Longtime Sudbury bakery forced to move to new location
A Sudbury bakery that has been in operation for 62 years is rising to meet its latest challenge.
Leinala's Bakery Scandinavian Foods is being forced to find a new location because of structural repairs needed to the building it's operated out of for the past 28 years.
The bakery has been operating on Caswell Drive under the parking garage at Lockerby Towers, but is being evicted while repairs to the structure are completed.
It has secured a new location in the Eddie's strip mall in the South End.
The head baker told CTV News that all of the recipes stem back to a grandmother who began baking for the Finnish army before immigrating to Canada.
"I am proud of us being in business this long and just being able to continue the business that my grandparents started," said Aaron Laakso.
"Hopefully, they are proud of what we have accomplished here."
Aaron's sister, Erika, is the manager and the pastry baker.
"They are my grandmother's recipes but they are very focused on Finnish traditional foods," she said.
“So Pulla, Finnish meat pies we use a lot of cardamom. We use a lot of cinnamon use a lot of butter.”
The bakery said one of the most popular pastries over the years is the jelly pig.
"Jelly pigs are a huge hit," said Aaron.
"They’re a donut filled with raspberry jam and tossed in sugar but it's the shape of them that gets people."
The brother and sister team carrying on the strong Finnish baking tradition and legacy said they are excited for the new location.
"We don't import them but we bring in a lot of foods and Finnish crystal and sauna supplies so it's also more like a Finnish spot,” said Erika.
"So in a way it's not just a bakery, it's been a cultural spot for the Finnish population."
Aaron said dealing with customers is a joy.
"You get a great feeling baking for people and servicing them and just seeing smiles on their faces," he said.
"It's wonderful to know that you have done something to brighten someone else's day."
The last day of baking at the Caswell Drive location is Nov. 16.
The Laaksos said they hope to open their new location sometime in the New Year, but said they are currently exploring a temporary option to bake for their loyal customers over Christmas.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Parliamentary report on Emergencies Act decision is 18 months past due — and counting
The erstwhile group of senators and MPs studying the federal government's invocation of the Emergencies Act over the "Freedom Convoy" was supposed to present its findings in December. December of 2022, that is.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
The kids from 'Mrs. Doubtfire are all SUPER grown up now, and we're not OK
The adorable trio of child actors from the 1993 classic comedy 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' which starred the late and great Robin Williams, are all grown up and looking back on their seminal time together.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Drone footage shows Ukrainian village battered to ruins as residents flee Russian advance
The Ukrainian village of Ocheretyne has been battered by fighting, drone footage obtained by The Associated Press shows. The village has been a target for Russian forces in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
Bystander livestreams during Charlotte standoff show an ever-growing appetite for social media video
Saing Chhoeun was locked out of his Charlotte, N.C., home on Monday as law enforcement with high-powered rifles descended into his yard and garage, using a car as a shield as they were met with a shower of gunfire from the direction of his neighbor's house.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Israel has briefed U.S. on plan to evacuate Palestinian civilians ahead of potential Rafah operation
Israel this week briefed Biden administration officials on a plan to evacuate Palestinian civilians ahead of a potential operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah aimed at rooting out Hamas militants, according to U.S. officials familiar with the talks.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.