Celebrating Founders Day at Sudbury’s Finlandia Village
In 1982, 81 people had a dream of providing housing for Finnish seniors in Greater Sudbury.
Today, 40 years and six projects later, Finlandia Village is home to more than 400 people and a staff of more than 200. Those 81 people are now known as "founders."
Finlandia, along with the Sudbury Finnish Rest Home Society, is marking Founders Day to celebrate and remember.
“We’re proud," said David Munch, Finlandia Village CEO.
(We serve) not only the Finnish community but the greater community of Sudbury for the elderly. So it's just a celebration to draw homage to that."
Thursday’s event was bittersweet with only three of the four founding members in attendance.
“Five years ago we still had 10 people and we’re only four and that’s really sad -- that’s really sad that they gone,” said founder Raili Myllyharju.
Although it has been 40 years, Marjatta Vainio said she remembers the early days well.
“I remember my husband was in a lot of meetings and then he wanted me to go and make coffee for them and I remember those times," Vainio said.
"Forty years. I must be old.”
Several dignitaries were on hand, including Roy Eriksson, Ambassador of Finland to Canada.
“I’m so proud to be a Finn that they have built this," he said.
"Started little and expanded and expanded and I just heard that there’s even a new project … and they will expand even more.”
Finlandia has been awarded a 30-bed expansion from the Ministry of Long Term Care. The project is in the conceptual stage and the hope is to have it finalized by the end of summer, with shovels going into the ground next April.
Officials said there are also plans to build more apartments, to ease a growing waitlist, with between 50-100 people waiting to be admitted.
“In some cases with our apartments, it's up to five to 10 years," said Munch. "It’s a fairly lengthy waiting list if you’re applying in your 80s already."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Oh my God, you're my brother': Man in his 70s discovers 6 unknown siblings
After receiving a DNA kit one Christmas from his son-in-law, Hugh McCormick soon discovered that he had six unknown siblings, with whom he shared the same birth parents.
No refund for travellers who cancelled flight already scrapped by airline: regulator
Four years on, the controversy over whether airlines owed refunds to passengers after cancelling hundreds of thousands of flights during the pandemic continues to simmer, aggravated by a sluggish, opaque complaints process.
Just how bad are ultraprocessed foods? Here are 5 things to know
Many foods fall under the category of ultraprocessed foods, depending on their exact ingredients. This type of food has been studied a lot lately, and the results aren’t great.
'My family doctor just fired me': Ontario patients frustrated with de-rostering
Dozens of Ontarians are expressing frustration in the province’s health-care system after their family doctors either dropped them as patients or threatened to after they sought urgent care elsewhere.
Rates of cancer declining in Canada, but more work needed to save lives: projections
A new study projecting declining rates of cancer cases and deaths in Canada demonstrates the success of prevention and early detection programs, but also highlights areas where more work is needed to save and prolong lives, researchers say.
Canucks hold off Oilers for 4-3 win in Game 3
Brock Boeser had two goals and an assist, and the Vancouver Canucks hung on for a 4-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 of their second-round Stanley Cup playoff series.
Ottawa pizzeria places among top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world at international competition
An Ottawa pizzeria is being recognized as one of the top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world.
Man fatally 'slashed in the neck' in downtown Toronto, suspect outstanding
Police are searching for a male suspect after a man was “slashed in neck” on Sunday morning in downtown Toronto and died.
WATCH Dashcam video shows terrifying near-miss on two-lane northern Ontario highway
There were some scary moments for several people on a northern Ontario highway caught on video Thursday after a chain reaction following a truck fire.