The Thunder Bay Finnish community marked their home country’s independence with a flag raising ceremony.
A Finish flag was placed on top of the Bay Street Finlandia Club for the first time in more than eight decades on Tuesday. When the Finish Labour Temple first opened in 1910, there wasn’t an independent Finland in existence and no flag to rise.
The Grand Principality of Finland, also known as the Grand Duchy of Finland, fell under the rule of the Russian Empire until 1917. During that period, many immigrated to other countries, such as Canada.
Thunder Bay’s Finnish community celebrated their independence, which falls on Dec. 6. The Otava Male Choir sang to a crowd of more than 40 people as the flag rose on the recently restored Finlandia Hall.
Marvin Salmi, a member of the board of directors for the Finlandia Association, said raising the flag was a proud moment for their community.
“Just look at all the people gathered,” Salmi said. “It’s been a great leap forward. I personally don’t know because I’m third generation, but listening to people who have been over there, the people are sure happy to be completely free.”
Karl Maki said he just came to see the flag raised and was glad to see it on top of the Finlandia.
“I wish there was a little more of a breeze,” Maki said.
The flag will be taken down around 8 p.m. and replaced with a Canadian flag. The Finnish flag will fly on specific days of the year.
Some of those days include:
• Feb. 5 to celebrate the birthday of poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg
• Feb. 28 for the Finnish day of culture
• March 19 for the birthday of writer and early women’s rights advocate Minna Canth
• April 9 for the Day of Finnish Language
• May 1 for International Workers’ Day
• May 12 for the birthday of statesman and philosopher Johan Vilhelm Snellman
• June 4 for the birthday of Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
• July 6 to celebrate poetry and summer
• Oct. 10 for the birthday of writer Aleksis Kivi
• Dec. 8 for the birthday of composer Jean Sibelius
