between the two. In some instances, internal divisions occurred within each of the factions. The beginnings of the great divide began late in the nineteenth century, reached its zenith around World War I and the Great Depression, and has subsided only in recent times. Another interesting question that has often been posed regarding the institutional nature of the Finnish­Canadian population pertains to its effect on the "Canadianization" process. Did Finnish institutions function as agents of assimilation or should they be viewed as having ghettoizing tendencies?3 Why did the Finnish­Canadian community develop in this fashion? Part of the answer rests with historical timing. In comparison with the United States, where Finnish settlement occurred earlier and involved indi­ viduals with church­oriented leanings, immigration to Canada took place later and included more people of a socialist/communist bent. Marginal­ ized, discriminated against and rejected by Canadian society as "dangerous Notes to Chapter III are on pp. 285­92. 109 110 Between a Rock and a Hard Place foreigners," Finnish leftists reacted by forming an ethnic infrastructure sup­ portive of their language, political and cultural needs. Following the arrival of a more conservative immigrant tide in the 1920s, a rival institutional branch developed that was supportive of rightist causes. Figure 5 Finnish Institutional Framework in the Sudbury Area (1) Source: Author. The organizational framework was also forged out of geographical influences that came from different countries. Exogenous, or carry­over, effects from Finland, Russia/Soviet Union and the United States combined to introduce a climate of divisiveness within the Finnish­Canadian commu­ The Great Divide 111 Figure 6 Finnish Institutional Framework in the Sudbury Area (2) Source: Author. nity. In this connection, Jalava has proposed a worldview explanation that emphasizes the importance of ideology as an international phenomenon rooted in events that took place in Finland and in Russia prior to the Great Depression.4 While this geographical perspective is relevant, it must be 112 Between a Rock and a Hard Place broadened to give equal consideration to the United States as another exter­ nal influence shaping the institutional mix in Canada. Over time, these spatial influences combined with one another to fashion an ethnic setting that, in attempting to satisfy the assimilation needs of the immigrants, also culminated in the formation of an unbreachable gulf within the Finnish community. Sillanpaa goes so far as to suggest that the Sudbury area was crucial for this development as it served as the "centre for much of the political activity which caused the Finnish­Canadian population to divide into two opposing factions."3 These exogenous perspectives contrast with the stances taken by Kratz and Laine, who assert that endogenous or local conditions rather than ideology per se were equally or more important in fashioning the structural mosaic.6 While it is true that many Finns simply wanted to become Canadians, and did not seek active membership in any Finnish organization, the reality of everyday life was such that few managed to avoid being caught in the web of the great divide. Through workplace associations, residential link­ ages, friendships and acquaintances, readership habits or casual visits to a hall or a church, most managed to fall one way or another under the taint of being either a "Red" or a "White." The Legacy of Finland The legacy of Finland was profound. Among the many cultural influences transferred from Finland to the Sudbury area were the following: respect for the principle of hard work; a strong village culture; a deep­rooted anti­ clericalism; support for socialist and Marxist ideology; co­operative endeav­ our; the women's...