THUNDER BAY — The new honourary consul of Finland in Thunder Bay says he's taken on the job with great humility.
"It's an opportunity to give back in a role that I respect and that I've been entrusted with. I've been vetted by two countries that I absolutely love," Pasi Pinta told TBNewswatch.
Pinta's appointment to the voluntary role was formally marked Tuesday with a visit to the city by Finnish ambassador Roy Eriksson.
The ambassador was scheduled to participate in a ribbon-cutting at the Pinta family home which now serves as the honourary consulate.
Pinta was born in Finland and grew up near Thunder Bay's sister city of Seinajoki until his family moved to Canada just shy of his 13th birthday.
He currently works as CEO and president of EHP Environmental Solutions Canada.
Pinta said he's especially eager to help Canadian and Finnish companies connect.
"We live in similar environments and in likeminded countries. The opportunities to do sustainable, mutually beneficial business are endless," he said in a statement released by the Embassy of Finland.
Ambassador Ericksson was accompanied to Thunder Bay by staff from the Finnish embassy in Ottawa, including the trade commissioner.
The itinerary included a visit to the Heddle Shipyard and number of business meetings arranged in consultation with the Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission.
Pinta said the visit could be the prelude to a trip by a much larger Finnish delegation next spring.
"There is so much we can learn from each other," he said, citing areas of common interest such as the environment, forestry and mining.
