Programmes of the Finnish Canadian Grand Festival
This exhibit displays programmes of the Finnish Canadian Grand Festival / Kanadan Suomalaisten Suurjuhlat.
The idea for a Finnish Song, Sports and Co-operatives Festival began with the intent to send the proceeds from the event to support Finland after the Winter War. The first festival was held in Sudbury in 1940. In the years that follows, the Finnish summer festival moved around to be held in other Ontario communities with significant Finnish or Finnish-Canadian populations.
A steering committee formed in 1961 in Sault Ste. Marie, and the event became known as the Finnish Canadian Grand Festival; the organization evolved in 1971 into the Finnish Canadian Cultural Federation.
Events at the festivals included seminars, Finnish language teaching, theatre, training for Finnish organizations, advocacy for pensions, and cultural awards for Finnish leaders.
Joint festivals with United States organizations took place as FinnGrandFest starting in 2000.
This set of programmes is not complete: there were more events which we don't currently have programmes from. If the Archives acquires more, they will be uploaded here as well.
Programmes from 2011 on can be viewed at https://finnishcanadiangrandfestival.ca/

