Lifelong Sudbury resident Hannu Piironen was celebrated by his friends and peers on April 25 for 25 years of service as the Honourary Consul of Finland.
Piironen was honoured for his dedication to Canada's Finnish community and was inducted as a member of the inaugural class of Huntington University's Canadian Finnish Institute's Fellowship Program.
“Huntington University established the Canadian Finnish Institute, which is the first of its kind in Canada, to build on the great relationships that exist between Finland and Canada and its people and cultures,” said Kevin McCormick, president and vice-chancellor, Huntington University.
“We identify some key people who have made outstanding contributions to Canadian-Finnish culture and bestow a fellowship on them and tonight we're bestowing it on Hannu Piironen.”
Sudbury boasts one of the largest per capita Finnish populations in the province with close to 2,200 people who identify Finnish as their mother tongue. Piironen has played a key role in his 25 years as Consul in acting as a conduit between Canada and Finland.
“I get to know politicians, local business people and our local Finnish people in our community,” said Piironen.
“It's been a great ride, the Finnish people have been here since the 1880's coming in various waves so there's about 8,000 to 10,000 people who have Finnish blood.”
Piironen is one of those Sudburians with Finnish blood, as the son of Finnish parents who immigrated to Canada in the 1950's, and he says the the two countries share a lot of similarities, and Northern Ontario in particular has a lot of Finnish traits.
“They came here for the jobs when the railway came through, Finns are noted for their lumbering and farming skills and their were jobs and opportunity,” said Piironen.
“It even looks like Finland and in many ways it's actually a harsher climate, but the people are very self-sufficient and they settled here.”
The Ambassador of Finland to Canada, Charles Murto, made his fourth trip to Sudbury in as many years and he echoed Piironen's comments regarding the similarities between the nations.
“Originally it was the forests, the mining and the land but also the general aspect of the place, it looks quite a lot like Finland,” said Murto.
“It's all of the water, the forests, and the climate is also quite similar. I've been overwhelmed by the similarities between Finland and Canada, not the least of which is hockey, but the mentality is so close and I'm not all surprised that so many Finns have moved to Canada and to Northern Ontario.”
Piironen joins Murto as a Fellow to the Canadian Finnish Institute, and spoke highly of the honour.
“As I celebrate a quarter century in the role of Honourary Consul of Finland, it comes as a great honour to also be named as a Fellow of the Canadian Finnish Institute,” said Piironen.
“I would like to personally thank Dr. McCormick for his leadership and ongoing dedication to the Canadian Finnish Institute, an initiative which ensures that the accomplishments and contributions of Finnish people, culture and academic institutions are profiled and celebrated.”
