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
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6977430.1721929538!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
'There's mom and dad's house': New video appears to show destruction of Jasper neighbourhood
Video posted to social media on Thursday morning appears to show the charred remains of a Jasper, Alta., neighbourhood.
LIVE NOW Multiple homes, businesses 'lost' to wildfire in Jasper National Park: Parks Canada
Officials from Parks Canada and Jasper say "multiple structures, including a number of businesses and homes, in and around the town of Jasper, have been lost" to wildfire in Jasper National Park.
Prince William's 2023 salary revealed in new report
Newly released financial reports show that William, the Prince of Wales, drew a salary of $42.1 million last fiscal year, his first since inheriting the vast and lucrative Duchy of Cornwall.
Jennifer Aniston criticizes JD Vance for 'childless cat ladies' remarks: 'I pray that your daughter is fortunate enough to bear children'
Jennifer Aniston is criticizing JD Vance for comments he made in his past about women without children.
WATCH LIVE Alberta premier says a third, perhaps half, of all Jasper buildings destroyed by fire
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says early reports indicate a third and perhaps up to half of all buildings in the historic Rocky Mountain resort town of Jasper have been destroyed in a wildfire.
NASA says no return date yet for astronauts and Boeing capsule at space station
Already more than a month late getting back, two NASA astronauts will remain at the International Space Station until engineers finish working on problems plaguing their Boeing capsule, officials said Thursday.
'Skibidi Toilet:' If you don't know what it is, you will
'Skibidi Toilet' is already an internet sensation and now its about to get even more exposure after the YouTube series is being developed for TV and film, according to a report by Variety.
French sprinter will wear a cap during Olympic opening ceremony after hijab dispute is resolved
French sprinter Sounkamba Sylla will be allowed to participate in the opening ceremony at the Paris Olympics wearing a cap to cover her hair, an agreement reached with the French Olympic Committee after Sylla said she was barred because of her hijab.
Spicy dispute over the origins of Flamin' Hot Cheetos winds up in court
A former PepsiCo executive is suing the company, saying it destroyed his career after questioning his claim that he invented the popular flavor of Cheetos snacks.