The Finlandia Club of Nova Scotia, Canada (FCNS) has become the second newest member of the Finnish Expatriate Parliament (FEP) (Ulkosuomalaisparlamentti) (USP).
The FCNS was formed in 2003 with an initial membership of 17. The size of the club has varied from 20 to 50, throughout the years since then. At present there are 47 members on the list. About 20% have Finnish language skills to various levels.
The FCNS is a group of Nova Scotia residents who have come directly from Finland, or are Finnish descendants, or who have an interest in Finnish culture. The group meets informally for social and cultural activities, often connected to traditional Finnish holidays and celebrations. There are no membership fees and members retain their membership while resident in Nova Scotia.
Annual events that are regularly held include Laskiainen, Finnish cooking sessions,
Juhannus, Fall Wine tour, and the Christmas/Independence Day celebration. The club members also attend Finnish related concerts and many events arranged by the Scandinavian Society of Nova Scotia. Recent Finnish films that have been shown include: The House of Branching Love, The River, and Mother of Mine.
The club had the honour of hosting the current Ambassador of Finland, Risto
Piipponen this year, and had previously met with the former Ambassador, Pasi Patokallio, on two occasions. As a result of numerous medical emergencies on transiting Finnish flights, which resulted in Finnish passengers being admitted to Halifax hospitals, the club has offered volunteer translators to assist medical staff with language issues. Club members regularly take part in Scandinavian Society events to provide the Finnish component of the five-nation society.
The club Coordinator, Bob Ruohoniemi, keeps in touch with FCNS members by E-mail and telephone. He is always on the lookout to find potential members who may have moved to the “Bluenose” province! The only FCNS members born in Nova Scotia are teenage or younger, as all others have come to the Province by choice or to work.
It is anticipated that FCNS members will be following the resolutions and work of the FEP with great interest as the next FEP session is to be held in Helsinki on the 22nd and 23rd of October 2012.
Readers planning to visit, or wishing more information about the Finlandia Club of Nova Scotia, are invited to contact the Coordinator, Bob Ruohoniemi, (902) 757-3884
bobruoho@ns.sympatico.ca

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